Bath Time – Spa Night The Natural Way

Leave a comment

Let’s talk about spa night! Nothing compares to a warm, relaxing soak after a long day or week. Some time to yourself with a candle lit, a good book paired with a glass of wine or a cup of tea, marinating in the lovely bubbles of a warm bath. I used the word “marinating” purposely here to better help you understand what your skin experiences when soaking in a bath. Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and it soaks up absolutely everything we put on it, lotions, oils, sunscreens, and fragrances to name a few. It will also soak up whatever you are soaking in, bubbles, salts, etc. A bath is supposed to be a great way to relax and unwind, so why add more stress for your body to deal with in the form of synthetic fragrances, sulphates, artificial colors, etc. Did you know that these are very common ingredients you can find in your bath bombs and bath soaks/salts? So what can we do about it and what other options are out there? Let’s dive right in shall we!

Natural Bath Bombs

Let’s begin with a popular one, bath bombs. As I said a moment ago, most of us can say there is nothing quite like a warm soak in the bath after a long week. And to make the experience more enjoyable, we can throw a lovely bath bomb in for fun colors and smells. Well, did you know that most bath bombs contain fake colors, fragrances, and other ingredients that are toxic for our bodies? And we’re sitting and soaking our bodies in that… no thank you! Instead, you can swap out your bath bombs from LUSH, Target, and Ulta for Natural Bath Bombs from Apple Valley Natural Soap.

Apple Valley Natural Soap’s luxurious natural bath bombs are crafted from high quality natural ingredients that are gentle and nourishing to skin. These ingredients help moisturize and soothe the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth while allowing you to rest in the knowledge that your body is not being exposed to toxic ingredients.

Many bath bombs being sold today contain harsh ingredients, chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are toxic to the body. These harsh ingredients can disrupt hormones, cause skin irritation, and other health issues. By choosing our all natural bath bombs you will avoid exposing your skin to these harmful chemicals and enjoy a safer, more relaxing bathing experience. These bath bombs contain a base of Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Epsom Salts & Shea Butter, plus essential oils specific to each bath bombs special scent.

AVNS has 4 different bath bombs to choose from, Cedarwood Lavender, Fresh Citrus, Grapefruit Mint, and Lavender Eucalyptus. Try them all and have fun finding your favorites!

Natural Bath Salt Soak

Similarly to bath bombs, the average bath soak you will find in your local grocery store or beauty shop will contain synthetic additives and fragrances, sulphates and other toxic ingredients that are known hormone disrupters. These beautiful bath soaks by Fontana Candle Co. are made with natural, simple and easy to read ingredients that you can trust such as Dead Sea Mineral Salt, Epsom Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, Coconut Oil, and scented with pure essential oils.

Wonderfully beneficial & therapeutic for your body, the Bath Soaks by Fontana Candle Co may help soothe & rejuvenate your skin from head to toe. Dead Sea Salt and Pink Himalayan salts have many benefits for the body as they are full of essential minerals, like Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, and Potassium, while epsom salt may help your body gently detox and ease sore muscles. Use the Salt soaks anytime you need to relax your mind or soothe your body! 

Directions:
– Pour 2 ounces or more of bath soak into warm running water. 
– Allow the mixture to dissolve before relaxing in a bath breathing in the beautiful aromatherapy. 
– Soak it in.
– Rinse off or gently pat yourself dry with a towel if you prefer to let the minerals and essential oils continue to benefit your skin.
– Rinse the tub to remove any leftover residue.

Apple Valley Natural Soap has four beautiful bath soaks to offer from Fontana Candle Co. such as Palo Santo & Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemongrass & Eucalyptus and Mineral Salt & Coconut Oil.

Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and it soaks up absolutely everything we put on it and a bath is supposed to be a great way to relax and unwind, so why add more stress for your body to deal with in the form of synthetic fragrances, sulphates, artificial colors, etc? Choosing natural bath bombs and bath soaks from Apple Valley Natural Soap is an amazing way to pamper yourself, relax, and have peace of mind knowing that what your skin is soaking in is pure and natural, no hormone disrupters here!

Have you tried the Natural Bath Bombs or Bath Soaks from Apple Valley Natural Soap? Be sure to let me know what you thought in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Our Favorite Soaps For Autumn

Leave a comment

It should be no surprise to any of you that at Apple Valley Natural Soap we love any excuse to celebrate the changing of the seasons. And autumn is no joke around here, we love all things cozy, warm, & pumpkin spice. Give us all the autumnal cozy vibes! This is why we created our Seasonal Fall soap line featuring all of our favorite things about the autumn season. Our Fall soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. They make the perfect addition to any home during the autumn season and they make amazing gifts for family and friends as well. Our fabulous fall soaps are around for only a limited time so stock up now!

Seasonal Pumpkin Spice Hand & Body Bar

Let’s kick this list off with a crowd favorite, everyones go-to autumn treat, Pumpkin Spice! If you are a pumpkin spice lover, then you will just adore this hand & body bar. Along with pumpkin, we’ve added rich baking spices like cinnamon, clove, and ginger to this amazing soap making this seasonal Pumpkin Spice Soap a feast for your skin. Lots of rich, fluffy lather and the scent of orange and clove will warm your body, heart, and soul. This natural soap bar makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This soap has an amazing lather and scent. Perfect for cool mornings as a way to start your day. I highly recommend this luxuriant fall special.” – T. Happel

“The scent was amazing and my skin felt clean and fresh.” – J. Yannuzzi

Seasonal Spice Cake Hand & Body Bar

There is nothing quite like a spicy baked treat to get you into the autumn mood! We love to celebrate autumn with a natural soap that smells just like freshly baked spice cake stuffed with ingredients which are good for your skin. Made with apple, spices, moisturizing mango and shea butters, our Spice Cake bar is totally natural and smells just like Grandma’s house on a crisp, autumn day. An added benefit of this bar is the light exfoliation power due to the salt, it makes a wonderful bar to have by the sink, or in the shower. Also, we don’t use any fragrance oil, instead we’ve created a blend of essential oils that smell sweet and spicy. Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“Oh my goodness I love the smell of this bar!! So wonderful and perfect for my bathroom sink in the fall!!” – Michelle

Seasonal Black Licorice Hand, Foot & Body Bar

Calling all black licorice lovers! This bar was made for you! The release of this fantastic soap was our first nod to the change of seasons and cooler months. This amazing black licorice soap is for those who simply just LOVE the scent of black licorice. Brace yourself for an incredible licorice scent along with a satisfying exfoliation experience from the black walnut hull powder, which also gives it the dark coloring. Licorice root not only smells great, but has many health benefits. The herb is used directly on the skin to help with eczema, skin rashes, psoriasis, and itchy, dry skin. Black walnut is also regarded to be useful in the treatment of skin diseases and complaints such as eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot etc. It’s long been used as a natural remedy for acne, canker sores, psoriasis and other fungal infections. There’s nothing like it! Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This is my favorite body bar. Light exfoliation and great for my skin.” – M. Hetrick

“I love the exfoliation, but not too harsh. I enjoy the smell. One of my favorite soaps!” – Melissa

Our Fall Soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. We are so excited that the autumn season is back again and cannot wait for you to try out our homage to fall with these seasonal, limited edition soaps.

Do you have a favorite way to celebrate the changing seasons, specially this autumn? Share with us in the comments below and let’s start a conversation!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite autumn hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

How to Make Your Own Essential Oil Blends at Home

1 Comment

Image by Mareefe from Pixabay
Guest post by Megan Allen

Creating homemade essential oil blends can be a satisfying and aromatic experience. Not only can you customize scents to suit your preferences, but you can also tailor blends for specific benefits, from relaxation to energy boosts. This guide will walk you through the essentials of blending and the tools needed. In addition, provide recipes using popular oils and blends.

Essential Oil Basics

Concentrated extracts from plants, which are known for their aromatic and therapeutic properties, are called essential oils. They capture the essence of fragrance and beneficial compounds, derived from different parts of plants like leaves, flowers, and roots.

Common uses of essential oils include aromatherapy, where you inhale them for their calming or invigorating effects, and topical applications, where they alleviate skin conditions, pain, and inflammation. Additionally, essential oils can enhance mood, improve sleep, and support overall well-being, making them a versatile addition to daily routines.

Essential oils come in two main types: single oils and blends.

Single essential oils are pure extracts from specific plants, capturing their distinct fragrance and therapeutic properties. 

Popular examples include Lavender, renowned for its calming and sleep-enhancing effects, and Peppermint, known for its refreshing aroma and ability to relieve headaches and improve focus. Eucalyptus is frequently used for respiratory support, while Tea Tree oil is a powerful antiseptic and antifungal agent.

Blended essential oils combine multiple single oils to create synergistic effects that enhance their individual benefits. For instance, combining Lavender and Peppermint can offer relaxation and mental clarity, making such blends versatile for various applications.

When choosing the essential oils mix, it’s important to consider which carrier oil to use in the blend. Carrier oils, such as coconut, jojoba, and almond oil, dilute essential oils before topical application. Dilution is necessary because essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritation if applied directly. These carrier oils also help with the absorption into the skin, ensuring efficient delivery of therapeutic properties.

Tools and Materials Needed

To create your essential oil blends at home, you will need the following tools and materials:

Necessary Tools

  • Droppers: For precise measurement
  • Dark Glass Bottles: Protect oils from light and extend their shelf life.
  • Mixing Bowls or Beakers: For the blending process
  • Measuring Spoons: To ensure accurate ratios

Ingredients

  • Essential Oils: A variety of single essential oils for different purposes (e.g., Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus)
  • Carrier Oils: Some examples are coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil.

Optional Tools

Besides the basic tools previously mentioned, there are additional accessories that can improve your experience of blending essential oils. For instance, a Nugsmasher can assist in extracting essential oils by applying heat and pressure when you don’t have pre-extracted oils. This tool introduces a new aspect to blending oils at home. You can get yours at Green Thumb Depot if you want to extract oils this way.

Other optional tools include the following:

  • Aromatherapy Diffusers: Disperse your blends into the air.
  • Roller Bottles: Make application easy and convenient.
  • Labels: To mark and identify your blends.
  • Funnels: For transferring oils into bottles without spills.
  • Pipettes: To add small amounts of oils precisely.

Steps to Creating Your Blends

Step 1: Decide on Your Purpose

Identify the purpose of your essential oil blend by considering what you want to achieve, such as relaxation, an energy boost, improved focus, mood enhancement, or respiratory support.

For relaxation, select oils like Lavender and Chamomile, which promote calmness. Invigorating oils like Peppermint and Lemon are suitable if your goal is an energy boost. Defining your goal will guide you in selecting the best oils to create a personalized blend.

Step 2: Determine the Ratios

Understand basic blending ratios, focusing on top, middle, and base notes. Top notes, like Lemon or Peppermint, are light and evaporate quickly, providing an initial burst of scent. Middle notes, such as Lavender or Eucalyptus, are more balanced and last longer, forming the core of your blend. 

Base notes, like Sandalwood or Patchouli, are heavy and linger, grounding the blend. The commonly used ratio is three parts for the top note, five parts for the middle note, and two parts for the base note. Adjust these ratios to balance the overall scent and effectiveness.

Step 3: Mix the Oils

Combine the measured oils in a clean mixing bowl or beaker, ensuring you mix them thoroughly by stirring gently. This step is crucial to achieve a well-balanced blend where all the different oils harmonize effectively.

Step 4: Test Your Blend

Evaluate your blend by performing a scent test and a skin test. For the scent test, apply a drop of the blend to a blotter or cotton ball and smell it at intervals—immediately, after 30 minutes, and after an hour—to understand how the scent evolves.

For the skin test, dilute a small amount of the blend in a carrier oil and apply it to a small patch of your skin to check for any adverse reactions. Following these tests, adjust the blend as necessary by modifying the quantities of specific oils.

Step 5: Store Your Blend

Ensure your blend retains its potency by transferring it into dark glass bottles, which protect the oils from light. Label each bottle clearly with the name of the new blend and its creation date. Store the bottles in a cool, dark place away from heat and direct sunlight, which can degrade the oils over time.

Popular Blends You Can Consider

Lavender Bliss Blend

This blend combines the soothing scents of lavender, sweet orange, and cedarwood. It can help create a relaxing atmosphere, reduce stress, and promote restful sleep. The floral and woody notes work harmoniously to calm the mind and body, making it ideal for use in diffusers, bedtime routines, or as a calming massage oil.

Citrus Fresh Blend

A vibrant mix of lemon, grapefruit, and lime essential oils, this blend is designed to uplift and energize. The refreshing citrus aroma is perfect for boosting mood and revitalizing your space. In order to create a fresh, clean scent, use it in a diffuser or add a small amount to your cleaning solutions.

Peppermint Eucalyptus Blend

This blend is great for clearing nasal passages and improving concentration, combining the benefits of peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary. It is ideal for use during the cold season or when you need a mental boost. Apply it in a steam inhalation or use it in a diffuser to breathe easier and think clearer.

Calming Harmony Blend

This blend features bergamot, ylang-ylang, and patchouli, creating a balanced and tranquil atmosphere. It is perfect for reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. The sweet, floral, and earthy notes make it suitable for meditation or unwinding after a long day. Use it in a diffuser or as a soothing body oil.

Immune Support Blend

A powerful combination of tea tree, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus, this blend is designed to boost immunity and fight off colds. Its antiseptic properties make it ideal for disinfecting and purifying the air. Use it in a diffuser during flu season, or add it to your homemade cleaning solutions for an extra germ-fighting boost.

Conclusion

Creating your essential oil blends at home is simple and enjoyable. With a wide range of essential oils available, such as Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and more, you can craft blends tailored to your specific needs, whether for relaxation, energy, or immune support.

The process involves understanding scent profiles, experimenting with combinations, and making adjustments based on your preferences. Making your blends ensures natural, suitable solutions for various wellness goals. 

Thanks for reading!

3 Natural & Easy Product Swaps

Leave a comment

Have you ever looked around at your skin care, hair care, and general everyday products and think to yourself, “there has to be a better option out there than this.” Well, you’re not alone! Many people are starting to come to the realization that the products they use in their homes and on their skin and hair play a much bigger role in their health than they first thought. If you have ever lit a new candle from Target or Bath & Body Works and soon after started to get a headache, there is a good chance they are connected. Maybe you got a new bath bomb or soap bar from LUSH and the fragrance oil used in the product made your head spin or your skin broke out in a rash after you got out of the bath. Again, there is a very good chance there is a connection to be made here. There are countless other examples I could make here but you get my point, there are things in our home and every day products that can cause unpleasant and even serious health issues. In this blog we are going to talk about 3 natural and easy product swaps you can make so that no matter where you are at with your health and natural living journey, you can have peace of mind knowing you are using products that are safe for you and your family and better for the planet.

1. Bath Bombs

Let’s begin with a popular one, bath bombs. Ladies (and men), most of us can say there is nothing quite like a warm soak in the bath after a long week. And to make the experience more enjoyable, we can throw a lovely bath bomb in for fun colors and smells. Well, did you know that most bath bombs contain fake colors, fragrances, and other ingredients that are toxic for our bodies? And we’re sitting and soaking our bodies in that… no thank you! Instead, you can swap out your bath bombs from LUSH, Target, and Ulta for Natural Bath Bombs from Apple Valley Natural Soap.

Our luxurious natural bath bombs are crafted from high quality natural ingredients that are gentle and nourishing to the skin. Our ingredients help to moisturize and soothe the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. 

Many bath bombs being sold today contain harsh ingredients, chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are toxic to the body. These harsh ingredients can disrupt hormones, cause skin irritation, and other health issues. By choosing our all natural bath bombs you will avoid exposing your skin to these harmful chemicals and enjoy a safer, more relaxing bathing experience. 

We have 4 different bath bombs to choose from, plus the option to purchase all 4 in a beautiful gift box at a 15% savings! Give a loved one the perfect gift! Each bath bomb purchase comes wrapped in a waxed paper and sealed with one of our labels. Your purchase will also come with a beautiful card which contains a description and the ingredients for our bath bombs. Try them all and have fun finding your favorites!

Our bath bombs contain a base of Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Epsom Salts & Shea Butter, plus the essential oils. We have 4 different essential oil scented bath bombs to choose from, Lavender Eucalyptus, Grapefruit Mint, Cedar-wood Lavender, and Fresh Citrus.

2. Liquid Soap & Refills with Reusable Soap Pump

This is one many of you might be familiar with at this point, but let’s explore! Liquid Soap is probably one of the most common items you will find in any household. One in each bathroom and some might even change out their soaps to fit the season. Floral scents for Spring, Citrus for Summer, Pumpkin or Apple Pie for Autumn and Balsam Fir or Spiced scents for Winter. And while this might sound nice, there are a few things we need to consider. First, most of the places you might purchase your hand soap from such as Target, the drug store, or Bath & Body Works, are single use plastics, meaning that once you run out of that soap, you just throw away the bottle and put a new one in its place. This is not sustainable and can be harmful for the wellbeing of our planet. Second, these soaps are full of fake fragrances, colors, and other additives that are made to look like they are more moisturizing or anti-bacterial. These ingredients are toxic for our bodies and if the average person washes their hands 9 times throughout the day, just think about how much of that toxic hand soap you are rubbing into your hands. And what about your kids? Their little bodies don’t need all of that nastiness on their sensitive skin.

So instead, you can opt for a natural liquid soap such as Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Liquid Castile or Liquid African Black Soap. Not only is this soap safe for your whole family, it also comes in eco-friendly bottles made from bamboo and sugarcane pulp, which are not only 100% recyclable, but also 98% landfill biodegradable. Take it a step further by adding a reusable soap pump or foaming soap bottle to your kitchen, bathrooms, and wherever else you keep hand soap. This way you can just refill your hand soap whenever you run out and have peace of mind knowing you are taking care of your skin and the planet.

Liquid Castile Soap:

We specifically created this liquid soap with Organic olive oil as the main star, and then added a few other oils to enhance the soaps versatility. By adding other gentle and moisturizing yet cleansing oils, this liquid soap is perfect for hands, face and body, plus it may even help with household cleaning!

Try our natural Castile soap for a nourishing and effective cleansing experience for your hands, face and body. Add you own essential oils for a custom scented cleanse! Our premium Castile type liquid soap’s main ingredient is organic virgin olive oil, which deeply penetrates the skin, moisturizing and nourishing while cleansing. We’ve also chosen to combine the olive oil with a rich blend of premium oils to create a thick and versatile soap with creamy lather, gently cleansing while moisturizing, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth. We offer 3 different non-toxic scent options, Unscented, Lavender, and Lemon Verbena.

African Black Soap:

You can also try our African Black Soap, rich in unrefined Shea Butter & beautifully crafted by families in Africa using only ingredients hand gathered in nature. 

African Black Soap which contains a high quantity of natural shea butter is said to be one of the healthiest soaps for all skin types due to the purity of the ingredients used during production. Handcrafted in small batches with ingredients hand gathered from nature, this soap is created by families who cook over open fires, and the “potash” used to finish the soap comes from the fire pits. This version has no added essential oils, but has a mild scent form the natural ingredients. We offer both Unscented and Peppermint scent options in our African Black Soap.

For both the Liquid Castile Soap and African Black Soap, use with one of our Soap Pump Tops for ease of convenience right out of the bottle! Or select one our of Foaming Soap Pumps by Full Circle made of recyclable glass and bamboo!

3. Essential Oils

Last but not least, let’s talk essential oils. Now, this one is a bit controversial but we are going to look at this from a healthy living and toxic-free home perspective.

Essential Oils are quite simply the oil that is extracted from plants found in nature. There are a bunch of natural benefits, plus essential oils have naturally occurring scents and they smell divine! They are an amazing option for those who are sensitive to strong fake fragrances that you would typically find in candles, soaps, cleaning products, etc. There are so many uses for essential oils but I will highlight a few of my favorite. First, they are an easy swap if you are sensitive to the artificial fragrances in candles, air fresheners, perfumes, etc. Swap out your Bath & Body Works products for a diffuser and lovely smelling essential oils! You can even have fun mixing and matching different oils in your defuser to create new blends. Second, swap out your hand and body soaps that are filled with artificial fragrances for Apple Valley Natural Soap’s amazing soaps that are scented with natural essential oils. Third, swap our your cleaning and home products for those harnessing the power of natural essential oils such as the previously mentioned and very versatile, Liquid Castile Soaps, which are great for household cleaning. Add your own essential oils to the Unscented Liquid Castile soap for a super easy, cost effective way to clean. Have some fun and DIY your own cleaning supplies, laundry soap, etc.

Need some additional help to start? Look no further! At Apple Valley Natural Soap, we have made it our mission to make sure our products are non-toxic and scented with natural essential oils or natural fragrances. Plus, we now offer Organic Essential Oils and Essential Oil Roll-ons.

Organic Essential Oils:

Our Certified Organic therapeutic essential oils have many benefits for all areas of life, from cleaning and skin care to aromatherapy and speeding illness recovery. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for medicinal and health purposes, and they continue to gain popularity as a natural and safe way to treat health concerns. Essential oils are also a safe and effective way to assist with daily needs such as cleaning and body care.

Why Organic essential oils vs non-organic? Organic essential oils are of a higher quality, being produced using high-quality, organic plant material and processed using natural, non-toxic methods. By choosing organic essential oils, you are also supporting sustainable agriculture and methods that are better for the environment. This all means that the oils are more potent, effective, and beneficial.

We offer a variety of organic essential oils such as Organic Eucalyptus Blue Mallee, Organic Lavender, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Peppermint Supreme, Organic Tea Tree and MORE!

Essential Oil Roll-Ons:

Essential Oils when blended carefully create a synergy between their individual properties, which can greatly enhance the individual oils. Our blended essential oils are carried in Organic MCT coconut oil for easy application and perfect for when on the go. All our Essential Oils are 100% natural and pure, plus they are packaged in 10mL dark ultraviolet glass bottles which are designed to block all harmful visible light while beneficial UV and infrared rays extend the freshness of what’s held inside.

We offer 4 different essential oil blend options all designed to help specific needs such as Clarity, Immunity, Lavender (Relaxing), and Serenity. You can use these oils to help with specific needs as well as smelling amazing with a great alternative to perfume.

These are just 3 of MANY product swap ideas we could explore but I hope that this helps to give you a good place to start as you begin your product swap journey. There are things in our home and every day products that can cause unpleasant and even serious health issues. From LUSH to AVNS Natural Bath Bombs, Drug Store Hand Soap to AVNS Liquid Castile & African Black soap, and Bath & Body Works to Organic Essential Oils, these easy product swaps make sure that no matter where you are at with your health and natural living journey, you can have peace of mind knowing you are using products that are safe for you and your family and better for the planet.

Have you made some product swaps in your hair care, skin care, or home care? Do you have favorite or ride or die product swap? Tell us what they are and start a conversation in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it too, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Essential Oils That Repel Bugs

Leave a comment

For outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy hiking, camping, and gardening without being constantly attacked by flies and mosquitoes…here is a list of essential oils known to repel bugs, some of our recommended natural soaps that include these essential oils, and a natural bug spray recipe.

5 Essential Oils That Repel Bugs

  1. Lemon Eucalyptus: known to keep mosquitoes at bay for a few hours after application.
  2. Peppermint: supposedly keeps spiders away.
  3. Citronella: used in the making of many “bug repellant” candles, this essential oil is helpful for keeping mosquitoes away when correctly prepared.
  4. Cinnamon: known for keeping wasps and spiders away. According to One Essential Community, “use cinnamon bark in addition to powdered cinnamon to get rid of ants! It messes up their pheromones and they get lost. So they lose their way and don’t infest further.”
  5. Lavender: this common essential oil works on common household bugs such as fruit flies and lice.

Apple Valley Natural Soaps Made With Bug Repellant Essential Oils

Camping Shampoo Bar Limited Edition

This one is for all you outdoorsy, adventuresome folks who like to go camping and fishing, but still want an all over clean right there at the campsite. Our Camping Shampoo/Body bar will clean you from head to toe, is biodegradable and safe to use at campsites near bodies of water. Please note that I said “near” not in!  The “Leave No Trace” guidelines state that even with biodegradable soap, the earth is needed to filter the soapy water, so it is strongly recommended that you shower or wash up 200 feet away from any body of water. You can read more about LNT here.

When you go camping with this bar, you can rest assured that you are using a product which is safe for the environment and good for you! Plus, as it’s also made with fantastic bug repelling essential oils, there’s the added benefit of an extra layer of protection from little pests.

We make limited quantities of our Limited Edition soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season.

 Ingredients: saponified oils of organic coconut, organic sustainable palm, organic olive, organic sunflower, organic shea nut butter, castor bean, and organic jojoba, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of lemon eucalyptus, lavender, organic peppermint, organic rosemary, cedarwood, citronella, and organic lemongrass.

Lavender Lemon Salt Bar

An itch-fighting, bacteria-fighting, bug-fighting bar for the books.

This salt bar, plus our Lavender Rosemary Salt bar make a wonderful shampoo for those with itchy scalps who have tried everything under the sun (including a wide range of our products) to alleviate the itch. Even some of our team members who periodically get itchy scalps, find relief with these 2 salt bars. If you do choose to try a salt bar as a shampoo, try a sample or half bar first as this bar won’t be for everyone. If you have a lot of hair, you may find that it doesn’t lather as much as our regular shampoo bars. A suggestion for this to still get the anti itch benefits from the salt bar, but also get a rich lather, is to use the salt bar gently against the scalp and lather as much as possible, do not rinse but follow with a shampoo bar. Use the Lavender Lemon shampoo bar until you have a think lather and then rinse with water. Follow with an acidic rinse if needed.

Ingredients: saponified oils of organic coconut, organic shea nut butter, and castor bean, European spa salt, and essential oils of lavender and lemon.

Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo Bar

This bar is so much more than just a spider repellant.

Even though our Peppermint Tea Tree shampoo bar feels great on scalp and skin, the main benefit of this bar is the health it can help restore to both hair and scalp. Nourishment and restorative properties from the specifically chosen carrier oils plus added healing from the essential oil blend.

Some of the benefits, but not limited to, are with ingredients such as Coconut oil which is a super-oil full of naturally present antioxidants, it is an excellent anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Olive oil which is packed with anti-aging antioxidants and hydrating squalene, making it superb for hair, skin, and nails. Jojoba oil is a natural anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, its properties keep the scalp clean and healthy. It can also prevent hair loss and thinning caused by the clogged hair follicles as it dissolves and clears these blockages and promotes the development of new hair cells, which can lead to hair growth. Shea butter strengthens your skin by stimulating the production of collagen, it helps make your skin more supple, more alive, nourished and radiant. We could keep going, but you probably get the idea.

For the essential oils, both peppermint and tea tree essential oils have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties. Peppermint adds a cooling effect which can help eliminate the urge to scratch, while tea tree, thanks to it’s fantastic anti-fungal properties, is great for fighting dandruff. Tea tree oil is a wildly popular remedy for acne and fights the fungus that causes dandruff without drying out the scalp, it can also serve as a natural conditioner and eliminate problems that lead the scalp to flake.

Ingredients: saponified oils of organic coconut, organic olive, castor bean, organic sunflower, organic sustainable palm, organic jojoba, organic shea nut butter, and mango seed butter, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of organic peppermint and organic tea tree.

Bug Spray Recipe For Home and Yard

This recipe came from Healthline, for more bug spray recipes including one safe for skin and plants you can check out their original article!

For a DIY indoor/outdoor bug spray, you’ll need the following:

  • glass spray bottle
  • lavender essential oil
  • oil of lemon eucalyptus
  • citronella essential oil
  • distilled water
  • white vinegar

Then follow these steps:

  • Mix 10 to 20 drops of each essential oil with 2 ounces distilled water and 2 ounces of white vinegar.
  • Shake gently to mix.
  • Spray to use.

Well, we can hope that the bugs will die down in August, there’s nothing wrong with being prepared for next summer! Do you have a favorite homemade or natural bug spray you enjoy using?

Feel free to email me at nora@applevalleynaturalsoap.com with any questions or comments you may have!

Much Love,

Nora