Healthier Living Through Essential Oils: The Guide

Some essential oils are more masculine, or have a special relevance to men. These can be the warmer, earthier essences that have a pronounced “Yang” or external energy. These spices and resins have a wonderfully stimulating and sharpening appeal. Fresh and exhilarating citrus, or many of the lighter or floral essences, balance “Yang” with its opposite and complement the “Yin” or internal energy.

Fragrance has been a part of male life through Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Greece, the ancient empires of Arabia, India and the East and virtually right up to the Victorian period in the 19th century. A fragrant or scented man was rarely seen as remarkable until the practicalities and conformity of the Industrial Age, and up to the middle of this century, when men were only supposed to smell of honest sweat, tobacco and tweed. Since WWII there has been a great growth of aftershaves, colognes, perfumes and deodorants for men. With the growth of interest in alternative remedies, the environment, and all things natural, essential oils have much to offer as fragrances and deodorants.

• Patchouli is like warm earth, musty and erotic, but use in small amounts. Can be used in cupboards to scent cotton and woolens.
• Sandalwood is warm and peaceful yet subtly erotic.
• Vetivert is smoky and earthy with a positive vibration. Use in very small amounts.
• Frankincense is clean, spicy, emotion releasing and enlightening.
• Spice oils are stimulating and refreshing but not to be used undiluted on the skin.
• Cypress is smoky and piny, controls perspiration and is a deodorant.
• Lavender is refreshing, a deodorant and skin toner.

Sensual Baths

A bath is a more luxurious method of washing the body. It is also an opportunity to use aromatic oils for the relaxation and therapeutic nourishment of the body and mind. A fragrant bath can be made for someone special.

Warm the bathroom air and scent with fragrant oils. The water should be warm, not too hot or cold. Add drops of essence to the water. Soak in the bath and take deep inhalations while your skin absorbs the oils. Essence can be added to a little carrier oil for more nourishment of dry skin. Besides pure pleasure and relaxation, fragrant baths can benefit insomnia, nervous tension, muscular conditions, circulatory and respiratory conditions. Use 3 drops of each essential oil for bath formulas.

1. Relaxing Bath

• Bergamot
• Geranium
• Lavender

2. Invigorating Bath

• Lemon
• Juniper
• Pine

3. Sensuous bath

• Sandalwood
• Neroli
• Ylang Ylang

Inhalations And Vaporizers

A very popular method of using essential oils for pleasure and therapy is with vaporizers, or oil burners. They release the essence into the air via steam. Aromas in a room or office can elevate mood and increase performance as they cleanse and freshen the air. Many essences kill bacteria in the air.

Inhaling essences can relieve tension, headache, colds, sore throat and blocked noses. If you need a more concentrated form of the essence, put a few drops of your chosen essence into a bowl of steaming water and inhale steam. To increase the effect, cover your head and the bowl with a towel and inhale the steam. Do not inhale steam that will burn and do not go out in the cold air after doing this or you might expose your tender nose and throat.

Essences can also be put onto a handkerchief or cotton wool and left beside the bed. A simple pottery jar with oil in it will also release essence into the air. A formula for room antiseptic is equal parts of cinnamon, lemongrass and thyme oil.

A breathe-easy formula is equal parts of peppermint, eucalyptus, cajuput and bergamot. A headache formula is one part lavender to one part bergamot.

To use a vaporizer is simple. Put water in the bowl, light the candle and add the essence. Keep topping up the water and add more essence when the first lot has faded in aroma.