The Natural Beauty Workshop

The Natural Beauty Workshop Pinterest Challenge

2012-05-24T22:39:10-04:00

We've been busy curating our collection of links and photos on Pinterest, and we'd love for you to come and join the fun! You can follow our boards here. We have been collecting pins about natural beauty, DIY skin care, and creative inspiration for a while now, giving us quite the collection to check out!

We'd love to see your boards too. In fact, we're issuing a special challenge to our readers!

Create a board featuring bath & body recipes, your favorite skin care products, and inpspirational artwork encouraging natural beauty, creativity, and confidence.
Name your board "Naturally Beautiful" and tag your pins with #naturallybeautiful. We'll find your pins using the tag.
Share a link to your whole board in the comments below.

We'll be browsing all the Naturally Beautiful pin boards our readers submit, and will feature our favorites here on The Natural Beauty Workshop! To start things off, check out Mary Helen's Naturally Beautiful pin board.

P.S. We've added a "Pin It" button to all of the blog post's here on The Natural Beauty Workshop, making it super easy to pin your favorite recipes and articles!

Milk & Honey Facial

2012-05-08T10:39:00-04:00

Our Milk & Honey Facial recipe makes a nutritive mask rich in lactic acid (milk sugar) that gently exfoliates and brightens the skin. The mask also includes the soothing properties of White Willow Bark, Yarrow Hydrosol, and Oatmeal. Honey and White Kaolin Clay help to deeply cleanse the skin, while Red Raspberry Seed Oil and Carrot Seed Extract add their regenerative powers to the mix, making this a wonderful treatment for those with normal, sensitive, combination, or mature skin types.

This recipe was recently retired from our popular line of Body Care Craft Kits in order to make room for some new additions. You can still find all of the ingredients for this recipe at From Nature With Love, along with many more that can be used to customize the recipe. For instance, you could try swapping out the Carrot Extract for Geranium Essential Oil, and the White Kaolin Clay for Rose Clay, making a wonderful mask for combination skin.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Whole Milk Powder
2 tablespoons Honey Powder
2 tablespoons Oat Flour, Fine
2 tablespoons White Kaolin Clay
1/4 teaspoon White Willow Bark Extract
1/8 ounce Red Raspberry Seed Oil
1/16 ounce Carrot Seed Select CO2 Extract
1 ounce Yarrow Hydrosol
1 - 3 tablespoons Spring Water or Distilled Water

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, combine the powdered ingredients and stir well, making sure to break up any clumps in the powders. Add the Red Raspberry Seed Oil and Yarrow Hydrosol, followed by 6-9 drops of Carrot Seed Extract. Add just enough Spring Water or Distilled Water to form a smooth paste. Scoop out the portion that will be used immediately and transfer the rest to a PET Jar. The facial can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately 1 week, allowing you to use the mixture one or two more times before discarding it. If the mixture becomes too firm after being refrigerated, add a little more Spring Water or Distilled Water and mix well.

Usage

Scoop a small portion of your facial into a small bowl and allow it to warm to room temperature. While you are waiting, gently open your pores by applying a warm, damp washcloth to your face. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth. Massage gently with a circular motion to encourage circulation. Allow the mixture to dry for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing it away. Pat your face dry, and follow with a natural toner and moisturizer.The facial can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately 1 week, allowing you to use the mixture 1 or 2 more times before discarding it

Jasmine & Acai Berry Hair Oil

2012-05-02T14:41:08-04:00

A recipe from one of our well loved Body Care Craft Kits, Jasmine Acai Berry Hair Oil is a moisturizing treat for tired, dry hair. Though the kit has been retired, the recipe remains a nourishing treat for dry hair.

Acai Berries are rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin C. The highly prized oil of Acai helps to nourish and condition dry and damaged hair, making it an excellent ingredient for use in natural hair care. Jojoba is a liquid wax that is very similar in composition to sebum, the body’s natural protective barrier of the skin and hair. Camellia Seed Oil is another ingredient that is very moisturizing to the hair and scalp, but is light and non-greasy. The trio of nutritive oils in this recipe is complemented by the alluring aroma of Jasmine, making this all natural hair oil a pleasure to use.

Ingredients

1 ounce Acai Oil
1 ounce Jojoba
2 ounces Camellia Oil
1/4 ounce Fractionated Coconut Oil
1/4 teaspoon Jasmine Absolute

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in the bottle and shake well.

Usage & Packaging

This recipe fits nicely into our 4 ounce PET Cosmo Bottles with Disc Cap. Jasmine & Acai Berry Hair Oil can be applied directly to the hair and scalp. Depending on your hair type and personal preference, the hair oil may be used a number of ways. The oil may be heated gently and used as a deep conditioning treatment, it can be used as a massage oil for the scalp, or it can be applied sparingly to the ends of hair. Jasmine & Acai Berry Hair Oil may be left in the hair or shampooed out after treatment depending on hair type and preference.

Refreshing Rice & Cilantro Face Mask

2012-04-19T14:23:45-04:00

Cilantro grows abundantly during the late spring and early summer. Between pestos, salsas, and curries, there are no shortage of culinary pursuits available to make use of this fragrant, leafy herb. It's pungent aroma is bright, green, and astringent, and the herb contains several nutrients beneficial to skin care, including magnesium and vitamin A. Cilantro has a cooling effect, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, making it a nice addition to sensitive skin formulations. Cilantro is also believed to help lighten the skin and even out pigmentation. This factor makes the fresh herb very desirable for anti-aging treatments.

This simple facial mask recipe uses fresh, pureed cilantro with a variety of other cleansing, exfoliating, and detoxifying ingredients. This is a great mask for all skin types, but mature skin, sensitive skin, and red skin will love it the most. If you have oily skin, try swapping out the White Kaolin Clay for a stronger variety such as French Green Clay.

Refreshing Rice & Cilantro Face Mask
Makes enough for 4 - 6 treatments

Ingredients

1 handful fresh cilantro (leaves and stems)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tablespoon Coconut Milk Powder
1 tablespoon Rice Powder
2 tablespoons White Kaolin Clay
2 - 4 tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel 1:1

Directions

Combine the cilantro, yogurt, and one or two tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel in a small blender or food processor. Pulse until fully blended, adding more Aloe Gel if needed. Combine the mixture with the Coconut Milk Powder, Rice Powder, and Kaolin Clay.

Usage

This is a fresh mask, so it should be used right away, or stored in the refrigerator for later use. The mask will keep in the fridge for about 3 - 5 days, or in the freezer for up to one month. Apply the mask to clean skin, and allow to dry for 10 - 20 minutes. Rinse away, and follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer.

Agarwood Essential Oil

2012-04-11T14:00:00-04:00

Photo by lamcs52

Agarwood Essential Oil comes from the resin of a heartwood, deep in the forests of Southeastern Asia. This woody essential oil is as exotic as it sounds, being precious and often extremely rare. It posesses a deep, musky aroma, making it a prized ingredients for perfumes and colognes. In aromatherapy, Agarwood Essential Oil is sometimes used to relieve hypertension or insomnia. It is also used during meditation to help promote focus and enlightenment.

Agarwood Essential Oil's aroma has been described as earthy and balsamic. It is a deep base note, and can be blended with strong aromas such as sandalwood, or geranium, as well as lighter scents, like citrus or floral oils. In addition to perfumes, Agarwood Essential Oils can also be used in blends to scent soap and skin or hair care products.

Chamomile Bath Powder

2012-04-02T12:34:45-04:00

Enrich your tub with a soothing floral aroma, and the soft texture of buttermilk. This delightfully simple bath powder recipe combines the sweet, apple-like scent of Chamomile Essential Oil with cleansing Kaolin Clay and Dendritic Salt, natural Buttermilk Powder, and water softening Baking Soda. The result is a rich, floral milk tea that your skin will love you for. Just drop a few tablespoons into warm bath water, lay back, and let the calming scents and smooth water envelop your senses. You'll leave the tub feeling mild and butter soft. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Chamomile Bath Powder
Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup Buttermilk Powder
1/2 cup White Kaolin Clay
1/4 cup Chamomile Flower Powder
1/2 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Dendritic Salt
1/8 teaspoon Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the Buttermilk Powder, Kaolin Clay, and Chamomile Flower Powder. Mix well, and set aside. In a smaller bowl, combine the Dendritic Salt and Baking Soda. Stir well, making sure to break up any clumps. Add the Chamomile Essential Oil to the Salt and Soda mixture, and stir well. Sift the Salt & Soda mixture through a fine mesh strainer, and into the Milk and Clay mixture. Stir the powders together. Take your time, making sure to thoroughly mix the powders.

Usage & Packaging

This recipe makes about 3 cups, enough to fill 2 Small Cello Bags about half way. You can use our printable labels (Download Chamomile Bath Powder Labels) to seal the bags, or use tape and ribbon for a simpler look. Our Wooden Scoops are perfect for measuring the powder. Use 1 - 3 tablespoons per bath.

Shea Oil

2012-03-26T17:18:14-04:00

Photo by Joel Abroad

Shea Butter can help to keep skin conditioned and happy while improving elasticity and appearance. It is one of natural skin care's most popular ingredients, and is found in everything from soap to skin and hair products. Conventional Shea Butter is solid at room temperature, but Shea Oil has a much lower melting point, making it easy to use in formulations that call for liquid carrier oils. Try adding Shea Oil to a sugar or salt scrub, or as-is for a rich, moisturizing body or massage oil. Using Shea Oil is a great way to add the moisturizing benefits of Shea to hair care oils and conditioners too. Use Shea Oil to soften your Shea Butter by adding a few tablespoons of oil to one pound of melted butter.

Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil

2012-03-16T14:06:48-04:00

In the southwestern states, short, flat cactuses abound, painting the landscape in a lovely shade of mint green. When the weather is just right, they burst into color, bearing sticky, delicious prickly pears. The prickly pear is a hero in local cuisine, and can be found in everything from preserves to margaritas, but did you know that the seeds of this tangy pink fruit contain one of the most fatty-acid rich skin care oils available?

Prickly Pear Seed Oil contains a remarkable 80% fatty acid content, 62% of which is made up of linoleic acid. This makes Prickly Pear Seed Oil an incredibly potent moisturizer and antioxidant. It can be added at very low percentages to skin care serums, creams, and facial treatments to amp up moisturizing, anti-aging properties.

This potent oil can also be included in damaged hair treatments, and intensive conditioners. Try adding it to cuticle treatments or heavy duty lip balms too. Prickly Pear Seed Oil can be added at just 1% to begin incorporating its incredibly beneficial components into your formulations. However, because it is a skin safe lipid, you can feel free to add as much of this special oil to your recipe as you wish. It can even be used at full strength as a targeted skin or hair conditioning serum.

Click here to view available sizes and pricing for our Organic Prickly Pear Oil. (Remember, Natural Beauty Workshop readers can save 7% on their qualifying online orders using discount code NBWS4277)

Bath & Body Confections

2012-03-01T14:42:02-05:00

Have a sweet tooth? You'll love the following bath & body recipes. These DIY projects are inspired by our favorite edible treats. The best part? They are guilt free! Make these skin care treats and indulge your senses instead of your stomach.

These scrumptious looking Bath Tub Whoopie Pies are actually fizzing bath bombs!

Our Chocolate Truffle Sugar Scrub recipe is enough to make any choco-holic swoon.

Coco-Lime Bath Cookies are deliciously fizzy and moisturizing.

Reward your lips with a little Creamy Walnut Lip Butter. This rich, conditioning balm will make your mouth water.

This exfoliating Melt & Pour Soap recipe makes a batch of sinfully sweet Coconut Macaroon Soaps!

Another delightful, cookie shaped bath bomb, our Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookies are a fun project to make with kids!

For those who prefer coffee over dessert (or better yet, coffee with their dessert) our Mochachinno Massage Melts are just right.

Make Your Own All Natural Facial Toners

2012-02-16T09:43:00-05:00

Toners make an excellent addition to your daily skin care routine. They can be used to help balance skin's ph and oil production. Specialty ingredients can also be included to help reduce redness, soothe irritation, and even provide anti-aging benefit. Can your commercially made toner do all that? Chances are, an artisan made toner, or a handmade toner would do your skin a world of good.

Photo by BLSoaps. Visit their shop here.

Making your own toner is very easy to do. Just combine your favorite water based ingredients in a bottle, and add a touch of Grapefruit Seed Extract(GSE) to keep it free from bacterial growth. GSE should be added at a rate of .2% - 1%, or 1 - 5 drops per ounce of toner. A simple toner can be made from one part Apple Cider Vinegar to three parts Distilled Water. Want to amp up that recipe? Consider substituting some, or all of the water with one of the following hydrosols.

Organic Carrot Seed Hydrosol: A great choice for mature or troubled skin types, Carrot Seed Hydrosol can help to reduce the signs of wrinkles, scars, and damaged skin. It also promotes the growth of healthy new skin cells, making it helpful to all skin types.

Cistus (Labdanum) Hydrosol: This pungent hydrosol is ideal for damaged or mature skin. It can help to reduce the appearance of scars as it plumps and skin cells and prevents wrinkles.

Organic Geranium Bourbon Hydrosol: An all around favorite hydrosol for skin care, Geranium Bourbon can help to balance skin's moisture while soothing inflammation. It's great for combination skin and mature skin.

Organic Helichrysum Hydrosol: Like the precious essential oil that comes from the same plant, Helichrysum Hydrosol is an excellent choice for anti-aging skin care formulations. It also posesses strong anti-inflammatory properties, making it helpful to acne prone skin, irritated skin, and combination skin as well.

Lavandula Augusifolia Hydrosol: Lavender helps to balance skin's moisture, making it a good choice for those with combination skin. Its antibacterial properties can also be helpful for those suffering from acne.

Lemon Balm Hydrosol: Perfect for oily and acne prone skin types, Lemon Balm provides antibacterial benefits and astringency.

Roman Chamomile Hydrosol: With its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, Roman Chamomile is a great choice for both dry, irritated skin, and combination or acne prone skin. This hydrosol can help reduce redness, itchiness, and inflammation.

Rose Damascena Hydrosol: Ideal for all skin types, Rose Hydrosol is a classic beauty ingredient that makes an excellent ingredient in toners for all skin types. Rose Hydrosol is especially beneficial for mature skin types, as it may help to prevent wrinkles and fine lines.

Rosemary Verbenone Hydrosol: Rosemary Hydrosol is a good choice for oily and acne prone skin types. It can help unclog pores and balance skin's moisture.

Witch Hazel Hydrosol: Witch Hazel Hydrosol can be used on all skin types, but it is particularly helpful to combination skin. It can soothe red, irritated skin, while helping to prevent acne.

Yarrow Hydrosol: Those suffering from dry, irritated skin, or chronic redness will love Yarrow Hydrosol. It's strong soothing properties can be extremely helpful.

Facial Toner Recipes
Each recipe makes two ounces. These batches should be used or discarded within 3 weeks.

Facial Toner for Dry, Irritated Skin

Facial Toner for Normal or Mature Skin

1/2 ounce Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
5 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract
1/2 ounce Organic Geranium Bourbon Hydrosol
1/2 ounce Rose Damascena Hydrosol
1/2 ounce Organic Helichrysum Hydrosol

Facial Toner for Combination Skin

1/2 ounce Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
5 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract
1/2 ounce Lavandula Augusifolia Hydrosol
1/2 ounce Witch Hazel Hydrosol
1/2 ounce Yarrow Hydrosol

Facial Toner for Oily or Acne Prone Skin

These are just some suggestions to help you get started. Experiment with different hydrosols to see which your skin like best, and build your own customized toner. If you'd prefer to purchase a handmade toner rather than make one from scratch, visit our Artisan Directory on Beauty by the Batch.

The Natural Beauty Workshop's Guide to Using Color Additives

2012-02-07T13:33:24-05:00

People say that we begin a meal with our eyes, which is why food is carefully colored, plated, even styled before being photographed. The same thing goes for cosmetics and bath & body products. Have you ever gawked at a bar of soap, or oggled a bath bomb? I think it would be fair to say that we may very well smell with our eyes too. Thus the importance of making your bath & body products as gorgeous as possible.

There are so many ways to add color, texture, and interest to your products. Some formulators delight in using the brightest, boldest colors available, while others opt for the more painterly appearance yielded by natural herbs and spices. There are also those who dabble in the middle ground, using mineral colorants which could be considered synthetic or natural, depending on your point of view.

So which is the best method of coloring handmade products? The answer is up to you, and up to your products, of course. We'll go over a wide range of Color Additives, and talk a little about what each one is best used for.

D&C and FD&C Dyes: These synthetic dyes are very, very potent. They are available in water soluble or oil dispersible varieties, and can be added to almost any type of formulation. D&C and FD&C dyes produce bold, vibrant colors, and can be adjusted, drop by drop, to achieve a desired shade. They can even be mixed and matched to produce new and unique colors.

The biggest "catch" with D&C and FD&C dyes is that they have a tendency to bleed. That means that if you layer one color on top of another, say in a soap or a layered body butter, the colors will look amazing at first, but in a few days they will begin to bleed into each other, which is not very attractive. These dyes can also fade over time. This is not a big deal when it comes to short shelf life products, such as lotions, but if you plan to store items, like scrubs, soaps, etc. you may be dissapointed when the colors fade in a few months. Learn more about D&C and FD&C Dyes here.

Oxides & Ultramarines: Natural minerals can yield amazing colors, but they are often laced with dangerous components, such as heavy metals or poisons. In order to use these minerals safely, they are often processed or completely reproduced synthetically in a lab. That puts these ingredients into a "gray area" when it comes to categorizing them and natural or synthetic. Though they are virtually identical to natural minerals, they have been altered for safety's sake.

Oxides & Ultramarines yield incredibly vivid, matte colors. They are often used in makeups and lipsticks, but are also very popular for use in soap making. These ingredients are dry powders, but they can be dispersed easily into oil. After being mixed with oil they can be introduced into a wide variety of formulations. Use Oxides & Ultramarines to add dense, matte color to soaps, lotions, body butters, lip balms, and bath bombs. They are not soluble in water, so be sure to only add them to the oil phases of your recipes. Learn more about Oxides & Ultramarines here.

Pearlescant Micas: These mineral based colorants can be used to add shimmering, multi-facated color to soaps, bath salts, cosmetics, lip care products, and bath bombs. Mica Powder is a natural mineral that has been crushed into a fine powder for use in cosmetics. A variety of synthetic dyes, Oxides, Ultramarines, and natural colorants are combined with Mica Powder to create a huge pallette of colors. Because Pearlescant Micas come in such a broad variety of formulations, they are not universally suited to all recipes. Make sure to check with our Mica Safety Guide to select the correct Mica for your recipe. Also, be sure to take a close look at the notes of each Mica if you are using them on Cold Processed Soaps, as certain Micas can cause seizing. Learn more about Pearlescant Micas here.

Jojoba Wax Beads: Jojoba Wax Beads are made from Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil and D&C Dyes. They can be melted to add color to oil and wax based formulas, such as body butters, balms, body oils, etc. Leave them whole to add color and exfoliating value to scrubs and cleansers. They can also be included in suspension type liquid soaps and body washes. Learn more about Jojoba Wax Beads here. We've used Jojoba Wax Beads in several Natural Beauty Workshop recipes. See how we've used Jojoba Wax Beads to color our Candy Cane Sugar Scrub, and our Coconut & Plum Whipped Body Butter.

Natural Tinting Herbs: Colored herbs can be used in several ways to incorporate natural color into formulations. Powdered Herbs can be added directly to scrubs, soaps, and powders. To add herbal color to lotions, lip balms, or body oils, the herbs should be infused into water or oil phases. Learn more using natural herbs to color products here.

Natural Tinting Herbs used in a series of Lip Balms.

All Natural Facial Treatments From The Natural Beauty Workshop

2012-02-01T14:09:13-05:00

Sometimes your skin feels a little dull. Maybe it's looking a little greasy, red, or just plain blah? These are the times when a really great mask or facial treatment can be just the thing to set your pretty face right again. Now and then, the delicate balance of our face can be disrupted. All kinds of things can make this happen. It can be the result of a change in weather, health, or even your mood. Our body uses a complex system of hormones, organs, and chemicals to keep us looking and feeling our best. When something is "off", one of the first places that suffers is your skin.

I use masks as a regular part of my beauty routine. About every two weeks I use a mask to suit my skin. Normally, this is just a gentle cleansing concoction of yogurt, oatmeal, and white clay. But now and then, if my skin seems to be unusually oily, dry, or irritated, I fix up something special. Over the years, we've posted a huge variety of recipes for facial masks. Find the one that suits your skin best, and treat yourself to a special treatment. Most masks can be made very quickly, and they only take about 10 - 20 minutes to work. This makes them perfect for the home spa.

Apple Granola Face Mask: This gentle mask is great for brightening dull skin.
Basic Facial Masks for Men: These simple mask recipes can be used for women too.
Oatmeal-a-mole Mask: Use this avocado mask to sooth and moisturize dry skin.
Red Raspberry Facial Mask: A good choice for combination skin, this mask soothes, exfoliates, and cleanses skin, while pampering it with a boost of antioxidants.
Energizing Facial Mask: This deep cleansing mask can help detox, refresh, and brighten skin.
Facial Fruit Smoothie: This versatile recipe is perfect for normal or sensitive skin. It's a great choice for your "regular" mask.
Queen Bee Facial Mask: A luxurious mask filled with superb ingredients, the Queen Bee is perfect for mature skin, sensitive skin, or normal skin types.
Fresh Herb Facials: This post includes recipes for normal, sensitive, or acne prone skin.
Fun & Fruity Facial Masks: These masks are super gentle, and can be used on very sensitive skin. They are perfect for kids.
Creamy Rice & Coconut Scrub: This intense facial cleanser is just right for occasional dermabrasion, but it's exfoliation is very strong, so it shouldn't be used daily.
Deep Cleansing Mud Masque: A good choice for those with normal or oily skin.
Detoxifying January Facial Mask: This mask uses clay, sea vegetables, and herbs to draw toxins out of the skin. Keep in mind that it also draws moisture, so it shouldn't be used on very dry skin.

Arabian Fragrance Oils

2012-01-27T15:40:10-05:00

Photo by Aisha J

We are excited to introduce our new line of Arabian Fragrance Oils at From Nature With Love! These finely crafted Fragrance Oils posess deep, complex scents, making them ideal for perfumery and fine product formulation. They would be wonderful for adding delicate scent to creams, lotions, body powders, and other cosmetics. In perfume Oils, solid perfumes, body mists, or colognes, Arabian Fragrance Oils will truly shine. Our collection of Arabian Fragrance Oils contains nine unique aromas, each special in its own way. Take a look at the wide variety of Oils we currently have available.

Abal: Our Abal Arabian Fragrance Oil has a light but sultry amber aroma. An exotic combination of sweet, fruity and floral notes complete this exquisite fragrance oil.
Isra: This rich, musky fragrance oil is named Isra in honor of the legend of the winged horse journey that the Islamic prophet Muhammad took. Isra Arabian Fragrance Oil combines the rich, grounding aroma of amber and sandalwood with sweet and exotic floral top notes. Isra is both feminine and masculine and can be incorporated into both very gender-specific products as well as unisex formulations.
Jannah: In Arabic, Jannah means garden or paradise. Our Jannah Arabian Fragrance Oil is a beautiful floral that is perfectly married with a rich amber fragrance. Hints of citrus complete this stunning fragrance oil.
Motia: Our Motia Arabian Fragrance Oil beautifully captures the fragrance of Motia Attar. This rich fragrance combines the warmth and depth of sandalwood with the sweet and narcotic aroma of fresh jasmine petals. Unlike other jasmine fragrances, Motia Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma.
Musk Ghazala: In Arabic, Ghazala means gazelle. Musk Ghazala Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a warm, graceful, exotic musky aroma that is also softly spicy and floral.
Rose: We are very proud to offer this outstanding rose fragrance within our new collection of Arabian Fragrance Oils as it so beautifully captures the aroma of a fragrant, fresh rose. This fragrance also conveys a hint of sandalwood. Unlike Rose Essential Oil or other rose fragrances, Rose Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma.
Ruh: In Arabic, Ruh means spirit. Ruh Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a very deep, grounding and earthy amber fragrance. Peaking out are lively sweet and floral top notes that help to round out this very unique fragrance.
Safa: Safa means pure in Arabic. Our Safa Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a complex, light, sweet, fruity, warming amber aroma against a backdrop of beautifully floral nag champa. Unlike other nag champa fragrances, Safa Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma.
Sandalwood: Our Sandalwood Arabian Fragrance Oil beautifully captures the fragrance of sandalwood. This soft fragrance is rich, warming, grounding and sweetly woody. Sandalwood is loved by both men and women, and can be incorporated into both very gender-specific products as well as unisex formulations. In comparison with our traditional Sandalwood Fragrance Oil, our Sandalwood Arabian Fragrance Oil is a bit softer and more mellow in aroma.

Since their aromas are very powerful, we recommend diluting them in order to evaluate their aromas properly. Their complex aromas are likely to become distorted at full strength. Try diluting a few drops into a teaspoon of plain carrier oil to experience their aroma fully. In formulations, undiluted Arabian Fragrance Oils can be added at a ratio of 2 - 5%.

For more information on our Arabian Fragrance Oils, visit the Arabian Fragrance Oils product pages on From Nature With Love.

Photo by Mathias Mazzetti

Coconut & Plum Whipped Body Butter

2012-01-23T10:21:00-05:00

This beautiful mixture has such a lovely, subtle scent, and such an inviting color that I nearly licked the whip clean after my test batch. I know that some folks delight in powerfully scented products, but for me, there is nothing quite as special as a formulation that smells wonderful without any added aromatics. This recipe doesn't contain a drop of Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil. The natural aromas of Virgin Coconut Cream Oil and Plum Oil provide this body butter with a delicate scent that barely kisses the skin after use. In a word, it's dreamy.

I used Ultra Refined Cocoa Butter and Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil as the bases for this body butter. This special Cocoa Butter yields very little aroma, perfect for formulations that don't work well with Cocoa Butter's usual strong chocolate scent. Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil might just be my favorite natural skin care ingredient ever. If you've ever smelled it, you'll understand why. Our Virgin Coconut smells just like a freshly cracked coconut. It's light, and moisturizing, and slightly astringent. Binding the fats are two plant based waxes, Carnauba and Plum Jojoba Esters. Carnauba is a super stiff vegetable wax. In fact, it is so hard that you just need a tiny bit to harden this recipe. Plum Jojoba Wax Beads give the butter a gorgeous plum/pink color, but if you'd prefer a 100% natural butter, switch the Plum Jojoba Wax Beads for White.

Coconut & Plum Whipped Body Butter
Makes about 6 ounces by volume, and about 5 1/2 ounces by weight

Ingredients

2 ounces Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil
2 ounces Ultra Refined Cocoa Butter
1 ounce Plum Kernel Oil
1/2 ounce Carnauba Wax
1 ½ teaspoons Plum Jojoba Wax Beads

Directions

In a double boiler over medium-high heat, combine the Cocoa Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, and Waxes. Heat these ingredients gently until they have fully melted. Make absolutely sure that the Waxes have melted completely, than add the Plum Kernel Oil. Remove the mixture from the heat. Place the double boiler into a pot of ice water, and whip continuously, and vigorously until thickened. This may take several minutes, even if you are using an electric mixer. It may be helpful to move the boiler in and out of the ice bath to control the thickness of the mixture. Be sure and keep the mixture from sticking to the sides of the boiler. When the mixture has thickened to where it has become thick and fluffy (like frosting), spoon it into your containers. Allow the mixture to set in the containers completely before using or handling. This could take several hours.

Usage & Packaging

Whipped Butters, like this one, look wonderful in our Clear PET Jars. This formula should be fairly stable, so you can expect it to remain fresh for at least 2 - 3 months. If you'd like, you can add 1 ml of Vitamin E T50 to help keep the oils and butters fresh.

If you like the cute cupcake stand pictured here, you can get one of your own at Whitney Smith Pottery.

Papaya Smoothie Sugar Scrub

2012-01-16T11:41:01-05:00

This tropical scented sugar scrub uses Honey Granules and Coconut Milk Powder to enhance its cleansing ability. Tiny Jojoba Wax Beads give it a touch of color, and Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil makes it rinsable. We scented it with our mouth watering Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil, a luscious mix of papaya and cream fragrances.

Papaya Smoothie Sugar Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients

1/2 cup Turbinado Sugar
2 ounces Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil
1 tablespoon Coconut Milk Powder
1 tablespoon Honey Granules
2 teaspoons Tangerine Jojoba Wax Beads
1/4 ounce Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil

Directions

Combine the Coconut Milk Powder and Honey Granules in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil and mix well, making sure to break up any clumps in the dry ingredients. Add the Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil, followed by the Turbinado Sugar and Tangerine Jojoba Wax Beads. Stir the mixture well, dispersing the ingredients evenly throughout the mixture. Transfer to jars.

Usage & Packaging

This scrub looks great in our 2 oz. or 4 oz. Flat PET Jars with White Caps. To use, gently massage the scrub over wet skin in a circular motion, then rinse. This scrub should be used as a body or foot scrub. It would not be suitable for the face.