Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments

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Sandalwood oil originates from the East Indian sandalwood tree, which is renowned for being one of the most valuable trees in the world. Both the heartwood and the roots of these precious trees are used to make sandalwood essential oil. Sandalwood Oil:With its distinctive earthy, yet sweet smell, there’s no mistaking the classic scent of sandalwood oil, which is often used in perfumes and air fresheners.

Patchouli oil has an earthy fragrance which is both calming and sensual. Traditionally, it has been used to help ground the user and ease feelings of stress. Tea tree oil also blends well with other essential oils, including rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus and lavender.Traditionally, tea tree oil has been used by Aboriginal people as a natural antiseptic, as well as for insect bites and stings. But there are some scents that should be in everyone’s basic kit, including pure lavender oil, ginger essential oil, lemongrass oil and pure peppermint oil, among others. So it is always worth consulting a healthcare professional for advice before using essential oils if you are unsure. Eucalyptus oil blends well with other essential oils, including grapefruit, rosemary and peppermint. Aromatherapy is useful for many different things in life. Applications range from colds to headaches, psoriasis, or to make toxin-free cleaning products. The goal is to get away from chemical solutions and shift our lives towards more natural ways of living.

The two elements of ‘Colour and Light in Oils’ that interested me most were the discussions about colour composition and utilising under-paintings. Verrall and Capon explained, among many other things, that a great way to make a powerful painting is to focus on just a selected few relationships within your subject. They wrote that you can home in on those important elements by carefully curating your colours to create moods and draw attention to specific areas. Throughout the book Varrell provided many examples of this in his paintings, showing and describing how he generated atmospheres and narratives by being considerate with his palette and colour-based decisions. He also discussed colour theory in depth, analysing his use of contrasting and complimentary colours within his work. This was supported with photographs of his underpaintings and painting progress shots to show the evolution of his decision making. Two of our favourites are Miaroma Patchouli Pure Essential Oil and Tisserand Organic Patchouli Essential Oil.There are dozens – if not hundreds – of pure essential oils. For those with no experience of using them, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Made from the majestic trees of the same name, eucalyptus oil has a powerful smell that has been harnessed by indigenous Australians for centuries.

Nicholas Verrall has been working as a full time artist since 1970 and is currently a member of the Royal Society of British Artists. I reviewed his book, ‘Colour and Light in Oils’, co-written by experienced author and art journalist Robin Capon, by making a painting that tested their suggestions.At Holland & Barrett, we carry two great brands of pure eucalyptus oil: Miaroma Eucalyptus Pure Essential Oil and Tisserand Organic Eucalyptus Oil. It is great for helping to clear the senses and, when used in massage, it can help support circulation in yours hands and feet as well as help to ease muscle cramps. Tea tree oil:Sourced from the Australian tea tree, Melaleuca Alternifolia, this oil is one of the most well-known thanks to its distinctive smell and many uses. Pure patchouli oil:While tea tree and eucalyptus have fresh smells, patchouli oil is a completely different oil. I found this section of the book fascinating and wanted to test the versatility and usefulness of Verrall’s comments. I went out and photographed a street during the Golden Hour (a period of time in the day shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky) as I was interested in both the type of light and the process of rendering architecture, both subjects that ‘Colour and Light in Oils’ focus heavily on. I then decided which elements of my subject I was most interested in; I was fascinated by the type of light, how it shone on the building and the planes of the left house.