DIY Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

Sweet Almond Oil is a lightweight oil and is widely used in Spas and is found in many massage products. It is rich in vitamins A, E, and B as well as Oleic and Linoleic essential fatty acids. It is an effective emollient as it quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving it soft and supple. This oil is known to help counteract and soothe skin conditions including itching, dryness and inflammation. An excellent oil for skin care. Good for all skin types.

Bergamot has a light, fresh, floral citrus aroma that is uplifting, rejuvenating, calming, and balancing. Commonly used in cosmetics to help balance oily skin, prevent acne, and help relieve skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema. It is said to help alleviate fatigue due to stress, restore appetite, improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, and reduce fever as well as repel insects. Use carefully in skin preparations as citrus oils are known photosensitizers.

Sage has a woody, green, and herbaceous aroma. It is best known for reducing emotional stress, depression, and pre-menstrual tension. It has estrogen-like properties making it useful for remedies for menopause, hot flashes, and as an aphrodisiac.

Eucalyptus has a clear, sharp, herbaceous, and camphorous aroma. Eucalyptus is cleansing, purifying, invigorating, and balancing. It is great for use in facial steam and clears congested and blemished skin. It has a cooling and deodorizing effect on the body, helping reduce fevers, migraines, and malaria. Eucalyptus oil is also very helpful in supporting the immune system (particularly the respiratory tract), as well as reducing headaches or muscular pains.

Grapefruit has a fresh, clean, uplifting aroma that is slightly tart while also being pleasant and sweet. For inhalation, Grapefruit has been used to uplift the spirits and relieve stress. For skin and hair care applications, it offers astringent properties that help to balance oily skin and hair and is a useful addition to facial toners. It is also helpful for reducing cellulite and water retention as well as a digestive aid. Its properties include antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, astringent, depurative, digestive, diuretic, restorative, stimulant, and tonic.

Lavender essential oil has a light fresh aroma that is floral, light, with woody undertones. The most popular essential oil, it has a long list of applications dating back to antiquity- in fact, the word "lavender" comes from the Latin 'lavera,' meaning to wash. It is suitable for all skin types and is used to prevent scarring, stretch marks, and to slow the development of wrinkles. It is also known to moisturize dry scalp and hair. Aromatherapists use it to treat rheumatism, sprains, respiratory problems, abdominal cramps, depression, insomnia, tension-related problems, burns, sun-damaged skin, and various types of skin infections. It is particularly effective in treating headaches and migraines.

Lemon has a fresh, uplifting, and citrus-y aroma. It is a pleasant and functional addition to cleaning formulations and air fresheners due to its disinfectant, antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It helps to clean and cut grease and stains and remove gum while imparting a pleasant citrus aroma. It also helps improve micro-circulation, immune function, and helps with digestive problems. For hair and skincare formulations, the astringency of Lemon makes it useful for combating oily skin and hair. Within holistic aromatherapy, the bright, citrus scent is stimulating, but it also is said to aid in focus and concentration. It is often used by spas and incorporated into body massage oils, body wraps and salt soaks.

Lemongrass fresh, citrusy, grassy aroma. It can help aid in toning the body and tissues and relieve muscle pain by making them supple when used in massage. It also helps with correcting poor blood circulation and is also deodorizing. Lemongrass is included in many insect repellent formulations as it helps repel insects and can be used to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks, and lice. It can also be used as a skin tonic for clearing oily skin, acne, athlete’s foot, and other issues caused by perspiration.

Peppermint has a fresh, minty, sweet, herbaceous aroma. Its healing application extends to nervous disorders, the respiratory tract, muscle aches and pains, and skin problems. It is not only very refreshing but stimulating as well. Aromatherapists use Peppermint in treating asthma, nausea, colic, cramps, colds, fevers, fainting, headaches, mental fatigue, flatulence, and nausea. Peppermint may also help certain emotional conditions, such as depression, shock, migraines, nervous stress, vertigo, and faintness. It is useful in general respiratory disorders as well, whether they are caused by microbes or allergies. Peppermint is known to relieve pain from toothaches, rheumatism, neuralgia, muscular pains, and painful menstrual cycles, due to its effects on the circulatory system.

Basil has a sweet, spicy, green, and slightly balsamic odor. It is colorless or pale yellow in color. It is relaxing and uplifting and is an ideal remedy for mental fatigue, headaches, and insomnia. Basil is also useful for menstrual cramps, to relieve flatulence and other intestinal problems, and to stimulate hair growth.

Cassia has a sweet, woody, spicy aroma similar to Cinnamon. It is known for easing nausea and vomiting. It can help protect from microbial infections, viral infections and is known to relieve gas, headaches, and menstrual cramps. Cassia is often included in mouthwashes, kinds of toothpaste, and gargles due to its antibacterial properties as well as in flavorings for beverages.

Cedarwood oil benefits the skin by its sedating ability to relieve itching. It has a woody and fruity aroma with honey overtones. Its astringent action is good for acne, oily skin, eczema, and dandruff and is also a good insect and vermin repellent. It can help with chest and urinary infections and acts as a general tonic. It makes a great addition to massage oils as it aids in reducing cellulite and removal of body fat. Its properties include anti-fungal, anti-putrefactive, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, insecticide, regenerative, sedative, and tonic.

Cinnamon Leaf is a highly aromatic, warming, and spicy oil that works wonderfully to cleanse and purify the air, killing germs and bacteria. It calms the respiratory tract, nervous system and eases symptoms of colds and influenza. Use as a room freshener during the holiday months.

Citronella is credited for its therapeutic properties as an antiseptic, deodorant, insecticide, and parasitic. Citronella is a good natural insect repellent and can be used in dog shampoo to kill fleas. It is helpful with colds, flu, minor infections and has deodorizing qualities.

The fresh, sweet, citrus aroma of Clementine is known to calm anxiety and feelings of panic. Relaxing, its aroma fills the room with calm and uplifts without energizing. It is often said to help treat insomnia.

Clove bud has a deliciously spicy, woody, and warm aroma. It is often used in formulations for dental care such as mouthwashes. It is used throughout Chinese medicine to help with skin infections, digestive issues, intestinal parasites, toothaches, nausea, and bronchitis. It is a very potent oil and can cause skin irritations if not used correctly. Its properties include analgesic, antibacterial, anticlotting, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, carminative, expectorant, insecticide, and stimulant.