I've really been looking forward to fall this year. The summer really was beautiful. After years of drought, we finally had rain and the grass (weeds) was green all season. We're beginning to get some autumn colors, even out here on the Great Plains!
In the process of the changing of the seasons, I'm ready for autumn smells as well. Unfortunately, my favorite spice company doesn't have Pumpkin Pie spice. So I'm going to have to make my own this year. I'll also be making more "Thieves Oil". I've been making my own Autumn Immune Boosting oil for several years now. I thought I'd share some recipes and gift ideas with you as I'm preparing to enjoy these lovely scents. |
Autumn Immune Boosting Essential Oil
Here are what I generally use:
- 16 oz Sweet Almond Oil
- 2 oz Clove oil
- 4 oz Lemon oil or Grapefruit oil
- 4 oz Eucalyptus oil
- 2 oz Rosemary oil
- and several cinnamon sticks
You can substitute if needed. I have one friend who is allergic to eucalyptus, so I would suggest she try cedarwood, juniper, spruce or cypress instead. I would be careful adding very many different oils because the constituents in each oil can be complementary, or not... Do your research if you plan to experiment much. I recommend the Reference Guide For Essential Oils Handbook.
I mix all this up in a large jar and let it set in a dark place (or in a paper bag) for a few weeks, swishing the mixture around once or twice a day so they really get blended well and the cinnamon sticks have time to defuse their scent into it. In my opinion, it's the cinnamon that gives the lovely holiday smell.
Our family and I put this on our feet before we leave the house and I always get questions or complements on the scent.
Make sure to label your concoction! Once it's set for the two weeks or so, I give it one last good shake or stir (with a wooden spoon) and pour it off into those saved amber bottles I have stashed. Sunlight breaks down the properties of the essential oils, so make sure you keep them in the dark or in a dark colored bottle.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Herbs and spices needed:
You could blend these up by hand or in a blender. Then put them in those glass spice bottles you worked so hard to scrub the labels off of and have been saving. (No? Is that just me?) Or you could put them in cute little 1/2 pint canning jars too... Make sure to label them. We all have a few Pumpkin Spice loving friends who would be thrilled with this. Maybe even mixed with some homemade hot cocoa or tea leaves for gifting... |
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Creamed Honey
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Heating up honey has some issues. According to Sleeping Bear Farms, "Heating up raw honey will change the makeup of the honey, and potentially weaken or destroy enzymes, vitamins, minerals..."
Honey does have a tendency to crystalize and harden though. There are a few ways to take care of that. One is to set the jar in a pan of hot water. I like to have cloth on the bottom of the pan so the jar isn't directly on the heated metal. You could pour boiling water into a big pitcher or bowl and set the jar in as well. But then I saw this idea and, voil'a! Ingredients:
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