Mon 22 Feb 2010
I have finally found the REAL reason that I consistently find myself dabbling in making perfume attempts!
Well, not reallly - I just like doing this as an idle past time.
Still, I found the link below an interesting snippet:
http://www.smellandtaste.org/index.cfm?action=research.perceived
Right girls - I’m off to blend up a Neroli, Morrocan Rose, Jasmin Sambac, Carnation, Coriander & ginger mix plus some woody smells I have been longing to try, now! 
Oooo, that reminds me. I was thinking about how I can go on about using herbs & oils like a jabberwocky sometimes. I forget sometimes to flag some gentle warnings - thinking now about the licorice I used not long ago in my homemade cough brew. I will go and stick it into that post later, but don’t use licorice root if you are aneamic. Many of us WLSers are.
I always struggle with the having to tell perfectly sensible people about any drawbacks to anything because I believe people are smart enough in general to look into anything they read and to weigh it up rationally unlike our Health & Safety obsessed Government. But in the sad interests of covering my bum 
- here is my little disclaimer! 
Please please if you are looking at working with essential oils, or taking herbs internally or using them externally - RESEARCH using multiple sources. Natural ingredients are beautiful & often beneficial. I hate to even think I can say anything not positive about them, but there we go, they are not always perfect. When I read some of those ‘cure all’ miracle websites out there I could sometimes weep at the amount of sheer BS being spouted.
Sometimes they are the stuff we turn to when medical solutions have failed us, but bear in mind like everything in life, they have benefits and RISKS. Weigh these up before using. Check the correct amounts to use. Know that jasmine eo is used in some countries to stop nursing mum’s milk flows, that comfrey put on deep cuts or taken too frequently is not smart, that coconut oil on the face too often can trigger acne. That tea tree has caused damage to some dogs ( yup, and every other doggie shampoo has tea tree in it, although probably in small quantities) etc etc. Then research the benefits and correct amounts to use & if it feels right give it a try in a small doseage or quantity first.
Bear in mind too - that quantity matters. Using too much of anything can cause probs. Be conservative at first. Bear in mind health & safety nuts also abound & they too can amplify slight risks into huge dangers. Almost everything on this planet can cause side effects. It can be a nightmare trying to work out if something is safe or not but happily between the ‘ it will kill you’s’ and the ‘it’s going to sort out every problem you have and even your mother in law will love and adore you’ camps - it is possible to reach a some good sense.
That said - I can’t tell you all the virtues of using natural home made products - they are many. I believe in mother natures way because it has worked so well for me (and my family) where mainstream products have cost me plench & not helped me in anyway (infact worsened my health at times). Just know what’s good in what quantity & what’s not…and remember just because It has worked for someone doesn’t mean it’s going to be good for you too. But then again it might be the best thing you ever did!
