Crystal Wind AromaworX

This article appears on the David Suzuki website, and has been reposted here:

'Dirty Dozen' cosmetic chemicals to avoid

Some of the ingredients in beauty products aren't that pretty. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.

We surveyed Canadians to see how many of the Dirty Dozen ingredients below appeared in their cosmetics, and our findings show that 80 per cent of entered products contained at least one of these toxic chemicals.

Essential Oils for Concentration:

Intellectual: Lemon, basil, lemongrass, cardamom, bergamot, orange, cedarwood, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, frankincense

The essential oils listed in italics are particularly efficient for intellectual study.

For a stimulating effect, to give a little boost to the study room, try using a citrus essential oil: lemon or grapefruit, lemon eucalyptus, or a light floral in a room diffusor. The aroma should not be overpowering, but barely perceptible.

Fragrance Blending for Perfume

When blending for fragrance or perfume, there are different qualities that must be considered in order to create a pleasing aromatic combination.

In the fragrance industry, scents are referred to as top, middle, or base notes, depending on their aromatic qualities. Top notes tend to be lighter and more volatile, middle notes are more lasting, and base notes are the most enduring and least volatile.