A white bowl full of hand made soap

How to select the perfect essential oil soap for your skin and mood

Whether you’re having a shower in the morning to wake yourself up or a nice long leisurely bath at the end of a long week to wash the worries of the world away, adding a naturally scented soap to your self-care regime might just be what your skin and mood needs. 

Essential oils have become increasingly popular in recent years, but they’ve been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, health care and beauty treatments.  We always like to think we’re doing something that is new and fancy, but really we can learn so much from our elders.   

Grasses, leaves, flowers, needles, twigs, peels of fruit, seeds, bark & roots are all used to extract essential oils.  The plant materials are pressed or steamed through a distillation process to extract the potent and highly aromatic oils. 

 

What is an essential oil?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines essential oils as

any of a class of volatile oils that give plants their characteristic odours and are used especially in perfumes and flavorings, and for aromatherapy”

Volatile oils are those substances that easily evaporate at room temperature.  These volatile oils given off by plants are responsible for the aromatic scents of flowers and other plant parts.  

Person pouring essential oil from a metal container into a beaker.


Which Essential Oil Soap is best for you?

We make a range of soaps that are scented with essential oils.  They not only smell amazing, but they can also be beneficial for you.  Here is a list of essential oils that we use in our soaps and how they could benefit your mood and your skin:

 

Rose Geranium

Rose Geranium is an aromatic herb with floral, rosy top notes. Steam distillation is used on the flowers and herbal parts to extract the oil.  The combination of its feminine aroma plus soothing, anti-inflammatory properties make this a popular choice for many skin care products.   

Rose Geranium is an all-round healer and prominent in many anti-aging products.  This is because when diluted and applied topically, Rose Geranium Oil protects and tightens the epidermis to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It is known to have powerful cellular regeneration properties that are known to tone the skin and provide a radiating glow.  

When diffused and inhaled, the benefits of Rose Geranium Essential Oil are known to quiet the brain and central nervous system.  This calming effect has been seen to help with symptoms of stress, nervousness, tension and mental exhaustion. 

 

Ylang Ylang

The ylang ylang plant is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Java, Sumatra, Comoro & Polynesia.  It’s extracted via steam distillation from the Cananga odorata botanical species and has an incredibly sweet floral aroma.  

Ylang Ylang has powerful therapeutic properties when used in aromatherapy.  It's been seen to help soothe symptoms of stress, insomnia, tension, shock and mental fatigue.  

When used on the skin Ylang Ylang has been seen to help regulate sebum levels, whilst balancing both dry and oily skin types.  It has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used for many years in traditional asian medicine to help heal small wounds and prevent infection.  

Ylang Ylang essential oil consists of naturally occuring sedative and calming properties, making it a wonderful essential oil for stress relief.  

 

Australian Balm Mint Bush

Native to the Australian high country, Australian Balm Mint Bush is an essential oil that is close to our hearts.  The plants can be found growing prolifically across the Bogong High Plains, Falls Creek & Mt Bogong and its minty scent is easily released when the tiny leaves are pressed between your finger tips.

Australian Bush Mint Balm has a refreshingly bright, minty and eucalyptus like scent.  The essential oil is extracted from the leaves and twigs via steam distillation. 

Its fresh scent when diffused can help to fight colds & ease headaches.  

Like many australian native plants it has antibacterial and antifungal properties making it a great essential oil for cleaning and cleansing.  It’s a great oil for acne prone skin.

It is also prized for its carminative qualities and is often used as a natural de-stressor.  

 

Lemongrass 

Lemongrass essential oil is a favourite of ours.  Its herbaceous, citrusy and somewhat grassy aroma is truly uplifting and invigorating.  The essential oil is extracted from the leaves via steam distillation.  

Its naturally occurring astringent properties makes it a great essential oil for fighting blemishes and balancing oily skin, making it a great oil for acne prone skin.  

Lemongrass essential oil is widely used in natural medicine.  The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the oil work to relieve muscle and joint pain, so it's a great oil to use after strenuous exercise.  

It has powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties and can help in preventing wound infections.  

Lemongrass essential oil has also been seen to help with headaches, fevers and flu-like symptoms.  

Its scent is energising and stimulating, so is wonderful for helping to combat tiredness and jet lag.   

Lemongrass essential oil shares many characteristics with citronella java essential oil and because of this, it can be an effective insect repellent.  

 

Ginger

Ginger Essential Oil is extracted from the Zingiber Officinale botanical species via steam distillation.  Its aroma is refreshingly warm, earthy and a little spicy.  

Ginger essential oil contains a significantly high percentage of gingerol, a constituent that is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  For this reason, it has been seen to assist with digestive discomforts.  

These anti-inflammatory properties also make this a popular essential oil for muscle spasms, soreness, headaches, migraines, back pain and menstrual related cramping.  Ginger oil can also assist with respiratory related issues such as excessive coughing, asthma, bronchitis and cold and flu-like symptoms.  

When used on the skin Ginger Essential Oil has been seen to soothe redness, dryness & itchiness.  Its antibacterial properties make it a good cleanser and toner and helps to relieve acne and further breakouts.  

The warm scent notes of ginger are great for helping with sadness, dizziness & fatigue.  It is known as the “oil of empowerment” and is thought to encourage inspiration and confidence.  


Lemon Myrtle

Native to Australia, Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil is derived from the Backhousia citriodora plant and has been used in natural remedies for centuries.  Its oil is extracted via steam distillation.  

Lemon Myrtle has a warm and refreshing sweet lemon-like aroma.  

Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil is known to contain natural antioxidants, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic and immune boosting properties.  With these properties it is an extremely beneficial for external wounds, skin infections and fungal conditions, such as athletes foot.  

It's known to assist with respiratory related illnesses such as bronchitis and excessive coughing.  It has been seen to ease common cold and flu symptoms as well as headaches and migraines.  

When used on the skin Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil can assist with oily prone skin, which means it is commonly used to treat acne and prevent future breakouts.  

Due to its incredibly refreshing and pleasant essence, Lemon Myrtle is good for uplifting your mood and stabilizing emotions.  It is also believed to help to relieve stress.  

 

May Chang

Litsea Cubeba or more commonly known as May Chang is a beautifully refreshing essential oil.  Native to China, Indonesia and various South-east Asian countries, May Chang has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to assist in a wide range of health concerns.  

The essential oil is extracted from the plant via steam distillation and has a very pleasant floral lemongrass scent.  

In traditional Chinese medicine May Chang is used to assist with asthma, back pain, chills, digestive issues, menstrual related cramping, headaches and muscle pain.

Its antifungal properties make it a great natural remedy for treating various fungal infections such as Athlete Foot.  

Its mild astringent properties make it good to use on acne prone skin types. 

May Chang is often used in aromatherapy for its ability to refresh, stimulate and uplift the mind.  This makes it great for those feeling lethargic and fatigued.  It is often referred to as the "Oil of Tranquility" and it's a great stress reliever.  

May Chang is also known to act as a natural insect repellent.

 

Grapefruit

Grapefruit essential oil comes from the Citrus paradisi botanical species of the grapefruit and is believed to be a hybrid of Pummelo and Sweet Orange.  The oil is extracted from the skin via pressing.

In aromatherapy Grapefruit is primarily known for its ability to energise the mind and enliven the senses.   But, it is also known to alleviate nervous exhaustion and tension, whilst relieving symptoms of stress, mental fatigue and exhaustion.  

Grapefruit oil has well known powerful cleansing and purifying abilities and has antiseptic properties.  When used on the skin it also can assist with skin complaints such as acne, cellulite & oily prone skin.  

 

Eucalyptus

Indigenous Australians have been using the eucalyptus plant for hundreds of years to treat pains, colds, sinus congestion and fevers.  Its incredible healing powers are now recognised world wide and regularly used in treating and preventing ailments.  

Eucalyptus essential oil is extracted via steam distillation.  The refreshing, crisp smelling oil is extracted from the leaves of the tree.  

Eucalyptus oil is a great cleaning product and has a wonderful ability to remove grease and grime.  In addition, it naturally carries antiviral and antimicrobial properties which further assists with fighting viruses and infections.  

When used topically Eucalyptus Oil can help in treating wounds, prevent infection, ease inflammation and promote healing.  

Eucalyptus oil is regularly used to relieve the symptoms of colds, flu, coughs and other infections.  Eucalyptus contains 1,8-cineole, a compound known to safely fight viruses and respiratory related illnesses.  Eucalyptus oil contains key compounds called eucalyptol and cineole, which work to suppress coughs, reduce inflammation, relieve pain and ease muscle tension. 

 

Lavender

Lavender is probably one of the most commonly used essential oils and there’s good reasons for its popularity.  The sweet, floral and herbaceous aromatic oil is extracted from the flowers via steam distillation.  

First recognised for its calming and soothing powers in the days of the Roman Empire, when the use of Lavender essential oil revolved around bathing and cleaning.  It quickly became a very popular scent and its many benefits make it one of the most popular essential oils even today.

Lavender Essential Oil has wonderful anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and antiseptic properties.  These properties make it great to use in skin care for aging, dry and acne prone skin.  This also makes it great for treating minor burns, cuts, abrasions and bug bites.

Because of its natural decongesting abilities, Lavender oil is wonderful for assisting with treating respiratory related illnesses.  Lavender oil acts as a natural analgesic (pain reliever) and can assist with muscle and joint pain.  It also can help to increase blood circulation.  

Lavender oil has naturally occurring sedative properties and is good for relieving nervous tension and insomnia.  When inhaled the aroma from  oil interacts with the neurotransmitters within the body to quieten the brain and nervous system.   

 Lavender buds in a glass jar

 

Essential Oils can help to improve you mood and your skin and can be easily incorporated into your everyday routine by using natural handcrafted soaps when you bath.  This simple act could help to improve your day and set you off on the right start first thing in the morning.  How easy and great is that fore your day.

Learn more about ethical self-care here

 





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