Homemade Perfume
A fine perfume can have a hundred ingredients — but sometimes simple is just as sweet. While you can make perfumes with combinations of essential oils, or with complex top notes, middle notes, and base notes, a delicate water-based perfume with a floral scent is deliciously direct — and an ideal gift for a romantic at heart. Not to mention that making your own perfume is a way to eliminate the harmful chemicals or preservatives often found in synthetic fragrances, such as phthalates, some of which have been shown to cause health problems. A homemade, all-natural, water-based perfume is the best Earth-friendly option. When making perfume as a gift, it’s important to keep in mind the recipient’s tastes and preferences. Basic supplies for making perfume: 1 1/2 cups chopped flowersCheeseclothMedium-size bowl with lid2 cups distilled waterSmall saucepanWashed and sterilized vanilla extract bottle, or another small colored bottle with a lid or an airtight stopper Instructions for making perfume:
Make your own eco bubble bath
There has been a lot of talk lately about the potentially harmful chemicals in conventional bubble bath products. As best, most of these products contain sodium laurel sulfates and petroleum by-products. At worst, they also contain known carcinogens like formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. Who wants their baby soaking in that? A better bet is to make your own homemade bubble bath. Ingredients 1 cup green baby shampoo or eco-friendly liquid soap (try California Baby, Earth Mama Angel Baby, or Tom's of Maine)3/4 cup water1/2 - 1 tsp. glycerin Combine baby shampoo or eco-friendly liquid soap, water, and glycerin in a reusable plastic bottle.
Make your own natural body lotion
If you’re tired of all the chemicals and synthetic fragrances in most store-bought creams and lotions, you might want to consider making your own. Most people think that making creams and body lotions is difficult but it’s actually fairly easy. I frequently make my own and give them as gifts to friends and family members who seem to love them. If you can, I recommend that you keep an old blender, a small- to medium-size glass bowl, and a spatula that you use solely for making natural aromatherapy products. Here’s what you’ll need: • 3/4 cup of pure oil (I like sweet almond oil since it absorbs well and doesn’t leave a greasy film. • 1 cup of pure water (or you can use rose water — available in health food stores) • 2 tablespoons of shaved beeswax (most health food stores sell plain beeswax. • 30 drops of essential oils (like lavender, ylang ylang, bergamot, or other oil. • A glass jar or small glass jars for storing the lotion How to make the lotion: That’s it.
The kitchen spa
Help your skin survive unpredictable weather with these two essential steps: exfoliation and moisturization. Skin-cell buildup leads to dryness, poor circulation and blemishes. Exfoliation eliminates these dead cells, revealing fresh skin that is better able to absorb moisture. And guys, take note: While men’s skin tends to be oilier than women’s, men may be more prone to epidermal dehydration. Food: Avocado Purpose: Moisturizer The scoop: Loaded with vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as potassium and fat, avocado is the perfect moisturizer. Recipe: Take a spent avocado peel and using gentle upward strokes, lightly massage your face with the inside of the peel. Food: Cucumber The scoop: Cucumbers contain compounds known to tighten pores and reduce inflammation, which is why they’re the classic choice for minimizing puffiness around the eyes. Recipe: Puree 1 tablespoon each of cucumber and parsley. Food: Oatmeal Purpose: Exfoliant and moisturizer Food: Peach Purpose: Exfoliant Food: Strawberry
Homemade Liquid Hand/Body Soap
Frugal Home Series Part 4: Homemade Liquid Soap Today's tutorial isn't for anything that includes borax, vinegar, or soda of any kind. No, it's liquid soap. Did you know you can make a gallon of liquid soap from just 8 oz of bar soap? Yep, it works. My Grandma gave my sister and I a Philosophy gift set with body wash, hand cream, a bar of body soap, perfume, and lotion. Have you ever used Philosophy products? Love it, but I love the food in our fridge and the roof over our head a little more. You need:8 oz of bar soap (Any bar. 1 gallon (or 16 cups) of waterStock PotContainer for soap (trusty milk jug for me!) When all is dissolved, you will have what looks like soapy water. Take off the heat and let cool/coagulate for 10-12 hours. It should be like thick snot now. Funnel into container and you are in bid-naz! I found Dial Men's care bars- $2 for 3 bars for my husband. *Edit 3.26.12 Yes, the soap is going to be a little "snotty", no matter how much water you add.
