 Nature's Way with Alan Hayes
Fragrant Scents to Keep you Cool
Flowers and herbs can be made into colognes and toilet waters that are a delight to use. When splashed onto your body after a wash or bath their refreshing fragrance will lift your spirits, make you feel special and refresh your skin. Body colognes are especially ideal for use on hot summer days and nights to cool the skin and to leave it feeling wonderfully fresh.
Natural fragrances have been used throughout history to mask body odours and to increase attractiveness. They were made by distilling or steeping herbs and flowers, and by mixing aromatic oils with alcohol. Aromatic toilet waters first appeared in the 10th century, and during Norman times were widely used for cleansing the face and body.
An old-fashioned recipe, which my wife adores as a summer body splash and is simple to make, is based upon the Carmelite Toilet Water invented by the Carmelite monks in Paris in 1611. To make her favourite body splash, put 1 generous handful each of angelica leaves and lemon balm leaves, 15 grams of bruised coriander seeds, 1 minced nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of cloves and 3 pieces of crushed cinnamon stick in a wide mouthed glass jar. To this, add 300 millilitres of vodka, then seal the jar and shake vigorously. Leave the mixture in a warm place, shaking every day, for about three weeks. Strain through muslin cloth, then drip through coffee filter paper and dilute with 150 ml distilled water. Store in an attractive glass bottle and use generously whenever required.
For those of you who love the outdoors lemon skin cologne is ideal to use on those hot summer days. Splash it generously all over your body to remove that hot, sticky feeling, and cool you down, and refresh and invigorate the skin.
To make the cologne, first add two cups of tightly packed lemon balm leaves to a ceramic bowl, pour in 600 ml boiling water, cover and allow to steep overnight. Strain through clean muslin cloth and set aside.
Put half a litre of vodka in a suitable bottle, add 10 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of lime essential oil, seal and leave to stand for one week. Add 500 ml of the lemon balm water, reseal, shake vigorously and leave to stand for a further two weeks. Drip through coffee filter paper. Another warm weather favourite is the following citrus blend. Not only will it refresh you, but will impart a beautiful lemon scent.
In a suitable bottle mix together 45 drops of lemon grass or lemon balm essential oil, 10 millilitres of lemon essential oil and 3 millilitres of orange peel essential oil with half a litre of vodka. Seal and allow the mixture to stand for a month. Dilute with half a litre of distilled water, drip through coffee filter paper and rebottle.
This coming summer, don't let the weather get you down on those hot, sticky days. Keep yourself feeling fresh and cool with easy to make natural skin colognes.
Visit Alan on the Web at www.itssonatural.com
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