Lately I’ve noticed when I am out shopping with the girls that I’ve turned into a broken record. As we wait in line at the cash they see all the fun glitzy impulse items geared towards them and before they even say anything,  I start to rant! The girls are showing me the products (perfumes, sparkly lipsticks) because they are nicely packaged and really, they are just bored waiting in line!!  They aren’t asking me to buy anything for them, but I’m not even paying attention. Once I start ranting, it’s hard to stop me.

More and more kid’s clothing stores are selling cosmetics aimed at tweens. I’m not ranting about commercialism or advertising. My issue is with all the dangerous chemicals that are listed on the ingredients label! I get worked up, then I get inspired to make a DIY version.

The kids and I made this roll on perfume to sell at their school’s craft fair. It was a big hit ! I admit our version isn’t as flashy or ‘girly’ as the one  in the stores, but I found once I explained to the kids how unnecessary & harmful some of the ingredients were, they didn’t mind that their version was far more simple. They were just proud they made it themselves .

Super Simple Perfume:

1/4 cup Jojoba oil or safflower oil

10 -15 drops essential oil of your choice

Add essential oils to carrier oil. Mix gently. Pour into dark glass bottle (preferable) .

We only make a little at a time because we don’t use the alcohol or Vodka (!) some recipes call for . It’s just as well because then you can constantly be creating  new scents. You can just dab the perfume directly on your skin. The scent is very light and not overpowering and the oil is easily absorbed into the skin.

I have to confess, I cannot STAND scents. Artificial ones that is. Ironic, considering my husband used to be a soap maker.We owned a country store in Knowlton, Quebec and Mike made a line of cold-pressed olive oil soap. The soaps were amazing! The only problem was that he sometimes used fragrance oils . He’d come home from the store and I would immediately make him change his clothes.  The fragrance gave me a serious headache!!!

I do, however, love a fresh smelling home – but I refuse to use artificial room fresheners. I feel like I’m inviting CANCER right into mine and my children’s lungs. Having said that, the first recipe I would like to share with you is how to make an environmentally friendly natural air mist with essential oils. Fragrances have been associated with all sorts of health problem.  You can read more here: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/green-your-workplace/go-fragrance-free/index.php.  So if you can’t open a window and let the fresh air in, this is the next best thing!

Natural Air Mist :

1 cup distilled water ( found at most pharmacies )

15 drops essential oils ( your choice )

1/4 cup Witch Hazel

Combine all 3 ingredients in spray bottle . Shake it up. Let sit overnight.

Give it a gentle shake each time before you use it.

Enjoy!

My friends and I love to exchange recipes. I like nothing better than going to dinner somewhere , eating something delicious and going home with the recipe! Takes away all the pressure of having to decide what to cook, flipping through recipes or searching on line and then being all disappointed because after all that hard work it doesn’t taste as good as you thought!!

Anyway  - all this to say I thought ” Why not exchange recipes for all natural cleaning products and personal care products?”

So here goes,  I will be posting different recipes ( for many different things) on this blog

Cheers