ooh-la-lavender!
Provence En Couleur quickly became one of my favorite stops in Vancouver this last year. simply walking into the shop was a therapeutic experience, and I never left empty-handed. it also revived so many faded memories of working with lavender when the lovelies were little. so, in the spirit of that revival, here are a few of my favorite a-has I’ve learned over the years from working with lavender:
NO. 1: since lavender has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, nervine, cooling, and antiseptic properties – all swirled into one aromatic pleasure – it is excellent company to keep any time of year! this could be a great addition to the guest room bathroom!
NO. 2: instead of buying antibacterial spray, mix 1 cup of water with 25 drops lavender essential oil. give it a swirl, and voila! spray onto surfaces—no wiping necessary. I like to use this in high “touch” spots—door handles, bathroom faucets and handles, phones, and remote controls—especially when people are sick. don’t have time to make your own? try this spritz!
NO. 3: have contentious company heading your way this season? diffuse lavender essential oil or find a lavender spritz / spray. lavender is a gentle *mediator* that can quell those potential disagreements.
NO. 4: want to ditch the dryer sheets but not sure about the static? add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar or 1/4 cup of baking soda to your wash – this will eliminate static. for the laundry “freshness” a dryer sheet adds, grab a small cloth and add a few drops of an essential oil – lavender is my favorite! – to it. toss it in with your load, and problem solved.
NO. 5: LOVE the idea of smoke-clearing but your nose doesn’t? say HELLO to frankincense, lemon and lavender. fill a glass spray bottle with filtered or distilled water, add 3 drops of each essential oil, and then walk around your house spritzing to cleanse as you would with a smoke cleansing.
NO. 6: feeling irritable? under excess stress? overly anxious? completely exhausted? perhaps all of the above? draw a bath and add 2 cups of Epsom salt and 20 drops of lavender essential oil. steep yourself in the water and relax. want to skip the multiple ingredients? relaxation is right here.
whenever I suspected our lovelies were coming down with something, I’d soak them in a lavender bath. and when they got out, I’d dry them off and rub their little bodies down with a massage oil and lavender.
BONUS: right before you go to sleep, rub one more drop of lavender on the soles of your feet, and sleep tight!
NO. 7: if I feel a headache coming on, I rub 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil directly onto my temples, which is why this was one of my first purchases at Provence En Couleur.
NO. 8: when you (or your loved one) is really sick, put a bowl of steaming water somewhere in your room and add 10 drops lavender essential oil. (a diffuser works well, too.)
if you’re congested, add 6 drops of eucalyptus oil with the lavender to open you up and put you back on the road to good health.
BONUS: I like to rub this blend directly onto my chest, but do a spot check first to make sure you don’t have a reaction.
no wonder Lavender is considered the “wonder oil” among its peers – and the beauty of it is whenever you are in doubt about what to use, it seems lavender is ready for anything!
this is not a sponsored post – Provence En Couleur has no idea I am sharing their goodies with all of you! I simply am raving about one of my *new* favorite places – and if you’re in the gift buying mood (‘tis the season), anything here is sure to delight! xo
