Aromatic Scents of Christmas – part 2

Ambience and decorations

Make your home smell warm and welcoming by blending essential oils for an oil burner or a room spray. There are several spicy (clove, cinnamon) and citrus oils (orange, tangerine, bergamot, mandarin, lemon) that work well together. Try adding four drops of essential oil of orange and two of cinnamon to the water-filled bowl of your burner or dilute these quantities in two cups of water in a plant spray. Frankincense (see October oil of the month) and myrrh in resin form were the gifts of Kings, and you can experiment by adding a single drop of either of these essential oils to your blend to give a spiritual dimension. Alternatively, you could add a couple of drops of ‘woody’ oil such as cedarwood, bay or pine.



Indeed, the natural scent of pine we all associate with Yuletide can be recaptured either by spraying your Christmas tree with a mixture of six drops of essential oil of pine to one cup of water or by wrapping a piece of absorbent fabric infused with a few drops of pine oil around the tree trunk. This can help evoke the Christmas spirit whether you opt for a traditional Christmas tree (nowadays often coated with preservatives which prevent needle-drop but mask the natural scent) or an artificial one. You can do the same with Christmas wreaths and pine cone table decorations.



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Aromatic Scents of Christmas - part 1

Clients of Uniquely Organic may already be aware of the delights and benefits of aromatherapy. As Christmas approaches, there are many ways in which this gentle art can be used to enhance the seasonal spirit whether in recipes, home-made presents or festive ambience and decorations. This month we bring you some ideas of how essential oils can be used in the kitchen and as the basis for individual Christmas gifts.

Christmas food and drink
An essential oil can sometimes turn a good recipe into a great one. Add a drop of lemon or orange oil to your mincemeat and watch your household flock to the kitchen at the first waft of your mince-pies. A spicy essential oil like ginger or cinnamon can add a kick to both the aroma and flavour of Christmas pud, while these and other oils distilled from spices, such as nutmeg, clove or mace are wonderful in Christmas cake.

Did you know you can also make mulled wine using essential oils instead of spices and fruit? Try blending a drop or two of cinnamon, clove, and your choice of citrus essential oil in two tablespoons of honey and stir this into a 750 ml of wine which has been slowly heating in a non-metallic saucepan. Whip it off the hob as soon as it starts to bubble, allow to cool a little, then serve in wine glasses whose rims have been wetted and pre-dipped in sugar... well, it is Christmas and it warms the cockles of your heart!

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