| The luxury of home-made herbal beauty products is | | | | case the recipient is allergic to the chemical ones. |
| something no one can resist. The subtle and | | | | To make the oils, add 5 drops of essential oil to every |
| evocative smell of rosemary in the bathwater or a | | | | tablespoon of almond or safflower oil that you put into |
| cooling application of chilled lavender water is a | | | | the bottle. Shake well before use. You can use just |
| sensuous luxury. Unlike most luxuries, though, the cost | | | | one essential oil, such as rosemary or lavender, or you |
| of these ones need not be tremendous. Once you | | | | can mix themrose and lavender, or rosemary and |
| have collected some basic ingredients, all you need is a | | | | orange are good blends. The possibilities are endless |
| little experimentation and a keen eye for unusual | | | | and the fun starts when you begin to choose your |
| containers and you are ready to begin. | | | | essential oils. These should be available at your local |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Basic Ingredients | | | | health food store or beauty shop. |
| The most important consideration to bear in mind | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Washballs and Soaps |
| when making herbal preparations is to only use the | | | | Washballs date back to Elizabethan times and so are |
| best quality products you can find. Good quality oils | | | | traditional shapes of soap. Making soap at home can |
| and natural essential oils will combine to make a far | | | | be rather time-consuming, so I have included a recipe |
| superior product than that produced by cheap oil and | | | | that uses a pure, fragrance-free ready-made soap to |
| chemical, synthetic oils. Natural products are far less | | | | speed up the process. Traditionally, soap is made with |
| likely to cause skin allergies, but it is always wise to | | | | tallow, which is rendered or melted animal fat. It should |
| test your finished product on a small patch of your | | | | be available from your local butcher and you can melt |
| own skin if not on that of the recipient. | | | | it in a heavy saucepan over a low heat and then strain |
| Essential oils are produced from many different | | | | it into screw-top jam jars for storage. Take care when |
| scented plants, using both the leaf and stalk, or flower, | | | | making soap as the caustic soda that is used can burn |
| depending on the plant concerned. Although it is | | | | your skin, so do wear rubber gloves and handle it with |
| possible to extract these essential oils yourself, it is a | | | | care. |
| long process and the fun of making some herbal | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lavender and Rose Washballs |
| beauty products as gifts is to have fairly instant results. | | | | 2x5 oz bars plain Castile soap, finely grated |
| If you find concocting potions really appealing, there are | | | | 8 fl oz rose or lavender water |
| plenty of opportunities for further experimentation to | | | | 5 drops lavender essential oil |
| be found in the many specialist books available. | | | | 5 drops rose essential oil |
| | | | Heat 3 fl oz of the rose or lavender water and pour it |
| As with every product, it is the packaging that gives | | | | over the soap. Let is stand for about ten minutes. Mix |
| the finishing touch and makes all the difference | | | | well and then incorporate the rose and lavender oils. |
| between something that looks home-made and slightly | | | | Leave to harden for two days. Then make the |
| dubious or exciting and luxurious. If you keep your eyes | | | | mixture into small balls, each one about the size of a |
| open in antique shops and yard sales, you will discover | | | | table tennis ball or slightly smaller, and leave to dry in a |
| that there are plenty of old and interesting bottles | | | | dry airy place. When the washballs have completely |
| around. Thick glass bottles in a green or blue tone can | | | | hardened, you can polish them with cloth moistened |
| look wonderful when decorated with a pretty satin | | | | with the rest of the rose or lavender water, or |
| ribbon and a few flowers. Sealing is probably best | | | | alternatively wet your hands with the rose or lavender |
| done with a cork, which can be trimmed to fit any size | | | | water and rub the balls between your hands. Allow to |
| of bottle. Screw-top bottles are another possibility but | | | | dry out before packaging. |
| they don't have the same old-fashioned appeal. | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Floral Vinegar for the Bath |
| Another lovely idea is to buy a glass scent bottle with | | | | Floral vinegars can soften the skin when used in the |
| a ground stopper to prevent evaporation. The | | | | bath and are very refreshing if kept in the fridge and |
| container could then be treasured and reused many | | | | dabbed onto a fevered brow in moments of stress! |
| times. Atomizers can give a marvelous feeling of | | | | Cider vinegar has a delicate apple scent and so |
| luxury to some home-made scented waters. There | | | | makes an excellent base. |
| are many unusual perfume bottles available and they | | | | There are several herbs and flowers that can be |
| make a stunning display on a pretty dressing table. As | | | | mixed with the vinegar. The main consideration will |
| a complete contrast, there are also some promisingly | | | | probably be which ingredients are easiest for you to |
| shaped containers to be found in grocery stores and | | | | obtain. Successful plants include jasmine flowers, rose |
| supermarkets; if you look carefully next time you are | | | | petals, lavender flowers and stalks, scented geranium |
| shopping, you'll be amazed at how many suitable | | | | leaves, lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves and |
| shapes and sizes there are amongst the mustard pots, | | | | rosemary. |
| vinegar jars, mayonnaise jars or even bottles of | | | | Place a large handful of mixed flowers and herbs or a |
| squashes and cordials. You may have to cover the lid, | | | | single variety (rose and lavender with a little jasmine |
| or substitute a cork for the screw top depending on | | | | works well, or scented geranium and lemon verbena) |
| how attractive it is once opened, but nevertheless | | | | in a glass bottle and fill up with cider vinegar. Replace |
| there is plenty of scope. | | | | the lid or seal with a cork and place in a sunny spot for |
| Always label your product carefully and add | | | | a couple of weeks. Then strain the vinegar, making |
| instructions if it should be kept in the refrigerator or in | | | | sure that you release as much moisture from the |
| cool conditions. Giving a use-by date might also be a | | | | herbs as possible, and pour into a measuring jug. Half-fill |
| good idea if something has a fairly short life. Labels | | | | a bottle with the scented vinegar and top up with |
| can be decorated by hand or stenciled and tied with a | | | | spring water. One bottle of vinegar will therefore fill |
| ribbon around the neck of the bottle. You could also | | | | two bottles of the same size with the floral vinegar. To |
| use a sticky label and attach it to the body of the | | | | use, pour a generous quantity into the bath with the |
| bottle. Several products can then be packaged | | | | taps full on. |
| together in a hamper or basket, with cotton wool balls | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Orange Blossom Bath Salts |
| or other packaging to fill the basket and prevent the | | | | 8 oz baking soda |
| bottles from breaking. Home-made pot-pourri makes a | | | | 1 lb coarse sea salt |
| very good filler for basketsyou can carefully arrange | | | | 1/2 fl oz neroli (orange blossom) essential oil |
| a selection of bottles amongst the pot-pourri, then | | | | Stir together the baking soda and sea salt, then add |
| cover the basket with swathes of cellophane before | | | | the essential oil and store in a sealed jar. Food coloring |
| decorating it with a pretty bow. | | | | may be added if you wish. Use three tablespoons per |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | bath. |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lemon Verbena Bubbles |
| Bath-Time Products | | | | 12 oz pure soap flakes |
| Nothing works more magic than a perfumed soak in a | | | | 3/4 pint spring water |
| warm bath after a really tiring or stressful day. The | | | | 1/4 fl oz lemon verbena essential oil |
| smell of the herbal products can add a great deal to | | | | 1 fl oz vodka |
| that relaxation and many bath preparations are very | | | | 2 fl oz glycerine |
| simple to make. | | | | Heat the water and dissolve the soap flakes in it. In |
| There are two main groups of herbs in these | | | | another container, mix the essential oil with the |
| preparationsherbs to promote relaxation and those | | | | glycerine and vodka. Combine these two mixtures and |
| that help to revive you. The relaxing herbs include | | | | add a drop of yellow or green food coloring if you |
| camomile, scented geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli | | | | wish. Store in a wide-mouthed jar with a sealed lid. |
| (orange blossom) and hops. The more stimulating and | | | | Â Â Â Orange and Cinnamon Soap |
| reviving herbs include basil, lemon verbena, rosemary, | | | | 4 fl oz spring water |
| melissa and bergamot. | | | | 2 tbsp caustic soda |
| Although it is a tempting thought to strew freshly | | | | 4 oz melted tallow |
| picked herbs across the waters of your calming bath, I | | | | 1 tsp neroli (orange blossom) essential oil |
| wouldn't recommend that you try it! Speaking from | | | | 1 tsp cinnamon essential oil |
| bitter experience, it causes untold blockage problems in | | | | 4 fl oz safflower oil |
| the plumbing and feels very uncomfortable when you | | | | Wearing rubber gloves, pour the water into a large |
| sit on a particularly sharp stalk! The best way to use | | | | heat-proof glass bowl. Add the caustic soda and stir |
| fresh herbs is to place them in a muslin bath bag. | | | | well with a wooden spoon. Add the melted tallow and |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bath Bags | | | | stir vigorously. Then add the safflower oil and the neroli |
| Cut out some 9-inch diameter circles of muslin and | | | | and cinnamon essential oils. Beat well and pour into |
| place 2 tablespoons of roughly torn fresh herbs in the | | | | plastic molds. Leave to set. Once they are set, ease |
| middle of each one. Dried herbs are just as successful. | | | | the soaps out of the molds and leave in a dry airy |
| Gather the edges of the circle together and make into | | | | place for two weeks. |
| a small bundle, holding it in place with an elastic band. | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cucumber and Mint Soap |
| Then attach ribbons around the bundle to cover the | | | | 4 fl oz spring waterlarge bunch of fresh mint, any |
| elastic band, making a long enough loop to hang it from | | | | variety |
| the taps so it will dangle in the water. A set of bath | | | | 2 tbsp caustic soda |
| bags, with different colored ribbons to denote different | | | | 4 oz white vegetable fat, melted |
| herbs or mixtures of herbs, could be put together with | | | | 6 drops mint essential oil |
| a collection of other bath-time treats. Do write clear | | | | 8 fl oz almond oil |
| instructions on a label so they don't get mistaken for | | | | 1/2 cucumber |
| bouquet garni and put in a stew! | | | | Liquidize, or place in a food processor, the mint leaves |
| Oatmeal can be added to the contents of the bath | | | | and spring water. Pour into a bowl and leave for a |
| bags. Use equal quantities of herbs and oatmeal, as it | | | | couple of hours. Liquidize (or process) the cucumber. |
| helps to soften the skin. | | | | Strain the spring water into a large heat-proof glass |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bath Oils | | | | bowl, discarding the mint leaves, then add the caustic |
| These are very simple to make and very relaxing. The | | | | soda (making sure you are wearing rubber gloves). Stir |
| oil base should be good qualitypreferably almond for | | | | with a wooden spoon then add the melted vegetable |
| normal to dry skin or safflower for normal to greasy | | | | fat. Add 4 tbsp of cucumber puree, the almond oil and |
| skin. The only oil that will completely disperse in | | | | mint essential oil. Beat well and then pour the mixture |
| bathwater is a form of castor oil called turkey red oil. | | | | into plastic molds. Small soaps can be made in shaped |
| However, it is not easily available in health food stores, | | | | ice cube molds or larger ones in yogurt pots or similar |
| unlike the others, and so I would recommend trying the | | | | containers. Leave to set for two days. |
| almond or safflower oils instead. | | | | Gently ease the soaps out of the molds and then |
| Choose some essential oils that will relax or revive | | | | leave in an airing cupboard or other dry airy place for |
| (see the suggestions above) and make sure they are | | | | two weeks before using. |
| good quality natural oils rather than chemical ones. | | | | Note: It can help to line the molds with cling film as this |
| Chemical fragrances are excellent for pot-pourris and | | | | may overcome |
| products that will not come into contact with the skin, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â any problems in removing the soap |
| but it is safer to use natural oils for skin preparations, in | | | | once it has set. |