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Soap Lady
   Oregon
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Essential Oil Guide

The "essence" of our business!
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Essential oils are wonderfully powerful, natural ingredients of our world.  It is essential oils that give spices and herbs their specific scent and flavor, flowers and fruit their perfume.  It is the aroma we get when we peel an orange, the tiny droplets of oil contained in the outer peel are very volatile; that is, they easily evaporate, infusing the air with their characteristic aroma.  The aromatic content in the flowers of the rose is so very small that it takes one ton of petals to produce 10 oz. of rose oil (which is why rose essential oil is so expensive!)   Aromatic plants and oils have been used for thousands of years, as incense, perfumes, cosmetics, and for medicinal and culinary applications.  It seems as if herbal medicine and aromatic remedies lost their credibility as methods of treatment went out of the hands of the individual and into those of professionals.  Our current use of essential oils has been reduced primarily to perfumes and cosmetics, and of course, "alternative medicine".  We have found it interesting and amazing to experiment and combine various essential oils based on not only their aromas, but their reported properties and ancient uses.  Many of the oils are strong and should only be used in a diluted form, which makes soap-making a perfect carrier for use of these oils.   The purpose of this page is to share with you our knowledge of the essential oils we use and their reported characteristics. 
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Bergamot    Has a fresh, sweet, slightly spicy fragrance.  Useful for skin infections.  Blends well with lavender, lemon, and chamomile.

Camphor, white
 Has a distinctive, sassafrass-like camphoraceous odor.  In ancient civilizations, it was considered a powerful remedy against plague and was also used in the embalming process.  Its odor repels insects.  Stimulant of the adrenal cortex.  

Cedarwood
 Has a deep woody scent similar to that of the wood from which it is derived.  Its odor intensity is strong and needs to be diluted well and used with other oils.  Has good fixative properties for other oils.  Has astringent and antiseptic properties which help with oily skin.  It has a calming effect that is useful for nervous or irritated-skin conditions.

Chamomile, Roman
 Has a sweet, fruity scent that blends well with bergamot, lavender and geranium.  Its medical reputation is legendary as being useful for the skin as well as the nervous system.  The oil is very expensive, although only small amounts are needed for therapeutic properties.  We also use infused chamomile oil, which contains most of the same therapeutic properties of the essential oil.  

Cinnamon
 Has a hot, spicy, sweet odor with anti microbial properties.  Use in small quantities, as cinnamon oil can irritate the skin if used in too high a concentration.  Its drying qualities make it helpful for oily skin.  Blends well with other spicy oils.

Elemi
  Has a fresh, lemon-like, slightly spicy fragrance.  Is highly regarded for use in skin  regenerative products and was even used by ancient Egyptians in the embalming process.  Good for aged skin, infections and as a general stimulant.  Blends well with other citrus oils.

Eucalyptus
 Has strong anti microbial and expectorant properties.  It is used in inhalation therapy for upper respiratory ailments.  Its cooling, refreshing and stimulating nature makes it an ideal soap product.  It is also an effective bug repellent.

Fir Needle
 Has a sweet fruity odor.  Derived from the hemlock spruce tree.  Has anti microbial, antiseptic, astringent, and tonic properties.  Helpful for muscular aches and pains as well as anxiety.

Lavender
 Has a strong, clean, refreshing, sweet fragrance.  It is highly regarded for its therapeutic properties and is useful for all skin types.  Properties include anti microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and skin regenerative.  It is a normalizing oil that stimulates while relaxing.  Blends well with most oils.

Lemon
  Has an exotic, sweet odor and contains vitamins A, B, and C.    Properties include antiseptic, astringent, deodorizing, and stimulating.  This is one of those powerful oils that has beneficially stimulating effects on the brain.  

Lemongrass
 Has similar odor as lemongrass with many of the same properties.  Many believe it acts as a sedative on the central nervous system.  Highly regarded in skin care for use in cases of acne, athletes foot, insect repellent, excessive perspiration, and as a tissue toner.

Lime Peel
 Has a sharp, fruity, "lime" fragrance as it is derived from the peel of the fruit.  As with other citrus oils, it has antiseptic, anti viral, and tonic properties.  Useful for acne, greasy skin, insect bites, skin spots.  

Marjoram
 Has a warm, woody, slightly spicy odor that blends well with rosemary, lavender and teatree.  Useful for poor circulation, arthritis, and stiffness.  We add it to our oatmeal soap for additional skin care for damaged or irritated skin.

Melissa
  Often known as lemon balm oil, has calming, antiseptic and antidepressant properties.  It has a lemonlike scent and a strong odor intensity that easily dominates a fragrance blend, so it is used sparingly.

Niaouoli
 See Teatree

Nutmeg
 Has a sweet, warm, spicy aroma that adds a nice fragrance to blends.  The oils is antiseptic.

Orange, bitter
 Has a fresh, dry, almost floral odor.  Properties include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, anti microbial, and anti-fungul.  Blends well with other citrus oils and spicy oils.

Orange, sweet
 A refreshing, sweet, orange smelling oil with very drying effects on the skin.  It is a degreaser and has anti-septic properties.

Patchouli
 Has a deep, rich, musty, woody spent that blends well with other oils.  It is used as a fixative for stabilizing fragrances.  It has antiseptic, astringent properties.  It is experienced by some as an aphrodisiac, but repels others.  Use sparingly!

Pennyroyal
 Has a fresh, minty herbaceous odor.  Used in our soaps as a bug repellent only.  Some people find this to be an irritant to their skin, so we use it exclusively for pets only.  Amounts used in our soaps are highly diluted.

Peppermint
 Has a distinctive, sweet, spicy odor.  Useful in skin preparations for acne, dermatitis, and muscular aches.  Use in dilute concentrations, as some may experience irritation.  A highly desirable fragrance.

Peruvian balsam
 Has a rich, sweet, vanilla-like odor.  Traditionally used for rheumatic pain and skin problems such as diaper rash, eczema, and wounds.  Also stimulates the heart, increases blood pressure and lessens mucus secretions.  It has a warming, comforting quality.

Rosemary
 Is a stimulating, astringent and antiseptic oil that is excellent for the skin.  It has a refreshing, invigorating odor that is said to aid in depression and add an uplifting quality to the soap product.  

Sage
 Has a fresh, stimulating, and camphorlike aroma.  The oil has cleansing, astringent and invigorating properties and is used in acne and infected-skin preparations.  

Sandalwood
 Has an exotic, woody, sweet aroma.  It can be dominated by other oils, so it is important to blend it with oils that complement it.  It has hydrating, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects and is one of the "power" oils in the skin care soap products.

Spearmint
 Has invigorating, cooling, antiseptic, refreshing properties that enhance any herbal preparation.  This is a stimulating oil!

Teatree
 Has a clean, spicy, yet medicinal aroma.  This oil is unusual in that it is very active against all three varieties of infectious organisms: bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  It is a very powerful immuno-stimulant, which makes for an exciting soap product.    

Wintergreen
 Has an intense, sweet, woody aroma that blends well with other mints and ylang ylang.  Used mostly for joint and muscular problems as it is almost exclusively methyl salicylate.  When added to soap, it increases the tracing time and will "curdle" the mixture if not stirred well.  Promotes a hard bar of soap.  

Ylang ylang  (pronounced "lang lang")  Has a high, sweet, exotic scent traditionally used in aphrodisiac and euphoric aromatherapy blends.  It has moderate antiseptic properties and can be used for oily-skin problems. Used as a fixative in blends of oils  In the Victorian age, the oil was used in hair treatment.   It has a strong odor and should be used sparingly.  


As with any information presented on this page, please use all proper precautions in using these powerful aromatic essences, and consult a medical practitioner when in doubt. We are in no way responsible for misuse of the information presented herein.