Natural, Essential Oil Based Perfumes for People Who Can't Wear Regular Perfume

People who know me are aware of my aversion to strong, artificial smells. I don't really want to be this way; I just am. Usually, once my friends become pregnant, they typically gain sympathy for the nauseous, dizzy, migraine-inducing reaction I get from men's colognes, Febreeze, cigar smoke, new carpets and other interesting, chemical based aromas.

Check out the assortment of yummily scented goodies at Twinkle Apothecary

Because of my smell problem, I can't wear perfumes. But even though they induce a strange sensory reaction for me, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the beautiful aromas of flowers, herbs, spices and such.

Thus, you can imagine my overjoyed reaction at discovering Twinkle Apothecary's homemade, essential oil based natural perfume blends. My friend Amy Jo Garner recommended them, and upon visiting their Facebook page I immediately placed my order for what I felt was a very reasonably priced roll-on vial of what they have aptly named "Luscious."

Well, let me tell you, this non-chemical wearer was overjoyed at the deliciousness of this perfectly blended scent. Top notes of jasmine and ginger with enduring vanilla for depth and complexity, and vetiver as the base, make this a subtle, warm, and intoxicating scent to wear for an evening out, or really, any time at all.

I have rubbed it on my pulse points for the second time today, and am delightedly sniffing myself up as I type this. Because there are no chemicals to add that cling that most perfumes have, you should carry some around with you for reapplication as necessary. In addition to perfumes, Twinkle Apothecary offers things like body butter, shampoo, deodorant, bath oils and more.

It's also worth mentioning that their products are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

Mostly, what I love about this and other essential oil blends is that they tend to respect the boundaries of personal space. Meaning, if I swish by you in a crowded lobby, you might get the slightest whiff of jasmine and vanilla that dissipates quickly on the air. But my personal scent is not going to hover and cling and impart its odor in an obtrusive manner, should someone else fail to appreciate these scents as I do.

Basically, as a chemical-smell avoider who loves essential oils and aromatherapy, my review of Twinkle Apothecary is that they're awesome. If you know of a crunchy, earthy gal like me, their naturally scented products would make a welcome stocking stuffer. I plan to order more from them for certain!

The One Natural Product that Totally Turned me into a Compulsive Clean Freak

I appreciate a tidy home, but I am (was?) definitely not one of those compulsive cleaning types. Back when I was single and freelancing from home, I kept a somewhat sparse apartment that remained in fair order. But that's often the case when the only person to clean up after is you.

However, when I became a mother and wife, my tidying-up habit quickly went out the window. Face it, after a full day of toddler chasing, diaper changing and cooking and serving food on demand, I really didn't have the energy to scrub floors and dust (even though I probably should have). Put hubby's shoes away, and they're back in the middle of the floor again. Dog barfs in his bed on your way out the door. You know how it goes.

Well, let me tell you the unexpected natural product that permanently changed my attitude toward cleaning. Can you guess what it was? I bet you can't.

It was essential oils!

Yes – quite unbelievable, no? I mean, how can something as seemingly innocuous as a small vial of potent plant essence shake up someone's world in such a manner? Once I tried them, I hardly knew what hit me. What is this sudden, wild urge to purify and feng-shui everything in sight?

So, let me tell you what happened. I started smelling the stuff. And I liked it. A lot.

I began to amass a respectable-sized collection of essential oils. I liked sampling the various scents and trying them out for their various purposes. Lavender for a calming effect. Lemon for cleaning and disinfecting. Geranium to balance the lady-moods. Peppermint for a lift.

I bought a couple of spray bottles. Blue plastic, nothing special. I mixed up some of my favorite oils to make an all-purpose blend for spritzing about the house. I used it to clean my counter tops, tables and cabinets. I sprayed it on my husband's office chair that smells of cigars and old campfires. I freshened up the air all around the house with an intoxicating potion.

Pictured: my essential oils collection, when it was about half as large as it is now.
Note the key ingredients - jojoba oil as a carrier oil, witch hazel for mixing spray blends.

So, what ended up happening is that I liked the scent of all the various essential oils so much that I ditched my former cleaning products, and began using oils exclusively to clean the house.

Into a bucket I added 20 drops of lemon and 10 drops of eucalyptus, along with 5 drops of tea tree oil, with a mix of Dr. Bronner's and a couple of gallons of water. I used that to clean the kitchen floor, then the bathroom. It smelled so yummy. People who came over to visit remarked on how fresh and inviting my house was. "What IS that amazing aroma? "they would ask after I had sprayed the kitchen trash can with a combination of lemon, peppermint, cinnamon and geranium.

Buy lemon oil on Amazon, and support this blog!

So that ended up being the catalyst for me becoming a clean freak. I began to feel disgust at the sight of any crumbs or smudges on my kitchen floor. What was this strange compulsion? I'd spray the air that had been fouled with stale cooking odors, and the bright lemon aroma would inspire me to start wiping down everything.

Now, instead of just remaining plopped in front of the computer impulsively checking messages over and over, I was impulsively cleaning – and my house has never looked better!

I even do stuff like go in the fridge for a snack, find old food that needs to be trashed, get rid of it, clean the container, then spray and wipe the refrigerator with my magical cleaning mix.

Now, when people come over, they can't help but remark on the delightful, clean appearance of my home. I can't even believe it myself. Mr. Clean and the Tidy Bowl Man have got nothing on this gal.

Okay – so I might be exaggerating just a wee bit up in this piece.

(Is that acceptable to say? Did I use that one correctly? Ah – who am I kidding? I am old, and uncool. Hooray for being uncool, and not really caring!!)

 

Sure, some days I don't go near a broom, and the laundry accumulates up to the ceiling on a sleeping bag in the basement. But honestly, I have never been more excited to have a shiny, fresh-smelling home, and this is all due to the addition of essential oils into my life.

So, thank you, amazing, mood-inducing, germ-fighting, olfactory-tingling, vibe-changing, essential oils!

You've made me a better mother, wife, woman. ::gush::

What ways do you have tons of fun with essential oils? Drop a line, get a link.

xo.
Mom