Smells like Christmas - Part two - The spice of pie, a hint of citrus

Candy canes, mistletoe, “Ho, Ho, Ho” and all that stuff. Oh baby, it’s almost Christmas. The time of year where we show our love threw giving and baking pies! Tell me you don’t love the food at Christmas time. Cranberry chutney, the green bean casserole, ham and yams, oh my! It’s enough to make my mouth start watering right now

I think the most quintessential Christmas food smell though is pumpkin spice. Recipes vary but most commonly a combination of -

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or clovesYou just throw it all together and store for when you need it. Simple right?

This lovely fragrant and tasty mix can be used not only in pumpkin dishes but with yams, sweet potatoes pie, custards, cookies, breads, you name it. The sweet and tantalizing recipes are endless. My personal favorite? Pumpkin spice lattes!

Totally irrelevant to the essential oil theme but just for fun here is a recipe so you can make this wonder of the world in your own home.

Pumpkin Spice latte - Home version

In a microwave safe measuring cup add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened pumpkin puree to half a cup of milk.
Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Whisk it all together and put in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes- watch closely and remove from the microwave when the milk is hot and frothy

Pour into a tall glass. Brew a cup of your favorite coffee and add it to the pumpkin milk. Add 2 tablespoons of half and half and a teaspoon of sugar. Add a little whipped cream. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
That parts optional but defiantly recommended.

-Enjoy!
　








Now on to the oils. First and foremost, I do NOT recommend the ingestion of essential oils. I know we’re talking along a food lined theme but not where the essential oil is concerned. There are a few reasons for this. A lot of things we eat, and that essential oils are derived from, are fine in there complete form. Although it should be mentioned with nutmeg spice one should take care not to ingest too much.

With essential oils you are dealing with the most concentrated essence of the plant. Think of it like a super duper strength version. Even on the skin it is often recommended to take care to properly dilute. So if it’s so important to dilute it even on your skin, you can imagine how it might effect your internal body system.
Some people recommend cooking with them or ingesting for medicinal reasons. I do not. You can get just as much benefit from the whole plants that are known to be food safe without the fear of overdosing yourself. Not to mention, in this concentrated form, some essential oils are highly toxic and can cause serious side effects or even death.

Now some of you reading this may be thinking, “What about oils used for candy making or other sweet treats?” These are food grade oils. They are not typically referred to as essential oils and still need to be carefully measured and used only by someone educated in the crafting of confections. They are not the same thing as the essential oils you buy at your local apothecary, health food store or online.

Essential oils can be derived from various means of distillation. Some companies use what’s known as solvent extraction to extract them. Some companies actually dilute the oils in other oils. Rose essential oil, for example, is often cut at sold at 5 percent. The reason for this is to make the oil more accessible as Rose absolute (pure rose) is incredibly expensive and demanding to make in large quantities. Generally speaking these processes of manufacturing are not so much an issue where inhalation is concerned but I wouldn’t risk it for consumption.

Alright, now that that’s out of the way, back to the fun stuff. Lets break down the parts of pumpkin spice and see what there essential oils are good for.

Allspice
Yes, that’s right! Allspice can be found in an essential oil. Though it is not commonly used or widely discussed there is a bit of information out there on it. Its botanical name is Pimenta officinalis. The name ‘allspice’ came about because the pimento berry from which it is derived combines the flavor and aroma of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, all in one. This is why in pumpkin spice recipes it is often interchangeable with cloves.

Allspice oil is very strong. It’s rich, warm aroma is beautiful in the diffuser, especially blended with orange, bergamot or other citrus oils but it is recommended that it always used very well diluted. When used at full strength it can be a potent mucus membrane and dermal irritant. There is also a contraindication with individuals who suffer from hemophilia and liver disease. I really don’t recommend it for novice use.
It bares mentioning though in the hands of an experienced practitioner it has some really nice attributes. In small dilutions it is an aphrodisiac. It is also very nice when trying to conceive a masculine blend. It is said to help build confidence and give added determination. It is simulating and very vitalizing. It can be used for arthritis, muscle tonification, stiffness, rheumatism, muscular and gastric cramps, indigestion, nausea, depression, nervous tension and or exhaustion, neuralgia, coughs and bronchitis. It is also suggested that due to Allspice Essential Oil's high Eugenol (a phenol) content, it may act as an anti-viral oil.

Allspice oil ideas for Christmas? Aside from using allspice to make blends for your diffuser, it can makes a wonderful addition to Christmas theme potpourris. You can use either the whole berries, the essential oil or both in various recipes. Also if your inclined to make soap, allspice essential oil can be added to offer a spicy and slightly sweet scent with just a hint of clove. For the savvy and crafty these are wonderful options for making presents or simply for your own personal enjoyment.

Cloves
Cloves (Syzygium Aromaticum syn. Eugenia caryophllata) have been cultivated for at least 2000 years.
Traditionally the immature flower buds where steam distilled to produce the oil. This oils primary origin of medicinal use comes to us by way of dentistry. A drop would have been applied topically to deaden the tooth to relive pain and to possibly aid in extraction. Manly people still use clove oil today, as a home remedy, for a multitude of tooth problems. There has been some suggestion that it can be used as a wart remover. Got a mold issues? Clove oil is highly antiseptic and can inhibit mold by attacking and killing the spores. Because of its anti bacterial and antifungal benefits it can make a good general cleaner as well. It is calming to smell and is wonderful mixed with orange oil to get rid of unwanted odors in the air.

It should be noted that that when looking to buy clove oil you should be knowledgeable of your purchase. There are three types of Clove oil on the market: bud oil, leaf oil and stem oil. The chemical constitutes of these variations types are fairly significant because of the eugenol content. Eugenol can progressively destroy the cells of the mucosal epithelium and cause an acute inflammatory response. Clove bud oil can have a very wide gap, ranging from 60 to 90 percent eugenol. Clove leaf oil tends to be more stable ranging in the 82 to 88 percent range. Clove stem oil being the highest concentration with a 90 to 95 percent average. Regardless of the clove oil you chose it is highly recommended that it be diluted before use. It should also be cautioned that it is a known allergen, so people with allergies or sensitivities beware.

For an interesting and traditional Christmas project connected especially to cloves, consider making Pomanders. Pomanders have been used since the Middle Ages. The pomanders that we think of today are rooted in Colonial and Victorian times. During those times, pomanders were not only decorative but also useful to cover up bad odors and they can serve that same useful purpose today, for you.

Here is a basic traditional recipe for your enjoyment:

What you’ll need -
Orange for the base
Whole Cloves
1 Tablespoon EACH ground Cloves,
Cinnamon, Ginger, and Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon powdered Orris Root
Satin ribbon

How to do it -
Mix your spices, including the orris root together in large bowl. This mixture will help your pomander dry and increase its fragrance. It will also help to preserve the pomander. Next, select a firm, ripe orange with no blemishes. Take a skewer of some sort to poke holes in the fruit. Now push the stem of one of your whole cloves into the orange. Make sure to place the cloves close together. When the orange is completely covered with cloves, roll it in the spice and orris root mixture. Leave it in the spice mixture and put it in a cool, dark place. Roll your orange in the spices every day, until fruit is dry. Once your pomanders are completely dry, take a pretty satin ribbon and tie around them. You could additionally run a ribbon threw the pomanders to hang them up.

If powdered orris root is an issue you can substitute sandalwood essential oil
When the scent begins to fade you can take your clove oil, add to the same above mentioned spices, and re-roll to refresh.


Cinnamon

Cinnamon oil can get complicated. To begin with, as I mentioned earlier, there is a food grade variation. This is not cinnamon essential oil but a combination of “natural and artificial flavors“. Depending on the supplier they can be water based, alcohol based or insoluble. If you where to do a search for cinnamon essential oil, yet again you will end up with a multitude of confusing choices. Cinnamon leaf, Cassia bark, Cinnamon Cassia, Cinnamon bark. These are not just various names for the same product. They are various names for different species of the product.

Why such confusion? Well we should start at the source, the spice itself. The “cinnamon” we know and love up on our pantry shelf may not actually be cinnamon, per say. In the United States and Canada (where true cinnamon is still generally unknown) it is actually Cassia, we use. In South America and Europe, however, true cinnamon is the preferred form of the spice. So depending on where you live in the world cinnamon is commonly known by the same name for many different species.

Cassia (Cinnamomum Aromaticum) is a close relative to Cinnamon (C. Verum, C. Zeylanicum, or "true cinnamon") Cassia's flavor, however is less delicate than that of true Cinnamon and for this reason, Cassia is less expensive. Cassia bark (both powdered and in whole, or "stick" form) is used as a flavoring agent for candies, desserts, baked goods, and meat; it is specified in many curry recipes, where cinnamon is less suitable. Cassia is sometimes added to true cinnamon but is a much thicker, coarser product.

Interesting little side note Cassia is sometimes called "bastard Cinnamon". I didn’t make that up, I swear!

So getting back to essential oil’s, I’m going to try to break this down.

True cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Can be distilled using either the bark or the leaf.

Generally the bark oil has a distinct germicidal effect, even stronger than clove oil. In the hands of a competent aroma therapist, cinnamon bark oil can be used as a stimulant for circulation, an antiseptic and by direct application can kill head lice and scabies. (there are much safer and less irritating alternatives for this).

With both cinnamon bark and cinnamon leaf essential oils care should be taken to properly dilute them for use. However, cinnamon leaf is known to be less irritating than the bark oil.

Cinnamon leaf oil can be used for colds, flu and bronchitis. It has been shown to help with loss of appetite and as such may help with eating disorders. Like many other essential oils it can additionally aid in muscle aches and pains. Some believe it is also helpful with women’s issues. Things such as painful periods, scanty periods, impotency, frigidity, cramps and PMS.

As cinnamon is known to be a blood thinner, it can be assumed that would be the underlying reason for it’s assistance with menstrual issues.

The most notable thing for me about cinnamon is that it is sudorific. In other words, when inhaled, it can increase or induce sweating.

Some legends also suggest that it can increase your ability to tap into your psychic mind and that it increases financial prosperity.

Here’s a great Christmas tip. You know those lovely smelling, cinnamon scented, pinecones that cost so much at your local pottery store? Oh! I bet your on track with me now. Just take your cinnamon essential oil and either brush or sprits it onto some pretty ones you collect from outside. If your so inclined, you could also make yourself some cloth Christmas ornaments and infuse the scent onto them as well. Anything really that is somewhat absorbent can be used. Rustic cinnamon Yule log? Check! Or maybe you have some items from years past that had been cinnamon scented but the smell has since failed. Freshen them up! See how many ideas you can come up with. Simple, easy and fun.
　
Ginger
Ginger root oil is steam distilled from the rhizomes and roots of Zingiber officinale. It has been highly prized for it’s medicinal properties since ancient times. The Greeks, Romans and Arabs have all utilized ginger for it’s medicinal qualities. Most commonly ginger is used for stomach ailments. I’m sure we all have that one grandma or aunt who says, “drink ginger ale, it’ll help your stomach.” Well in many ways there is some underlying truth. Perhaps not the ginger ale per say, but ginger in general. Ginger Root is one of the best remedies for indigestion. It is both antiseptic and carminative. In other words it relives gas and is cleansing to the bowls. As a result, it can be used to avoid food poisoning. Research has also shown that ginger root and its oil is effective against nausea, motion sickness and vomiting.

Tradition Chinese medicine has employed both fresh and dried ginger for thousands of years. Not only for the above mentioned stomach upset but additionally for fevers, coughs and various other issues. In China there is still a strongly held belief that ginger boosts and strengthens your heart. Many people use it, as a measure to prevent heart diseases. Preliminary research has indicated that ginger may be helpful in reduction of cholesterol and the prevention of blood clots. With reduced cholesterol levels and blood clotting the chances of blockage of blood vessels decrease thereby reducing incidences of heart strokes

All this said, I still stand by my earlier statement that I would not use the essential oil internally for these benefits. Ingestion of the culinary plant should be sufficient.

In regards to the oil for amoatheraputic use, the scent of ginger has many varied applications. Ginger can be used as an emotionally warming oil and is indicated for sexual anxieties and can increase ones sex drive. It helps with lack of direction and lack of focus. It may also help to relive apathy, feelings of loneliness or resignation. The smell of ginger oil will often make ones mouth water. As a result it may be useful as a supportive element in the treatment of anorexia. It is stimulating and is said to improve jet lag, improve memory and “aid in confusion” of the mind. It may also help with migraine headaches and sinus headaches. It can ease nervous exhaustion. It stimulates the body to be open to intimacy and assists an individual in attracting abundance. An additional little tidbit is that is it said to cure an itching nose with the inhalation of just one drop.

Topically it is good for aches and pains and to ward off cold symptoms. One popular use for ginger is a ginger bath. However one should be warned that doing so will cause you to sweat profusely during and perhaps even an hour or so after you come out the bath. The end result is detoxification so be prepared for the symptoms related.

As with all oils it is generally recommended to dilute for topical use. It can be irritating to those with sensitive skin and may have cross allergenic reactions with those sensitive to Peru balsam. Also if you take anti-coagulants, consult your doctor before using ginger.

Nutmeg
To be complete in my assessment of essential oils related to pumpkin spice, I mention nutmeg essential oil only in name. I do not recommended it for use. Where the above mentioned oils may have some cautions, using this one I feel should be avoided, period. Nutmeg oil is one of the most potent oils and in high doses can be stupefying and a circulatory sedative. Please do not use.

Orange
Orange? Yes orange, Sweet Orange also know as citrus reticulata or citrus sinensis. You may have noticed throughout this article that orange oil is mentioned again and again. Obviously it is not part of pumpkin spice mix but is deliciously compatible with just about everything Christmas. Consider it a crisp, fresh accent to all that heavy rich spice.

Unlike the above mentioned essential oils that are extracted using steam distillation, most citrus oils including Orange Oil are extracted by cold pressing the of the rinds. When you peel an orange, have you ever noticed the tiny droplets that spray? Have you noticed the burst of orange aroma at the same time? What you noticing is the essential oil that lives in the rind escaping as you peel the fruit.

Like everything there is the potential for sensitivity but over all orange oil is considered non irritating and non sensitizing when used properly. For example, less than 7 to 10 drops either combined or singularly, properly diluted into a dispersant can be used for baths.

Oranges where considered by some to be the “golden apples” of Greek mythology that the goddess of fertility gave to Hera when she married Zeus.

Orange is good for indigestion related to a nervous stomach. It is good for insomnia, anxiety, depression and agitation. Being related to the second chakra it is believed to encourage energy, to give courage and counter emotional worry. It dispels unwanted feelings as well as unwanted odors and is excellent when mixed for cleaning. It can be used to combat wrinkles and is good for dull or oily skin. It is also one of only a few essential oils considered generally safe for children.

Christmas time or any time, Orange oil is pure joy in a bottle. As previously mentioned it is excellent for use on it’s own as well as blended with the other oils mentioned for beautiful Christmas inspired fragrance. Experiment a little, find a mix you love. Learn all you can. As always I encourage you to not just take my word for it but explore the world on your own as well.

This is my gift to you
-Merry Christmas!!

Smells like Christmas - Part one - Fir and Frankincense

Christmas is a beautiful time and there is so much emotion related to the memories we take in every season. Be it the joy of giving, the love of the season or the hope of good will and humanity. Christmas is a special time indeed. Can you smell the fir tree? Can you smell the spices in that fresh baked pie? Candy canes, nuts, and other foods. Smell is amazing. The littlest whiff can bring us soaring with elation or crashing in despair all because of the powerful connection aroma has to the body.

Fir Needle essential oil is one of my personal favorites, especially for this time of year. It is wonderfully earthy, crisp and refreshing. It can conjure to the mind the heady scent of a fairytale forest just after the first winters snow. It is steam distilled from various types of leaves and twigs. Some commonly sold varieties are the European silver fir (Abies alba), the Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) or the Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) but they can be derived from any number of species of Abies, Larix, Picea and Pinus.

This oil can be inhaled for all sorts of respiratory ailments, bronchitis for example, and is a gentle tonic to the nervous system easing the mind and relaxing away aches. It tends to be uplifting of mood while at the same time promotes “grounding”, thus making you feel more comfortable and at home.

One thing I enjoy is a few drops into the well of my steam cleaner to freshen up the house. If you don’t have a steam cleaner you can always add a few drops to a spray bottle, shake and sprit’s above the carpets before vacuuming. If your inclined to make crafts like potpourris, wreaths or sachets it can be a wonderful addition to add an extra kick of holiday feel.

For some, live Christmas trees are considered too much hassle. I personally prefer a live tree. Yet, if you’re so inclined to go artificial, one way you can have the illusion of a real tree is to add a touch of this lovely oil to the branches. Voila! You have the beautiful smell without the needle shedding.

Of course there is simply burning the oil in a common diffuser but another method is to add a few drops to your steam humidifier to aid with winter sniffles. The scent aids with common cold and flu symptoms such as coughs, sore throat and sinus complaints. It is also said to be good for muscle aches.

Some have said to use Fir Needle oil in carrier oils and creams due to it’s analgesic properties. In some cases it has even been suggested that it helps with rheumatism: a generalized term for aches in the joints and connective tissue. While I’m sure there is validity to these claims, I would caution a novice. Fir oils, while considered generally safe, can be a skin irritant. With proper dilution Fir should be fine on the skin but be sure you know the math before using it topically. It is better to first be knowledgeable on skin preparations. You can learn from books or by talking with a qualified aroma therapist. In future articles I will address making tinctures and balms. In the meanwhile, however, I suggest the average person enjoy the benefits of this classic Christmas scent, threw your olfactory system.

Another smell connected to Christmas, for me, is that of frankincense. No I’m not Catholic but after hearing the Christmas story over the years it occurred to me to investigate. I mean gold, frankincense and myrrh? To someone unknowledgeable this collection of gifts seems rather strange. Like those picture games from when you where a kid. Which one of these things don’t belong? Right? From a modern perspective one might think less of frankincense and not appreciate it’s value. However, there was a time when the gift of gold was not as important or valuable as these precious plant derived resins.

In modern times frankincense is still harvested by hand, just as it was thousands of years ago. The harvester takes a special knife and delicately scrapes down small sections of the Bosellia carteri or frankincense trees bark. The first cut produces a milky solution, this is not harvested. About ten days will pass and the harvester returns and scrapes the tree again removing the milky resin and cutting deeper into the tree. This produces a more fragrant liquid but it is still not useable frankincense. After another ten days pass the tree is cut again, at this point the resin produced is a yellow brown color and very aromatic. This is the true frankincense resin often called “tears”. These “tears” of the Bosellia carteri are then steam distilled and the result is frankincense essential oil.

It was said that the fragrance of frankincense “floats on an invisible thread to heaven to attract Gods attention.” It has been revered by almost all western religions including Judaism and Christianity. Hindus and Buddhist have employed it for daily rituals and offerings. In Japan it has been employed in Shinto meditation and ritual. Ancient Egyptians used frankincense not only as a fragrance but also as a fumigant and for medicinal prescriptions. Egyptian women used frankincense to make their black kohl eye pigment, made most famous by Queen Cleopatra, who’s extravagant use of frankincense is legendary. During Roman times when cremation was widely practiced it was customary to burn it in the funeral pyre. It has been said, to gain favor with the god but it has additionally been suggested that it was probably to cover up the smell of burning flesh. Historically it was used in everything from embalming to beauty tinctures but is still most prized for it’s spiritual significance

In Chinese medicine frankincense is used in applications for tissue trauma. It may also have a future in modern western medicine. I have just recently read that frankincense has become the focus of studies related to cancer therapies. The idea being it may have the potential to aid in the destruction of cancer cells without harming the surrounding tissue. Scientists are still in the process of isolating the exact compound needed to do this. It has been speculated that if scientists can be successful at accomplishing this it may be a viable and much safer alternative to chemotherapy treatments. We’ll just have to wait and see how that goes.

All in all, Frankincense oil very much promotes skin health. Especially for those with ageing skin or with infections such as boils or acne. It is an antiseptic, has astringent properties and is anti inflammatory. I have made tinctures with frankincense, rose and other skin promoting essential oils for my grandmother and diluted them in apricot kernel oil. She uses this on her body including her face and sometimes her hair to promote health. For an acne related tincture it might be more advisable to use something like Jojoba. Everyone’s skin is different but that’s the beauty of customizing home made beauty products, you can adjust it exactly how you like.

Frankincense has also been used for pain relief, to increase immunity, to support the respiratory system via its expectorant action and to act as an anti depressant.

Being considered nontoxic, non-photosensitizing and non sensitizing in general, I am fairly confident that it is safe for most people, even those with allergies. However, there will always be an exception to every rule. I’ve met people who claim to be allergic to lavender and I’m skeptical of that, but everyone is different so who knows.

Tying this all back to Christmas, frankincense is simply lovely for reflection and meditation. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday and the general anxiety sometimes caused by the modern season an opportunity for this kind of relaxation and spiritual connectedness is a long sought blessing. Regardless of your belief or perception related to Christmas, "peace on earth and good will towards men" is the bottom line. With a little bit of this thread to heaven you can connect to the divinity inside you as well as the greater divinity outside. Even if world peace isn’t obtained the peace within your own heart may be all you need.


I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peak into a couple of my favorite Christmas inspired essential oils. They are both lovely but really a matter of personal preference for which you choose to scent your surroundings. In part two I will explore some holiday food inspired scents, such as cinnamon.