Birch Sweet Essential Oil
Soap makers and aromatherapists use birch sweet essential oil for several different therapeutic purposes. It is credited with being an analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, disinfectant and insecticide. Extracted from the bark of the common birch tree native to the northern hemisphere, birch sweet oil is also used to treat dermatitis, congested skin, eczema and psoriasis. It may be used in diffusers to ease congestion and in oils to relieve arthritis, rheumatism, muscular aches and pains and promote circulation.
Birch sweet oil is clear in color and has a light consistency. It has a sweet, sharp, slightly balsamic, minty scent that is similar to wintergreen. The bark of the common birch tree was used by Native Americans to brew teas meant to induce sweating and bring added heat to a body. They also used it as a tonic. Birch sweet oil is Why not try a few recipes that contain birch sweet essential oil and add a fresh, minty top note to your creations?
Melt and Pour Dog Soap
Ingredients:
- 1-pound melt and pour soap base
- 1 ounce melted shea butter
- 1 teaspoons cedarwood essential oil
- ½ teaspoon birch sweet essential oil
- ½ teaspoon citronella essential oil
- ½ teaspoon juniper essential oil
Melt your soap base in microwave or double boiler and add shea butter. Allow to cool slightly. Blend in your essential oils and pour into molds. Spritz top with rubbing alcohol. Let firm for 3-4 hours before removing from mold.
The next two recipes use the cold process for soap making. Please remember to use safety precautions when working with lye.
Minted Herbal Tea Soap
Ingredient:
- 4 oz. Palm Oil
- 4 oz. Coconut Oil
- 8 oz. Olive Oil
- 2.3 oz. lye
- 7 oz. Herbal Tea
- 1-teaspoon birch sweet essential oil
Pour your lye into the herbal tea. Let cool to 110 degrees. Heat carrier oils to110 degrees. Add the lye/tea mixture to the oils. Bring to trace. Add the birch sweet oil.
Pour into mold, cover, and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours. Remove from mold and let cure for 3-4 weeks.
Enchanted Forest Soap
Ingredients:
- 2 oz castor oil
- 4 oz olive oil
- 2 oz wt sunflower oil
- 4 oz wt soybean oil
- 4 oz wt lard
- 2.1 oz wt lye
- 7 ounces water
- ¼ teaspoon birch sweet essential oil
- ¼ teaspoon cedarwood essential oil
- ¼ teaspoon jasmine essential oil
Mix lye into water and let cool to 100 degrees. Heat carrier oils to 100 degrees. Add lye/water mixture to carrier oils. Bring to trace. Add blend of essential oils. Pour into molds. Cover, and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours. Remove from mold and let cure for 3-4 weeks.
Sore Muscles Soothing Massage Oil
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces sweet almond oil
- 10 drops birch sweet essential oil
- 9 drops white fir essential oil
- 6 drops lavender essential oil
Blend the oils in a dark bottle with a tight cap. Rub onto sore muscles and let this blend of oils begin to work its magic on your aching muscles.
