Hi Aroma Friends,

I'm not going to start with my usual weather topic, because by the time our newsletter finally goes out, the weather has turned  totally opposite to whatever I've written.  I don't understand these extreme weather changes; I want to put away my winter clothes, bedding etc and get into summer mode but I no sooner have the thought and it seems the temperature is falling again.

In saying that, this month's topics is the great outdoors which includes gardening, something that relies heavily on that seven letter word, "weather". People are beginning to think about their gardens and I have received e-mails from friends who are planning a complimentary garden, a garden where compatible plants look after each other. Sounds wonderful doesn't it?

Aromas can protect plants by making them repugnant or even poisonous to certain insects. This is why we plant Marigolds around the vegetables. I understand that on the farm where we buy our rose oil in Bulgaria, they intercrop with garlic and onion to not only protect the roses but also to enhance their  fragrance. We are featuring some of our oils that have insecticidal properties.

Speaking of bugs, don't forget to stock up with your Bugz Off and Itch Over before the mosquitoes come out to play, its gentle enough for children and seniors, and especially for gardeners. Our No Fleas Please is also a helpful blend at this time of year.

We also have Mother's Day coming up on May 11th, and in trying to think of something more inspiring than  the usual chocolates or flowers I tried to think about what would  really make every mother happy. If every mother received the gift of love, defined as an entire day with no falling-outs between siblings, where mums could have a day off from playing referee, and children did some chores without being asked, believe me everyone would enjoy the happy relaxed atmosphere.  But if that sounds a little out of reach and you are looking for something special for mom, how about a gift of essential oils for her bath, a few candles and her favourite magazine or book?

Until next time,

These are some of the recipes that I've used from Suzanne Catty's book "Hydrosols - The Next Aromatherapy".

Indigestion:  Add 5mls of peppermint hydrosol to 200 mls of water and sip slowly.

Headaches:  Mix 50 mls of peppermint hydrosol and 50 mls of Roman Chamomile Hydrosol, take 2 teaspoons of the mixture orally and add the rest to 100 mls of water and use as a cold compress.

Burns:  Apply Lavender essential oil directly onto a burn and place a cotton soaked in Lavender Hydrosol as a compress on top.

Skin Toner: 100 mls of Witch Hazel a large handful of fresh, finely chopped sage.  Allow to infuse in a warm place for 3 hours and then strain into a sterilized bottle.  Great for after sun care.

Hair Rinse: After you have washed your hair instead of conditioner pour hydrosol over your hair as a final rinse.

The Shea Butter you purchase from Green Valley comes from Topko, a small village in northern Ghana. A group of women called the Tapko Widow's Group produce this product as part of a micro-credit economic program which allows them to receive a fair price as well as a portion of retail proceeds. By purchasing Shea Butter from Green Valley you are directly supporting these families.

The women manually harvest the seeds of the Karite tree, which translated means Tree of Life. The village is in a region that is so remote that local trees have not been exposed to pesticides or chemicals, in fact no industry mechanism for organic certification even exists.  It is among the highest quality shea butter available, and has not been bleached, deodorized, coloured, preserved, or chemically extracted. Most seed oils either have healing properties or moisturizing properties, but pure shea butter is valued because it has both.  As such, Shea butter has a number of benefits to the skin and has been used to improve conditions such as blemishes, eczema, and dermatitis, insect bites, sunburns, frostbites and to accelerate the healing of skin wounds, cracks, rough skin and skin damage.

Clove Bud Oil

Cedarwood

Cinnamon

Citronella

Eucalyptus citriodora

Fennel

Lemon Grass

Manuka

Niaouli

Patchouli

Peppermint