In February, I taught a “DIY Valentine’s Skin Care” workshop at The Green Beacon. We went home (after a few glasses of homemade fruit liquor) with massage oil, sugar scrub and bath salt blends we were proud to have made all by our little ‘ole selves. We learned a bit about natural skin care, made some new friends and just got the chance to be creative and have fun. And there are more good times where that came from…

… I’m teaching two more workshops this month on How to make your own Essential Oil Blend. And I hope you can join me! I love this Aromatherapy class because it gives each of us the creativity to be part scientist, part perfumer and part cook (you’ll see what I mean in a moment).

I’ll set the foundation with a short “lecture” on what are essential oils and what are the unique characteristics of each oil. Yes, we all know that Lavender is relaxing. But did you know that Thyme is good for sinuses, Chamomile is good for PMS and Frankincense is an antiseptic? Have you ever even heard of Niaouli or Petigrain or Ylang Ylang? I love learning the historical uses of each herb/flower/resin too! For example, Neroli was traditionally used in wedding bouquets as it helps to calm the nerves before a major event (that’s what you get for marrying a 15 year old girl to some schmuck she doesn’t even know). There is also rumor that, during the Black Plague in England, thieves rubbed essential oils (primarily clove, eucalyptus, lavender and lemon) all over their bodies to protect themselves from disease while they were robbing the dead. Ok, enough of the grim history lesson…

Next, I’ll give a brief lesson on how to blend top, middle & base notes. For example, a nice blend might include 15 drops of Lime (a high note), 30 drops of Clary Sage, 40 drops of Lavender (both middle notes) and only 10 drops of Patchouli (a base note). I’ll give you all sorts of cheat sheets, charts and suggested recipes.

Then, you’ll jump in and mix a few “experimental” batches before you decide on your favorite custom blend to bottle up. Plus, you’ll have the option to scent your own products – roller “perfume”, lip balm, face crème and bath salts. There are a bazillion ways to use essential oils at your home, office, bathroom and more ….and we’ll go over all of that in class.

If this sounds up your alley, check out the workshop details below and sign-up!

This week in North Hollywood: Date/Time: Thursday, March 5^th at 7:00 p.m. Location: Green and Greener (4838 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607). Cost: $25, which includes all materials. RSVP: Reservations are required. Please RSVP by contacting Alegre Ramos at alegre@green-and-greener.com or 818.358.4313.

.Next Week in Echo Park: Date/Time: Thursday, March 12^th at 7:00 p.m. Location: The Green Beacon (Echo Park; exact address upon RSVP). Cost: $35, which includes all materials (additional samples than above class), as well as food and drinks. RSVP: Reservations are required. Please RSVP by contacting Julie Solomon at contactgbf@gmail.com or 323.717.9636.

Also, my casual thoughts on the connection between essential oils and green living:

I think essential oils are important for many reasons but the gist is: (1) they replace fragrance oils in scenting products…fragrance oils are often made with chemicals that are not so earth friendly…essential oils are from the earth and are not harmful when returned to the earth. (2) They are naturally medicinal. You can replace many common pharmacy drugs with the proper use of essential oils. IE: I can show a great mix that can replace Vick’s Vapor Rub. Obviously they are also well known for stress relief too. I believe they can help “clean the air” and prevent sickness from even starting. They can also be good antiseptic/anti-bacterial…naturally though, not like the anti-bacterial soaps that actually strip your skin of its natural defenses.

Tags: chivas skin care, eco-friendly skin care, essential oils, grean beacon, Green and Greener, Green Living, lauren johanson, los angeles, natural skin care, workshop