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I decided to put this here, simply because I'm a Hedge/Kitchen Witch (among other things) and I don't necessarily believe this to be a "recipe" in the traditional sense.
You will need:
Sea Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Essential Oil (for this particular scrub, I use Sandalwood)
There are no measurements needed. You can make as much or as little as needed. I tend to make a big batch (I use a fairly large bowl). Pour in Sea Salt, then slowly incorporate EVOO. Mix well, until you have a semi-runny (but not too runny) paste. I make mine about the consistancy of a tub of margarine. Slowly add the essential oil and mix well.
While showering (or taking a bath), slowly and without using too much pressure, rub on elbows, shoulders, knees, feet or anywhere that tends to feel rough. You can actually use this scrub all over, but be careful with sensitive areas, as the sea salt is abrasive.
The salt will help exfoliate dead skin cells, the EVOO will SUPER moisterize the skin and the scent...oh, the scent. Sandalwood is so cleansing and calming. You will love this!
Please note that the EVOO will settle at the bottom of your shower or tub, so be sure to clean it out (it gets uber slippery!).
Again, the essential oils can be anything you'd like...depending on your need. I've also used lavender, which comes out LOVELY! If you are looking for an energizing scrub, try Camphor or Mint. Love them both (although camphor tends to smell a tad medicinal).
Should you need to know oil/scent correspondences, try this:
While I love the smell of Sandalwood and Rosewood, I do not purchase either at all anymore. When TNP was selling Herbs in the shop, we did not carry these items either.
The reason for this is simple, Sandalwood and Rosewood are endangered trees (original post):
Quote:
Sandalwood (Santalum album) Essential Oil is distilled from the powdered heart-wood of the sandalwood tree (ie, the tear open a mature tree and pull the center wood mass out and toss the rest as useless, like an artichoke). The tree originates in India, Ceylon, Indonesia and surrounding islands. It is one of the most ancient known perfume ingredients and is valuable to the perfumer. However, it is also much endangered since obtaining the essential oil requires destruction of a mature tree to obtain the essential oil and despite efforts at control in India, where most sandalwood is from, poaching occurs frequently. Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is a frequent substitute for Indian Sandalwood.
Rosewood essential oil is also produced by destructive distillation of the tree. Rosewood trees are tropical and grow primarily in Brazil. These trees are destroyed for production of the essential oils and are being harvested at an unsustainable rate. This is just a part of the more general problem of deforestation in the Amazon.
There is some effort being put to obtaining essential oils from the leaves and twigs of these trees as well as plans for sustainable harvest, however these are not underway in any significant way and there is some doubt as to sustainability of these efforts.
There are some alternatives for these two essential oils. Amyris (Amyris balsamifera) is used as a substitute for sandalwood and has a similar balsamic woody aroma. Like sandalwood it can be used as a heart tonic and for lymphatic or veinous problems. It is also antiseptic and sedative. We are also looking into the sustainability of Australian Sandalwood.
Ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora) has been recommended as a replacement for Rosewood. It is high in linalool which is one of the main components of rosewood essential oil. Ho wood essential oil comes from the same tree as camphor; camphor comes from the wood of the tree and Ho Wood comes from the leaf. The properties are very similar. Ho wood has been used as a deodorant, skin conditioner, muscle relaxant and antiseptic.
As for alternatives, I've never really looked for any personally. If pressed I'd say go with Peony or Lavender.
Sorry, was only trying to help. I've never found a good way to present the fact that Sandalwood and Rosewood were endangered that didn't give people guilt, so I apologize whole-heartedly. But ignorance is bliss is about all I can say to that. I truly don't mean to upset anyone with it.
The scrub is a great idea, and I will be using it. I wasn't trying to hijack the thread with the sandalwood / rosewood thing, only trying to make sure folks knew about that particular issue.
I make the same but with sugar and apricot oil - that way I can wash/scrub off with it and the oil is enough to shave with, but not have the salty sting to it :-)
The natural / larger grain sugars work well too, not just white sugar.
Ditto on the oily tub though - TOO many times I have forgotten to clean out the shower and have slipped when I went to get back in! LOL
I started with sugar, but for some reason I like the sea salt better. It doesn't burn (at least for me) unless you use it on sensitive skin or are simply scrubbing too hard....and it works big time wonders for the feet!
DH prefers the salt too - but I do have sensitive skin so the sugar works better for me. I just make sure to have a blue and pink jar so he doesn't grab my girly scented one vs. his "manly" one ;-) LOL
Looking at CR's quote in the post on the info on sandalwood...
People don't eat artichoke leaves??????
Uhmmm.....I grew up scraping the artichoke off the fiberous leaf with my teeth ( after it was dipped in yummy butter).
I actually didna know an artichoke had a heart or that it was edible until I was an adult ( I guess I got too full on yummy leaves to stick around for the core).
Okay walk away people. There is nothing more in this trainwreck to see...
calming body scrub 
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