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The original page can be found on-line at http://www.pioneerthinking.com/db_bathtime.html

The Science of Beauty in the Bath - Special Bath-Time Treatments
by Dee Braun

Bath time can be the perfect time to address problems and issues the skin of your body is experiencing. Goosebumps, cellulite, dry/flaky skin, rough knees and elbows and even detoxification can be helped by adding a few ingredients to your bathing. Learn how to improve the appearance and texture of your skin - safely, effectively and, most importantly - simply.

1. Goosebumps

Goosebumps usually occur on the thighs, the buttocks and/or the upper arms. You can stimulate the circulation by scrubbing regularly with a bath mitt or loofah in the bath. It is also beneficial to scrub with sea salt once in a while, or with sugar, or with a bag filled with oatmeal or bran. The `follow-up` should be a massage thoroughly given with hand cream or body lotion.

2. Bulge-reduction

One treatment that combines friction with a weight-reducing treatment is to use a friction glove. Even if weight loss is not your concern, the glove is an excellent way of eliminating goosebumps and achieving a healthy pink glow.

Alternately, you can use a soft-bristled (natural bristles!) brush to dry brush your skin. I use a cheap one from WalMart which is made by Goody, although there are fancy/expensive ones available. Dry brush your skin, starting at the extremities (feet and hands) and using long strokes always towards your heart. Do this before a bath or shower - it is great for exfoliation, detoxification, circulation and cellulite.

3. Discolored and horny knees and elbows

Regular attention is required to these areas to eradicate the problem, but a `blitz` treatment can be commenced right now.

a. First the elbows and knees should be massaged with cleansing cream and then tissued off. These should then be worked with a pumice stone and water whilst you are in the bath and then rubbed with sea salt or an oatmeal and bran, or with sugar mixed with a little vegetable oil. You should then rinse well.

b. Following the bath, a cut lemon should be rubbed over the elbows and knees and the juice allowed to dry.

c. The areas should then be massaged well using body lotion or hand cream.

You can do this treatment once a week or once a month, but in between times you should ensure to pumice and massage with hand cream or body lotion.

4. Very Dry Skin

Skin Conditioning and Rejuvenation

* * 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
* * 2 drops Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
* * 1 drop Palmarosa Essential Oil
* * 1 drop Geranium Essential Oil

Blend and add 3-5 drops to 1/4 cup baking soda or epsom salts. Add to warm bath with water running and soak 10-20 minutes.

Herbal Waters Bath Oil

This sensuous oil turns any bath into a pampering spa treatment full of moisturizing plant oils and skin-friendly herbal Essential Oils.

* * 1 cup Almond oil
* * 2 cups Avocado oil
* * 2 Green Tea bags
* * 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
* * 8 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
* * 4 drops Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
* * 2 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil

Warm Almond and Avocado oils in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea bags and let steep until cool. Remove Herbs and combine tea-infused oil with remaining ingredients in a 12-ounce glass bottle with a lid or a stopper. Close tightly and shake well to mix the oils. Store mixture in a cool, dark place for 24 hours to allow the oils to blend.

To use, add 2 ounces to your bath water and soak 10-20 minutes.

Marigold and Fennel Milk Bath

Fennel acts as a stimulant, while marigold offers healing qualities. Milk is an excellent skin softener and conditioner.

* * Muslin material
* * 8 T. Milk powder
* * 4 Oz. Dried Fennel seeds
* * 2 Oz. Dried marigold flowers
* * Ribbon

Cut out a 10 inch diameter circle of muslin. In a bowl, mix together the seeds, milk powder, and marigold flowers. Place a large handful of the mixture into the center of the muslin circle. Gather up the edges to form a pouch and tie tightly with ribbon. Toss into hot bath and allow to steep about 10 minutes before entering.

Honey and Oatmeal Milk Bath

* * 1 cup powdered milk
* * 1 cup finely ground oats
* * 1/2 cup honey powder
* * 2 tsp fragrant oil of choice

Place all ingredients into a glass or stainless steel bowl, mix well. Add approx 1/2 cup to warm bath, relax and enjoy.

5. Cellulite

Cellulite Blend

These mixtures stimulate circulation.

* * Eucalyptus Citriodora 2 ml
* * Lemon 2 ml
* * Cedarwood 2ml
* * Sage 2ml
* * Cypress 2 ml
* * Niaouli 2ml
* * in 100 ml Hazelnut oil

* * 2 d. Bay oil
* * 2 d. Lemon oil
* * 4 d. Lavender oil in 20 ml Sesame oil

Directions:

Combine ingredients and add 5-7 drops in a warm (not hot) bath. Soak for 10-15 minutes. Additionally, you can apply this blend to problem areas 2-3 times per day after bath or shower for 30 days.

6. Detoxification and Deodorization

Deodorizing Herbal Bath

All of the Herbs in this recipe contain ingredients that will deodorize your body. It is a wonderful herbal mixture to enjoy after a hot day of working in the garden.

* * 1/4 cup fresh or 2 tablespoons dried Thyme
* * 1/4 cup fresh or 2 tablespoons dried Lavender buds
* * 1/4 cup fresh or 2 tablespoons dried Rosemary
* * 1 muslin bath bag
* * 1 quart boiling water

Add the fresh or dried Herbs to the bag and close snugly. Add the bag to the water and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove the infusion from the heat and cool to lukewarm. Add the infusion and bag to your bathwater, using the bag of herbs as a washcloth.

Skin-Softening and Detox Bath

Adapted from 365 Simple Pleasures, collected by Susannah Seton (Conari Press, 2001).

The bath has the added benefit of helping to remove Toxins, and being very calming and relaxing, too.

Ingredients

* * 1 cup buttermilk
* * 3 tablespoons Epsom salts
* * 1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil or Canola oil
* * 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Combine ingredients and pour into the stream of warm water as your tub fills. Immerse yourself and soak for 15 minutes or so.
The Author:

Dee Braun, a single mom of 6 kids, is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified Dr. of Reflexology and a natural health practitioner. Click now to visit NaturallyBeautiful.Me at http://www.naturallybeautiful.me/ - where you can find helpful information on natural and effective skincare treatments (including recipes!) to help battle the ravages of time, toxins and stress as well as address many common skincare problems.

Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/cgi-bin/mb/YaBB.pl?num=1120344628/25

HOMEMADE PERFUME

There are more expensive supplies you can get online. The is a type of ethynol you can buy with an additive so that it isn’t drinkable.

If you’r looking for cheap, you ca make a body spray by soaking spices and citrus peel in rubbing alcohol, and shaking daily. This takes quite a while to get rid of the alcohol smell, so don’t expect instant gratification.

jojoba oil can be used as an alternative to other bases for perfumes and its nondrying skin care oil that allows the fragrance to linger longer....
u can start by combing just a few oils and test mixture during two week ripening process to find the scent u like. if fragrance is too strong add more jojo oil to it to dilute.
fill a small bottle nearly to top w/jojo and add 15-20 drops of desired essential oils
ex.
white rose (flowery and warm)-patchouli oil 10 drops, geranium 10 drops, bergamot 10 drops, mix in 2tsps of jojo w/grain alcohol (pure alcohol in pharmacysection), or omit alcohol to recipe.

Re: HOMEMADE PERFUME
Reply #5 - Aug 11th, 2005, 5:13am
I’ve got afew recipies.

Basic Perfum

2 cups of anything that smells strong and good, (e.g fresh or dried rose petals, lavender flowers and jasmine flowers or dried lemon/orange rind
1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup sparkling mineral water (optional)

Pour the vodka over the scented ingredients in a screw top jar (make sure the jar doesn’t smell like pickles). Leave in a warm dark place for 2 weeks or longer (some scents get better with age). Strain in to another jar, and sniff. If the perfume isn’t strong enough- and unless you’ve used strong scented blooms such as lavender or jasmine, it won’t be- add more petals/leaves, and repeat 3-10 times until you have a truly fragrant brew.
Add the mineral water for a less concentrated perfume. If you don’t add the mineral water, use the concentrated scent less liberally.

Lemon Fresh Spritzer

1/2 cup vodka
2 cups fresh fragrant rose petals
2 cups fresh lavender flowers
6 cups fresh lemon grass
1 cup mineral water

Pour vodka over petals, flowers, and lemon grass, in a screw top jar. Leave in a dark place for 3 weeks, shaking every day. Strain into another jar, pressing down as much of the liquid as you can. Add the mineral water.
Store this perfume in a cool place for up to 6 months. Discard if it changes colour or turns cloudy.

A Scent Too Keep You Young Forever

1 cup vodka
1/2 cup fresh culinary sage
1/2 cup sun dried orange rind, no pith
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
2 cups fresh lavender flowers
1 cups fresh jasmine flowers

Pour the vodka over the other ingredients in a large screw top jar. Leave in a dark place for a week, shaking every day. Strain the mixture into another jar, pressing out the liquid and discard the leaves, and flowers. Repeat with more flowers and leaves if you want a stronger perfume. Store in a cool place.

Effleurage

1 small glass jar
1-2 cups (enough to full your glass jar several times) fresh flower petals (rose, lavender, lilac, & gardenia is a good combination)
1 cup light vegetable oil, sunflower/almon/ect.

Fill a glass jar with the flower petals. Cover the petals with oil (it’s alright if you do not use all the oil). Place the jar in a sunny spot. Let it sit for 24 hours.
Strain off the oil and discard the flower petals. Add fresh flower petals and let sit for another 24 hours. Continue straining off oil and adding fresh flower petals for 3-4 days or until the oil has the scent you are pleased with. You may stabilize your fragrance (Keep it from changing) after the scent has developed to your liking (4-5 days) by using 1 or 2 drops of glycerine, castor oil, or a pinch or oorisroot powder.
Store in a cool place in a clean, airtight container.
To use: Apply a small amount to your skin with a clean finger or cotton ball.

Hungry Water

1/8 tsp oil of orange/lemon
1/2 tsp bergamot oil
1/4 tsp lavender oil
1/2 cup vodka
1/8 tsp glycerine or castor oil or orrisroot powder

Mix together all ingredients in a glass or ceramic container and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Place in a cool, dark place and let sit for 1 week before using.

Mona Lisa Voile

1/4 cup distilled water
1/8 tsp castor oil
6-8 drops essenital oil of your choice

Mix together all ingredients and shake well. Pour into a clean spray container with a tight fitting lid.
Always shake well before using.

Solid Perfume

1 tablespoon grated beeswax
1 tablespoon almond oil
8 drops cologne or essential oil blend (see below)

FRUITY
3 drops peach oil, 3 drops sweet orange oil, 2 drops chamomile oil

SPICY
3 drops clove oil, 3 drops sandalwood oil, 2 drops cinnamon oil

EXOTIC
5 drops vanilla, 3 drops ylang-ylang oil

In a heat resistant container or small saucepan, gently heat the beeswax and oil untill the wax is melted. Stir in the scented oil or cologne and pour into a clean container with a lid. Allow the mixture to cool completely.

Witch Hazel is a common and good alternative to using vodka or alcohol. It does smell like alcohol for a couple minutes and then fades leaving just the scent. It’s also dirt cheap and can be found in grocery stores, health food stores and stores like Wal-Mart. Then there are various oils you can use as well instead of any of the above.

Olive oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil are all good for making your own perfumes and oils. It just depends on what exactly you want to make.

If you want a body spray, use the witch hazel and a favorite scent or scent blend. You can get skin safe fragrance oils pretty cheaply. I find them at Michael’s all the time. You can get the soap fragrance oils. These will work fine.

One of my favorite sprays is homemade. I take some witch hazel and fill a spray bottle (usually the one ounce ones as I like to carry with me) and add several drops of sandalwood FO and several drops of lavender FO. All together the supplies cost me $6 and I’ve made 5 bottles and have a ton left still. It’s about the same cost of the Healing Garden sprays and since it last so long I think it’s a better buy.

And yes, homemade products generally smell better, last longer, and the scent is generally stronger. I prefer making my own for these reasons.

If you’re a bit hard core about putting alcohol in your perfume they do make a perfumer’s alcohol. It’s not to expensive and it gets rid of the legal issues surrounding Vodka-plus Vodka is expensive. I believe they sell the perfumer’s alcohol at http://saveonscents.com They also have an amazing variety of fragrances at excellent prices. I use alot of their products.

Sorry about that. Wrong site,lol.
http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/perfume.html
http://www.lemelange.com/oil_liquid_cream_wax_g_-_p.htm

(Isopropyl Palmitate)

But better for U and ur skin would be to just purchase Turkey Red Oil- it’s water dispersable. You can use it to add with your fragrance oil before putting the fragrance oil in water. You wont have to worry about seperation or shaking constantly. FYI 8)

*** Granny notes, this is a fantastic site for supplies and instructions and formulas for skin care and soap making...

I found this recipe on this site, but I wonder if it even works because it’s so simple.. Is this even perfume?

Ingredients: 2 cup water, 1 cup fresh chopped flower blossoms

Direction: In a bowl place a cheesecloth where the edges are hanging over the bowl. Fill with 1 cup of flower blossoms of your choice. Pour water over the flowers until they are completely covered.

Cover and let sit overnight. The next day using the edges of cheesecloth pull it out of the bowl and gently squeeze the scented water into a small pot. Simmer the water until about 1 teaspoon is left. Cool and place into a small bottle. Making perfume this way has a shelf life of about 1 month.

Other suggestions for flowers: Lavender, Lilac, Orangeblossoms or even Honesuckle. Anything that is highly fragrant works best.

i tried the simple 2-ingredient recipe 4 homemade perfume and it worked great. im even trying a different scent now after i found huge success w/ rose petals. it’s simple, fun, and worked as well as the others w/ five or six ingredients. absolutely ne1 can make this. in fact, i’m selling each perfume bottle 4 6 bucks. i think ppl can make business out of this whole homemade-beauty-products thing!!!