Posted by Scentcillo at 15 December , 2011
A native fruit bearing shrub of Persia and the Western Himalayas , then spreading across trading routes to the Middle East, the Mediterranean region, Asia and China, the Punica granatum has been known since the time of Homer, renowned as a religious, mythical and metaphorical symbol over centuries.
Pomegranate is derived from the Latin word for apple ” pomum ” and ” granatus ” meaning seeded and it is indeed an ” apple of many seeds ” with its leathery red skin, fleshy pulp and abundant wine coloured seeds.
In Ancient Greece the pomegranate was associated with the myth of Persephone. She was abducted by Hades, Lord of the Underworld and her mother Demeter, goddess of Nature went into a deep mourning, grieving the world into a famine. The god Zeus commanded Hades to return Persephone as the Earth could not be allowed to remain in this state. Unfortunately as Persephone had been tricked into eating 6 pomegranate seeds by Hades during her time in the Underworld, the rule of the Fates condemned her to spend 6 months of each year with Hades. During this time Demeter grieves for her daughter, the Earth is no longer fertile and thus the 4 seasons are born.
To this day the pomegranate is still associated with death and rebirth, a symbol of life and regeneration, fertility, good luck and abundance in many different cultures and religions.
In Greek culture pomegranate seeds are used as part of a sweet offering to commemorate the dead and as part of a New Years tradition where a ripe pomegranate is crushed by the right foot of the first person to enter a home on New Year`s Day , its numerous seeds a symbol of many good things to come.
The pomegranate also had symbolic connections to royalty through history and has been incorporated into emblems of many medical institutions. It has been a recurring motif in art and literature , spanning cultures through thousands of years, most famously an adorning feature of the Alhambra Gates of Granada, Spain, the Andalusian city named after this precious fruit.
Pomegranates are used extensively in Persian, Indian and Turkish cuisine and across the Caucasus. The Gallic fruit syrup grenadine, used in cocktail mixing was traditionally thickened and sweetened with pomegranate juice.
In Ayuverdic medicine pomegranates are valued for their astringent qualities. The fruit rind and bark of the tree were used as a traditional remedy for diarrhoea and parasitic infections , the seeds and juice, high in tannins are considered tonic for the heart and throat. Today pomegranates are sought after for their anti oxidant content, either by consuming the fruit or juice or by applying pomegranate seed oil topically.
Pomegranate seed oil, cold pressed from its seed has a light consistency and is an effective emollient, rich in anti oxidants due to its polyphenol content, primarily ellagic acid to revitalise your skin. Anti oxidants when applied topically can help to reduce free radical damage which can contribute to cellular damage and collagen destruction by way of inflammation.
The Scentcillo facial moisturiser for dry, mature skin types features pomegranate seed oil combined with the anti oxidant green tea extract and Vitamin E for a synergistic triad, helping to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you`d like to try your hand at using pomegranate in a recipe here´s one for the deliciously fragrant muhammera spread – pomegranate molasses combined with roasted red pepper, walnut and garlic.
Or from Browning some ‘Pomegranate’, which if cut deep down the middle
Shows a heart within blood-tinctured, of a veined humanity! –
Lady Geraldine’s Courtship 165-166 , Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Posted by Scentcillo at 23 September , 2011
Body balms are generally made with a concoction of various oils, butters or waxes and do not contain water. They remain on the surface of the skin longer than a cream and therefore have an excellent softening effect. Balms can be used for their rich and nourishing effects for dry,flaky skin especially areas such as rough elbows and heels and also in massage, meditation or at bedtime, depending on the types of essential oils that are used in a formula for scenting e.g sandalwood and frankincense for a meditation balm, lavender for sleeping.
I have chosen jasmine sambac (jasminum sambac) essential oil, the “queen of flowers” in this example as I absolutely adore its fragrance- I find it an intoxicating aroma that lifts the spirits and its floral scent is femininity personified- in fact in aromatherapy it is considered to have mood lifting and aphrodisiac properties and is in some Eastern cultures used as a religious offering symbolising divine hope.
The smell of jasmine always bring to mind memories of warm, languid Summer nights, the night air redolent of the scent of this exquisite flower . I can’t help feeling a certain optimism when I smell the first fragrant blooms in the Spring months.
The behavioural and psychological impact of scent is the study of Aromachology. This focuses on the specific feelings elicited by odours that originate from the limbic system of the brain (the emotional brain ) by way of stimulation of olfactory pathways.
Emotions are greatly influenced by fragrance and the scent of things like essential oils can trigger a memory response with a strong emotional tone that can transport us to another time or place- the so called Proustian Phenomenon.
Particular smells can have a strong association with the way events, people or objects are remembered and can evoke emotions that are aligned with these things.
Jasmine was shown to improve problem solving skills and participant’s motivation in one study ( Rottman, T. R. (1989). The effects of ambient odor on the cognitive performance, mood, and activation, of low and high impulsive individuals in a naturally arousing situation. Diss. Abstr. Int. 50:365B 1989 ) and also has reputed sleep enhancing effects (links are here and here), so this recipe could make quite a lovely bedtime balm.
Jasmine body balm
Ingredients:
Phase 1
Cocoa butter 55gm
Cupuacu butter 55gm
Jojoba oil 12.5ml
Phase 2
Shea nut butter 55gm
Red raspberry oil 6ml
Phase 3
Jasmine sambac 2% in jojoba oil 2.5ml
Vitamin E (natural) 1.25ml
Formula:
1. Combine ingredients in Phase 1 in a bain marie or using the double boiler system (a saucepan immersed in a larger saucepan of water) and heat to a maximum of 70 degrees C ( using scientific thermometer to measure). Don’t overheat the mixture as temperature affects the final consistency of the balm.
2. Slowly cool to 50 degrees C , add ingredients from Phase 2 , mix through with a metal stirrer.
3. When temperature reaches 45 degrees C add ingredients from Phase 3 and mix through.
4. At 40 degrees C pour the balm into your containers and allow to cool slowly at room temperature.
Use within 6 months.
Product formulations are for illustrative example only. All care has been taken in presenting example formulations, however, Scentcillo accepts no responsibility regarding any product made by the manufacturer using these formulations or for their performance.
Aromachology was developed by The Sense of Smell Institute, a research division of the Fragrance Foundation in the US in the ’80s. You can check out their website here for more information on the study of olfaction , the most under rated and neglected of our senses.
I have also included some great quotes here about scent and memory – enjoy !
” Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things. ” Cicero
” Nothing revives the past so completely as smell. ” Vladimir Nabokov
” Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood
summer beside a lake in the mountains; another, a moonlit beach; a third, a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth. ” Diane Ackerman- A Natural History of the Senses
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Posted by Scentcillo at 16 September , 2011
Facial oils are usually made with cold pressed vegetable, nut or fruit oils as a carrier oil or base in combination with infused oils and pure essential oils.
Treatment oils are quite versatile and can be applied in many ways. You can use a facial oil either directly applied to the skin or under your moisturiser. Facial oils also can be used instead of a night cream or under your regular night cream or as a treatment massage oil in a facial. I find facial oils are great to use when the weather turns cooler and your skin gets that little bit drier.
This treatment oil recipe is an excellent choice for dry, dehydrated or mature skin types. The carrier oils have a fine consistency so are light on the skin and easily absorbed.
Cold pressed red raspberry oil is rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamins A and E. Jojoba oil has a close chemical composition to skin sebum so it is a fast penetrating oil which makes it ideal for inclusion in a facial oil. Pomegranate oil , from the pomegranate seed, is rich in poly phenol antioxidants.
These oils can help to revitalise the appearance of the skin by smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, protect the skin from the elements and keep your skin supple.
Frankincense and rose essential oils are real tonics for dry or mature skin types, helping to smooth any fine lines. Lavender essential oil is suitable for all skin types with balancing and regenerative effects on the skin.
Feel free to make your own changes to this recipe using different ingredients to personalise your treatment oil. Other carrier oils to consider- rose hip, apricot or almond oils. These all have similar consistency to the oils used in this recipe. Essential oils you can also use – patchouli, ylang ylang, palmarosa, sandalwood.
Anti ageing facial treatment oil 30mls
Ingredients :
Carrier oils
15 mls Red raspberry oil
10 mls Pomegranate seed oil
5 mls Jojoba oil
Essential oils
3 drops Frankincense
2 drops Rose otto 3% in jojoba
1 drop Lavender
Method:
Add the red raspberry, pomegranate and jojoba oils to a dark glass dropper bottle using a funnel or measuring cylinder.
Add the essential oils and shake well.
Label your product, including the date of manufacture. Use within 6 months.
Shake well before each use.
Product formulations are for illustrative example only. All care has been taken in presenting example formulations, however, Scentcillo accepts no responsibility regarding any product made by the manufacturer using these formulations or for their performance.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 21 March , 2011
World Forestry Day is celebrated each year on the 21st March and this year also marks the UN International Year of the Forest.
This year’s theme is ” Forests for people ” which focuses on the role people can have in the management and conservation of the forests for a sustainable ecosystem.
Scentcillo is proud to support Greenfleet, an Australian NGO that has been replanting native forests across Australia since 1997. Greenfleet is an environmental charity that offsets greenhouse emissions by planting native trees that soak up CO2 from the atmosphere. This also reduces salinity and soil erosion and provides a habitat for wildlife.
Since their inception Greenfleet have planted almost 7 million native trees across more than 400 sites. This year being the Year of the Forests, it is their aim to reach a target of 2 million trees for 2011.
If you’d like to know more about it or get involved click here for more information. Businesses and individuals can offset carbon pollution from their energy use with Greenfleet or you can either donate or purchase Greenfleet gift vouchers.
Also don’t forget to switch off your lights this Saturday 26th March at 8.30 p.m for Earth Hour. There are over 4000 cities in 128 countries that will be participating , so get your family and friends together to help support the world’s largest community-driven action for the planet.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 15 February , 2011
Lavender is considered one of the most versatile oils used in aromatherapy and is a very popular and well utilised essential oil. It is often referred to as “Mother Nature’s first aid kit”.
Lavender has been used since antiquity both as a perfume and for medicinal purposes. Its name is derived from the Latin word “lavare”- to wash, as lavender was used to scent bathwater in Roman times.
When I smell its familiar floral, herbaceous aroma it brings back memories of school fetes, where ladies would sell lavender filled drawer sachets at their stalls.
Lavender has traditionally been used for its antiseptic and soothing properties- it is often applied to calm sensitive skin and minor burns. The oil is considered to have a balancing effect on the nervous system and thus recommended for stress related symptoms. Lavender as a colour, interestingly enough, is known as the colour of serenity.
Herbalist Peter Holmes, in his paper on lavender oil ( IJA, Vol.4 No.4 (1992) pp 20-2), writes of lavender as useful on an emotional level in acute situations where there are sudden, unpredictable changes or as a link breaker ; to break the habits of old and to help facilitate and establish personal renewal.
The essential oil is a valuable addition to any skincare formulation as it is suitable for all skin types and has balancing and regenerative effects on the skin.
The plant originated in the Mediterranean and is cultivated across Spain, France and England. In Australia, Tasmania is a major producer of lavender. The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the flower heads.
Scentcillo facial moisturisers contain true lavender (lavandula angustifolia) essential oil sourced from the lavender farms of the pristine Tamar Valley in north eastern Tasmania. Here the lavender plants flower once a year in December and January, then harvested and the flowering tops are distilled to produce the essential oil.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 14 February , 2011
Citrus essential oils are just perfect for the long, languid, hot Summer days ,especially in the Australian Summertime.
The sharp and zesty fruity scents can be as refreshing as a cool Southerly breeze after a hot and humid day. Citrus scents can help to combat the feelings of sleepiness and sluggishness experienced during the often cloying heat of Summer.
Shaman essential oil blend brings together the fresh, tangy smells of lime, pink grapefruit and lemon underpinned by the cool, woody notes of cypress and cedarwood atlas. It’s a great blend to burn in your vaporiser after a day spent at the beach, lazing around on a weekend or even in the workplace on a hot day to offset that afternoon slump.
The Shaman fragrance is also available in our body creams, which can be a refreshing choice, especially if you put the cream in the fridge before you use it to moisturise your skin.
One of my favourite songs is “That Sunday, That Summer ” sung by the fabulous Dinah Washington.
Clickety-click here to enjoy. (You tube post by ame746).
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Posted by Scentcillo at 14 February , 2011
A native of the Philippines, Indonesia and Madagascar, the fragrant ylang ylang (or flower of flowers) can be found across the Pacific and tropical Asia. Ylang ylang trees (Cananga odorata) can grow to heights of up to 20 metres and its star shaped, perfumed flowers come in various colours such as pink, mauve and yellow.
It is the yellow flowers that are considered the best for extraction of the essential oil. Ylang ylang is a widely used ingredient in aromatherapy and the perfume industry. Its scent, which can be overpowering to some, is similar to jasmine but not as costly, hence its nickname of ” poor man’s jasmine “.
Ylang ylang flowers with their heady, voluptuous scent are considered an aphrodisiac and are traditionally associated with romantic occasions such as weddings and honeymoons. In Indonesia the exotic smelling flowers are spread over the bed of newly-weds.
The essential oil is extracted from the flowers, picked in the early morning, by steam distillation which yields four grades of ylang ylang oil – ylang extra and grades 1 to 3 . A complete ylang ylang oil is also produced by combining all four distillates. Ylang ylang extra, the first portion of the distillate and the most expensive grade, has the most potent scent of the oils and is used extensively in perfumery.
Distillation can take up to 24 hours and as it eventuates the oil that is extracted, at increasing intervals of time, gets progressively lighter in its aroma. The first fractions have a higher ester content in their chemical composition , therefore the oil is a more pleasant and sweeter floral fragrance compared to the lower grades which tend to be harsher or earthier in their scent.
We use a 1st grade Ylang ylang from Madagascar for the Scentcillo Tango essential oil blend and body cream.
Ylang ylang was chosen as the key note in the Tango essential oil blend as I think it is a reflection of the essence and feeling of the tango- its creamy, sweet, narcotic aroma conveys the sensual seduction and romance of the dance but there is also a spicy, balsamic aspect to ylang ylang which represents the nostalgic and bittersweet emotions that tango also evokes.
Ylang ylang completes the floral triumvirate of rose and jasmine sambac essential oils in the Tango body cream and when applied in skincare has a balancing and softening effect on the skin which can benefit both oily and dry skin.
As a Valentine’s Day treat , here is a You tube link posted by tangomultimedia to the beautiful tango ” Perfume de Mujer ” (Scent of a Woman). Words by Armando Tagini, music by Juan Jose Guichandut (1927). Sung by the undisputed King of Tango, Carlos Gardel.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 10 January , 2011
We are delighted to see that are our essential oil blends are featured at AllNaturalAnnie – a fantastic blog with quality information, reviews and handy tips on natural health, beauty and lifestyle.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 24 December , 2010
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our loyal customers a very happy Christmas filled with many fragrant delights and a HUGE thank you for your support throughout the year.
Enjoy the festive season- eat, drink and be merry – stay well, take time to relax and enjoy some wonderful celebrations with your family and friends.
Here’s a favourite Christmas recipe of mine from the Women’s Weekly home library- Easy Mexican Style Cookery. It’s called Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) salad- it’s simple to make, adds some vibrant colours to your table, tastes delicious and a refreshing accompaniment to the heavier foods you tend to overindulge with over the holiday season.
Christmas Eve salad
3 medium oranges
1/2 medium cos lettuce, shredded
2 medium bananas, sliced
1/2 small pineapple, chopped
3 medium apples, peeled, chopped
1 medium pomegranate
3 medium beetroot, cooked, peeled, chopped
1/2 cup roasted chopped peanuts
1/3 cup virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Peel oranges thickly. Using a sharp knife, cut oranges into segments between membranes.
Place lettuce on serving plate. Top with oranges, apples, bananas, pineapple and beetroot.
Remove seeds from pomegranate, discard skin and pith. Sprinkle salad with pomegranate seeds and peanuts; drizzle with combined oil , vinegar and sugar.
Serves 4 to 6.
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Posted by Scentcillo at 22 November , 2010
It’s that time of the year again folks- have you thought about what you’re getting for your family and friends for Christmas ?
Our hand blended essential oils make the perfect pampering gift for Christmas (they’re also great stocking fillers) and come all wrapped up in a gorgeous box (when you buy 3 or more), so you don’t have to worry about gift wrapping.
There are 4 aromatic blends in our essential oil range – Oracle, Tango, Shaman and Starlet to indulge the senses and transport you to another place.
This Christmas :
For every 2 essential oil blends you purchase you get a FREE essential oil blend of your choice.
If you buy 3 or more essential oil blends you also get FREE gift packaging with your order.
(When placing your order please indicate your choice of bonus essential oil blend by either email sales@scentcillo.com or in the delivery instructions field in the Paypal cart. )
It all begins HERE.
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