Tips For Creating a Spa-like Environment at Home

You can't always travel to your favorite spa o that takes lots of time and lots of money. It's easy to create a spa environment at home and it doesn't have to be expensive. If you have lots of time, follow all these tips. If you have minimal time, choose the tips that appeal most to you.

In the bathroom:

o Towels - Some towel manufacturers have a "spa" towel line, such as Chris Madden at JC Penney. The Chris Madden Spa Towels are a thick waffle weave and at one time they had a matching spa robe. Think thick, soft and super luxurious to remind you of the towels at a fine spa. You might roll or stack a group of towels decoratively in a basket or on a shelf.

o Candles - Aromatherapy candles can have a variety of benefits. Lavender for restful sleep. Citrus for invigorating. Eucalyptus for clearing sinuses. There are also a variety of blended candles scents. Choose a scent you enjoy or choose a blend that has the benefits you are looking for. Place them around the room and light them (safely, of course) when you want to turn your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary.

o Music - I keep a portable CD player in the closet in my bathroom. When I want the full atohome spa experience, I play a relaxing CD. I have 2 that I like just for this purpose. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Hydrotherapy Soothing Music for a Healing Bath. Gentle ocean sounds combine with soft instrumentals for a "just chill out" feeling. I especially like track #3. I also like Aromatherapy Music for Relaxation by Musical reflections. There are 6 tracks on this disk and each one is named after different aromatherapy oils.

o Hydrotherapy - The healing power of water. Take a bath. Plan to soak for 20 to 30 minutes uninterrupted. Longer soaks can dry out your skin. Shorter soaks aren't relaxing. Add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil or your favorite bath salts. Play relaxing music, light candles, have plush towels and comfortable pajamas or a robe waiting. If you have a jetted whirlpool tub, even better. If you don't, you can still enjoy a hot soak.

o Shower - If you don't have time for a bath, a shower can have similar benefits. When we remodeled our bathroom, my husband installed a combination heater/fan. When I'm ready to turn my bathroom into a spa, I warm the room up for a few minutes to take the chill off, especially in cold weather. I sprinkle a few drops of essential oils into the shower and the steam activates them to scent the entire room. In the evening, I might use lavender oil. In the morning, something more energizing. If I'm congested, I use eucalyptus oil. I'm immediately transported back to a spa experience when a eucalyptus steam rooms comes to mind. Caution - the oil can make the surface of the shower slippery. I try to sprinkle the oil on surfaces where my feet won't need traction.

o "Spa treatments" -

- Exfoliation - A loofah or dry brush is a great tool to add to your home spa. Use the dry brush before your shower or bath. Use the loofah in the shower or bath. If you don't have either of these, a washcloth can exfoliate skin in a pinch.
- Scrub - Buy a great smelling scrub, or you can even make your own with basic ingredients found in your grocery store, like seat salt or sugar, olive oil or nut oil, fruits and other ingredients.
- Facial - Use high quality, natural products to give yourself a mini-facial. Cleanse and tone, then apply a mask. When the mask is rinsed off, moisturize.
- Hair - Now is a great time to try a deep conditioner while you are soaking in the bath or taking a spaolike shower. Apply conditioner or hair mask, put your hair in a shower cap and let the conditioner work. Rinse according to the directions.

o Beverage - A glass of wine or champagne is the standby for relaxation in the tub, but there are other choices for the at-home spa too. A cup of herbal or green tea is wonderful. I love Teavana teas. You can also try fruit or herb infused water. Add cucumbers, mint, citrus fruit, berries, even watermelon to a pitcher of water. Or try a blend of your favorites. Chill the water for several hours, the longer the better for more flavor infusion. Sip this during your home spa experience or anytime to stay hydrated without added calories.

In the bedroom, you'll want to emulate your favorite features of a fine hotel room:

o Sheets - Choose high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets for the most luxurious feel. It's worth spending a little bit of money here for the best quality. Egyptian cotton gets softer with washing and wear, but can fade a bit.

o Pillows - Choose whatever kind of pillows you are most comfortable with, but have lots of them in different shapes and sizes. Not only does this look cozy, it's comfortable too. I like a variety of pillows o foam, synthetic and down to mix it up a bit. Maybe a bolster or two for added texture and comfort.

o Blankets/Comforter - Like the finest hotels, a down or down alternative comforter is luxurious, yet simple. You can find a duvet to add a pop of color, texture and to protect your investment. Choose a year round weight o one that will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Include a plush or cozy throw in a fabric like chenille or a soft yarn for added comfort on cool nights or to snuggle under while relaxing or reading.

o Candles - Avoid heavily perfumed candles to prevent allergic reactions. A lavender or lavender blend is a perfect choice to help you drift off to sleep.

o Loungewear or robe - You'll want to have some really soft and cozy lounge wear or a great robe to wear during your at-home spa experience.

o Music o Play music that relaxes and de-stresses you with a slow tempo.

In just a few easy steps, you can turn your bathroom or bedroom into a spa environment and have the benefits of a spa in your own home. Enjoy!

http://everythingspa.wordpress.com/

My name is Michele. I am a married mother of one son living in Syracuse, NY. I have decided to start this blog to share my love of spas and everything spa.

I visit spas on average four times a year, usually while on vacation. I prefer destination spas to day spas, mostly because of the amenities. I have found other sites that have spa reviews, but they are not always as comprehensive as I like. So I will aim to post comprehensive views about spas that I visit. If I have visited them long ago, I will provide a recap and a general impression.

If you enjoy spas as much as I do, please share information at my blog! If you like what you see, tell a friend. You can contact me at cnyspagirl@twcny.rr.com.

The Research-Supported Benefits of Inahling Lemon Oil

May 3, 2011 on 10:52 pm | In Essential Oil Science | No Comments

Perhaps because Lemon essential oil is found the world-over, it has been an especially popular oil for research on the affects of “aroma” therapy. It appears to have an incredibly wide-range of benefits, with just this single oil alone in your diffuser.

Lemon oil is pressed from the peels of the fruit...

Effects on Stress and Pain Perception

A study published in Behavioral Brain Research, performed at Yamaguchi University in Japan, examined the anti-stress neurochemistry of lemon oil — the researchers actually evaluated rose, lavender AND lemon, and found lemon to be the most potent anxiety reducer.

The Japanese researchers discovered that the anti-stress action involved enhancement of the serotinergic (serotonin-related) pathways in the brain. Or, as described technically: “lemon oil significantly accelerated the metabolic turnover of DA in the hippocampus and of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. These results suggest that lemon oil possesses anxiolytic, antidepressant-like effects via the suppression of DA activity related to enhanced 5-HTnergic neurons.”

A study performed at the University of Siena, Italy, published in the journal of Brain Research, evaluated the continuous inhalation of Lemon oil for two weeks. Subjects had significantly reduced stress-related hormone levels, and significantly lessened perception of pain (seemingly more effective for females).

Effects of Mood Enhancement

A study published in the journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology, performed at Ohio State University, examine the effects of Lemon, Lavender, and plain water mist on mood. Researchers concluded: “Self-report and unobtrusive mood measures provided robust evidence that lemon oil reliably enhances positive mood compared to water and lavender regardless of expectancies or previous use of aromatherapy.”

Getting Smarter With Lemon Oil

In one study, Japanese office workers were exposed to Lemon essential oil from a diffuser, and 54% fewer errors were made in the tasks being performed. The scientific validity of this can be related to its proven ability to reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine, the primary information-processing neurotransmitter. This results in a higher amount of this chemical being available in our brains. In separate research, student’s test scores improved significantly when exposed to lemon oil vapor. It is suggested that inhaling lemon during study time might significantly improve test scores as well.

Just simple lemon in your diffuser can do wonders in the daytime. It has many other therapeutic uses too, which you check out on our Lemon Oil page…Enjoy!

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General Benefits of Owning A Home Spa

The prohibitive costs of spa therapies at commercial spas come in the way of enjoying a spa experience for many families. There also comes the time constraint factor. A home spa makes spa experience for the entire family very affordable and gives an opportunity for the family to get together and have great weekends without stepping out of the house.

In modern era, families don't get enough time to spend together. From a hard day at work to a plethora of TV soaps at home and a myriad of computer and video games for the kids, everyone is so busy in their own little worlds that there simply is no time or urge to get together, In fact, there always seems to be a reason to not get together. But a portable home spa can change this scenario completely.

As home spas are safe and enjoyable for the whole family, it doesn't take long for your new portable home spa to become the most favorite spot in your home. There is no better way to chill out after a stressful day at work than enjoying a relaxed evening in the home spa with your family.

A home spa will also instantly make your home the hub of your social activities. Your home spa can put an end to the debate amongst your friends as to where they should hold their weekend party. They will love coming to your house to enjoy the calm relaxing atmosphere that a home spa provides. A home spa will add a new dimension to your backyard barbeques, social parties, romantic evenings and make them all the more entertaining and memorable.

In addition to these family benefits and social benefits of owning a home spa, you will gain countless personal benefits too from your home spa, which include physical health benefits and mental health benefits. After a long stressful day at work, there is no better way to relax your stressed out mind, tired feet, stiff back muscles and aching body than soaking in your home spa in the comfort of hot water and letting the water jets massage your body from all sides.

The combined effect of heat, massage and buoyancy, called hydrotherapy, offers many physical health benefits, such as improved blood circulation, reduction in muscle strain and soreness and relief from those nagging aches in your shoulders, back, feet and neck - all these benefits promoting sound sleep.

A home spa can also be used for the purpose of taking aromatherapy in the privacy of your home instead of in a health spa or beauty spa. Aromatherapy is based on the power of the gentle fragrances of certain medicinal essential oils in calming your nerves and relaxing your stressed out mind. Such lingering fragrances can invoke fantastic imagery of flowery landscapes, pleasant memories, favorite foods or even desired moods. Aromatherapy uses this principle to provide you relief from your day-to-day worries.

Safe, enjoyable and effective for the whole family, the benefits of a portable home spa will help everyone enjoy an active lifestyle. Your family will love the good times they have relaxing in your home spa and the benefits they derive from the home spa.

Song Meng Tan maintains http://www.hydrospabusiness.com This content is provided by the author and it may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

The History of Spa

Coined from the Latin words sanus per aquam, spa literally means health through water. Because of this basic and very simple concept, it is not surprising that the great tradition of spa remains essentially unchanged.

In the old times, water was considered to be a natural force that can both create and destroy life. Because of this reverence for water, our ancestors believed in its healing power. Archaeological findings have placed our ancestors around water springs. Evidences of shrines which were believed to be of Celtic origin were also discovered near these springs.

Among the many civilizations, the Romans are best known for taking care of their mind, body and spirit. Great buildings were built as spa centers or thermae, places were people can bathe and relax while discussing the latest philosophy, politics and arts. These spa centers come complete with several rooms for training and meeting. Some rooms were specifically used as saunas, libraries and stadiums.

Every Roman emperor was known to build his own thermae, each more lavish than the ones before. The well-known Diocletian bath was known to accommodate 6,000 bathers at one time. All important aspects of well-being are enhanced in these sauna centers.

Not only this, Roman legionnaires were also believed to have benefited from water treatments. The soldiers recovered quickly after dipping into hot springs, where all wounds and body aches were relieved from pain.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the tradition of spa waned. The spa centers were no longer maintained and they fell to disuse and disrepair. But the discovery of sulphureous waters reinforced the use of water for healing. People afflicted with skin diseases that cannot be cured by herbs and oils resorted to bathing in these sulfur-filled waters.

The Renaissance period gave rise to spa towns such as Spa in Belgium, Baden-Badenin Germany and Bathin England. Each of these towns re-discovered the healing power of water especially since most are located near natural thermal waters. Saunas and steam baths became popular once more, especially when Father Sebastian Kneipp developed water therapy combined with the use of herbal medicine at a German spa town in the 1890s.

As advances in technology improved the way diseases are treated, spas have become important and effective partner in promoting over all health and wellness. Many spa centers today offer programs that include stress management and fitness. The International Spa Association has even categorized the growing industry into ten domains, namely:

1. The Waters

2. Food Nourishment, Nutrition and Diet

3. Movement, Exercise and Fitness

4. Touch, Massage and Bodywork

5. Mind/Body/Spirit

6. Aesthetics, Skin Care, Natural Beauty Agents Physical Space, Climatology and Global Ecology

7. Social/ Cultural Arts and Values

8. Management, Marketing and Operations

9. Time, Rhythm and Cycles

Today's spas do not feature all the categories mentioned above as they prefer to specialize in a particular domain. Because of this, spas can now be classified into club spa, day spa, cruise ship spa, destination spa, holistic spa, medical spa, mineral springs spa, resort spa, sports or adventure spa, structured spa and home spa.

Combining modern techniques with old world tradition, spa has become the perfect blend of healing and relaxation. A spa ritual typically involves cleaning, heating, treatment and then rest. As spas become more and more in demand, people are going to spas for a multitude of reasons that include communing with nature, detoxifying, regaining inner balance, managing weight, learning about nutrition and most of the time- for having fun. These spa centers now provide treatments like floatation, ayurvedic, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, massages, manicures and pedicures, facials, body scrubs and many more.

Thesa is an experienced writer and publicist. She has 12 years experience in writing well-researched articles of various topics, SEO web content, marketing and sales content, press releases, sales scripts, academic essays, E-books and news bits.

Body Detox - 5 Hydrotherapy Treatments That Can Help

Hydrotherapy treatments are a useful and enjoyable way to eliminate toxins. In this respect they are a great compliment to your detox diet. If you are going to a spa to detox, the chances are you will have access to one or more of these treatments. But even if you are doing a home detox, you can still incorporate them into your plan.

1) Aromatherapy Bath

This type of bath uses essential oils to provide both a therapeutic and relaxing effect. There is a wide range of essential oils that are available. Some are best used for their effect on the emotions; such as ylang-ylang while other have a more direct effect such as lavender and eucalyptus.

You should follow the manufacturer's instructions and add the required amounts to the bath. You only need a small amount, which is typically 5-10 drops.

2) Sitz Bath

Sitz baths are a good way to improve the circulation and so encourage the elimination of toxins. You sit in a warm bath with your feet resting in a bowl of cold water. After a minute you reverse the positions so you are sitting in cold water with your feet in warm water.

3) Epsom Salts Bath

Epsom salts are based on magnesium sulphate. They get their name from the town of Epsom in England where they were first extracted from the mineral rich water. They have been used since the Middle Ages in England as a way to eliminate toxins and sooth aching muscles and joints

4) Steam Bath

A steam bath aims to eliminate toxins by promoting sweating. Toxins are then brought onto the skin's surface where they can be washed away. It also encourages blood circulation.

5) Peat and Mud Bath

Peat and Mud baths are a favorite in many health spas. The product can be used as a liquid bath additive or a paste, which is spread onto the skin. It works by encouraging the elimination of toxic substances from the body. There are now products that are available for home use that are based on Peat.

Using a hydrotherapy treatment can help your detox diet by helping to eliminate toxins. It can also be a wonderfully relaxing experience.

Discover what foods to avoid when detoxifying your body at http://www.bodydetoxplan.com. Get some tips on the easy way to a detox cleansing diet [http://www.bodydetoxplan.com/detox-cleansing-diet.html].

The Many Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a type of therapy that relies on the use of fragrances, smells or aromas, a fact made quite clear by its name. However, in the traditional sense it refers to the distilled essence of a plant, and not a synthetic version. Aromatherapy has many applications including the treatment of many emotional and physical issues as well as for simple relaxation. Below, you will find a few interesting and useful facts on aromatherapy and essential oils.
Many people suffering from colds, sinus infections and even asthma have found relief in aromatherapy techniques.
Use your favorite essential oil in the bath for a relaxing effect.
This is not only relaxing but also can help improve your mood and sooth achy muscles. For a unique experience try experimenting with different blends at bath time. You will also get that same fragrance throughout your body. Your aromatherapy session doesn’t require a lot only a few drops will do fine.
You can use essential oils to improve your mood, relax or help your mental acuity.
Aromatherapy can be complex as well as simple, depending on how it is viewed. Its simplicity lies in the fact that it is simply based on our desire to smell pleasant fragrances. The large number of plants that can be used in aromatherapy is what makes it complex. If you consider the fact that all these different smells can be combined to create new ones, then you come to realize that the possibilities are practically unlimited. However, to gain all the advantages of aromatherapy, you simply need a few fragrances that you enjoy.
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Which Aromatherapy Diffuser is Best For You?

Which Essential Oil Diffuser?

This is a question we get asked frequently. And the answer, of course, is "it depends." The best aromatherapy diffuser for you depends on your planned usage.

Nebulizing Diffusers - Zapping Germs

If you want to saturate the air of a room with your chosen essential oil or aromatherapy blend the nebulizer is for you. When someone in my family feels like they are "coming down with something", that virusey, achy feeling, I fill the glass nebulizer with our favorite anti-viral or anti-bacterial oils and let it run all night, filling my bedroom with really powerful oils. Odds are when I wake up in the morning, I'll be over whatever big bad bug was trying to attack.

For strictly therapeutic/medicinal/germkilling effects, I use one of our Amrita nebulizers. There are many brands on the market. All have a convoluted glass attachment, powered by an air pump. The glass breaks the oils into microscopic droplets, capable of remaining suspended in the air for up to two hours. The advantage of the Nebulizer is obviously that it does the most effective job of filling the air with microscopic particles of your chosen oil.

The disadvantages are twofold. First, most nebulizers are fairly noisy. They are, after all, powered by aquarium pumps. Some people don't mind the noise, reacting to it as a "white noise" background hum. Others find it bothersome. If noise is apt to be an issue, and your area is small, by all means choose the a "Tranquility" model.

Second: The nebulizing diffusers tend to require higher maintenance than any of our other options. First, putting the essential oil into the glass nebulizer can be a bit tricky. I finally gave in to reality and started using a pipette, after spilling oil while trying to pour from the bottle into the glass orifice. Also, the glass nebulizer (together with the attached Silicone tube) needs cleaning occasionally. I suspect I'm not the only one who has let the nebulizer stand with oils in it, allowing them to react with the oxygen in the air and get all thick and "gunky" The best way to clean them is to add high proof rubbing alcohol (90% works best!) to dissolve the accumulated oils, drain, and air dry.

Also, the nebulizer can not be used with the very thick, viscous oils... benzoin, vetiver, etc. They will totally clog it and won't diffuse unless blended with other, thinner, essential oils. Never use a carrier oil in the nebulizer, or an essential oil diluted in a carrier. It will ruin the glass nebulizer and void the warranty.

COOL MIST - For Kids

If you have young children who are prone to colds, ear infections, etc. the odds are you've been told to run a humidifier in their bedroom. The Cool Mist (sometimes called an "ultrasonic diffuser" or "ultrasonic nebuliser") functions both as an aromatherapy diffuser AND a humidifier. It holds a small amount of water that stays at room temperature just in case an active child manages to spill it - no danger of scalding. The essential oils and water are diffused by ultrasound waves, adding humidity to the air while filling the room with aromatics.

The advantages of this one are obvious. No breakable glass parts, the added humidity in the air. The machine shuts itself off when the water level drops too far, and can be set to cycle on and off. I'm told that children are often fascinated by the light. (Memories of my mother's LavaLamp...it has that sort of fascination!)

Disadvantages? If you live in a damp/humid climate you might not want to add extra moisture to the air in your home. And there are some who find the light an irritant. It may not be shut off while the machine is operating.

The AROMA STONE - Silent and Safe

One of these sits on my bedtable. I love it because I can add my current favorite 'go to sleep' oil or blend, plug it in and forget it.

I think it is one of the two lowest maintenance electric diffusers I've ever used, and the least obtrusive. Totally silent, and safe. Although it does warm the oils without any water added (although it is an option to add a spoonful of water with the oils) the unit heats only to "baby-bottle" temperature. The oils are not over-heated.

The amount of heat is so low I seldom think to unplug it before I go to bed, and in all honesty have left it turned on for two or three days. (I don't recommend that!) The unit warms so gently that there is no danger of its overheating.

Mine is very low maintenance. If I remember to wipe it out with a damp paper towel every morning, it stays sparkling clean. If I forget and leave it plugged in for too long so that the oil or blend becomes 'glued' to the base, a towel dampened with rubbing alcohol leaves it as good as new. While not totally unbreakable (it is ceramic, after all) mine has survived being dropped more than once with no problems.

The aromastone's small size makes it easily "packable" for traveling. I loathe the smell of the air in hotel rooms and always travel with my aromatics to make a strange room smell like home!

These are the advantages.

The disadvantages? It is not a powerful diffuser. It will not fill a large area nor give you a strongly scented area, but is perfect for the intimacy of a bedroom or bath. I would not choose the aromastone for diffusing germ killing blends...then I want a nebulizer. But for subtle and inobtrusive "set it and forget it" use, it is unexcelled.

AROMA LAMPS - for Mood and Ambience A ceramic aromalamp was my first (well, actually, my second) essential oil diffuser, and remains one of my favorites.

Please note: An aromalamp is sometimes called an "essential oil burner"... this is a misnomer, since the oils should never be "burned." The bowl MUST be filled with water, as described below.

Fill the bowl with warm water, light a tea candle under it, add a few drops of your favorite oil, and the room is quickly filled with the aroma of your choice.

I was taught years ago that diffusing the oils in warm water is an amazingly effective way to fill a room with the aromatic vapours. The molecules of essential oil "piggy back" on the molecules of water vapor, which disperse amazingly fast. This makes the aroma lamp almost as effective for therapeutic benefits as a nebulizing diffuser.

In my experience an aromalamp can cover a fairly large area. The water vapour will move where it wants. The "front" of my house is a large open area...kitchen, dining room, living room. An aroma lamp in one area suffices for all the rooms.

I don't recommend the use of scented candles. Most are fragranced with synthetics, and the ones created with true essential oils use far more oil that I can justify. When I want candle light, I light beeswax candles, lots of them, set in a circle, with an aroma lamp and its candle in the center. Beautiful warm ambience, the emotional blend of my choice, a feeling of true luxury! I think an aromalamp is unsurpassed when your focus is the emotional uses of the oils.

When I don't want to light a table full of candles, the dancing flame of the tea candle still adds to the ambience.

The aromalamp is silent, and attractive, with designs to suit every taste.

These are the advantages of an aroma lamp. The disadvantages?

1. You must be aware of the water level. An aroma lamp with a fairly small bowl can evaporate all the water before the candle burns itself out. Adding cold or cool water to the hot bowl almost invariably leads to broken glass!

2. If you allow it to burn dry, even if you don't break the bowl, cleaning it can be a challenge.

3. Of course there is always a risk when you have candles burning. Don't leave the room, don't use an aroma lamp around children, or mischievous pets.

4. And speaking of pets. You've put out the candle because you are leaving the room...but you didn't empty and put away the aromalamp. A thirsty dog, cat, or bird can do themselves terrible damage by drinking the water with the dissolved essential oil. Please be careful of your furkids or feathered kids!

Cool fans - Multi-use

The Spa Scenter is one example of a cool, fandriven diffuser.It is an excellent choice for all of the above uses. The drawer at the bottom slides out. You insert a cellulose pad, dampened with your oil or blend, and turn on the unit. A cold air fan blows the oil molecules out of the openings at the top, and the room is filled with the oil of your choice. The fan is, in my experience, quieter and less obtrusive than the larger nebulizers, although not as silent as the Tranquility or the AromaStone.

The Spa Scenter uses no heat, so is safe to use around children.

I find that it will diffuse over a larger area than my AromaStone, and it is safe to leave unattended.

The disadvantages? I don't think it fills any single need as well as some of the above named types of essential oil diffusers.

The nebulizing diffusers are more powerful when you have therapeutic needs. The aromalamp is more attractive when your need is for ambience or emotional uses only. The aromastone is quieter.

But for a "compromise" to address many needs, the Spa Scenter may be the best all-round choice. There are also smaller battery powered fan/diffusers, meant for a desk or office cubicle.

ON THE GO: DIFFUSERS FOR THE CAR

Two choices, one "passive" - a hanging clay pot (or other terra cotta ornament) that can hang from the rear view mirror, or an electric diffuser that plugs into the cell phone charger or cigarette lighter. The "plug in" is, I think, a bit more effective.

Each, of course, has its advantages. With a hanging terra cotta diffuser you are limited to one oil or blend, it's not easy to change from one to another. With the "plug in" car diffuser, you simply change the little cellulose pad that you apply the essential oils to. If you know you are always going to want the same air freshening blend in your car, the hanging clay diffuser might be simplest. If you sometimes want an air freshener, and other times want a "stay awake" blend (or an anti-nausea blend) then the plug in car diffuser would be your best choice.

PERSONAL DIFFUSERS - Inhalers (for privacy!) There are two types of personal aromatherapy inhalers that I am aware of. One is the very basic plastic one often sees over the counter inhalants packaged in; the other is a rather elegant purse accessory. Either will work well for immediate use, for relaxation, combatting a headache, or other physical or emotional effects.

There is one specific type of diffuser that I honestly don't recommend. It is a small "ball" that plugs directly into the wall outlet. It contains a cellulose pad that you moisten with the selected oil. I have had these overheat and scorch the pad. I wonder if they might constitute a fire hazard. Since the oils are heated to a high temperature, the oils degrade, and there is nothing to encourage the movement of the aromatic vapors throughout the room. The idea of low cost and light weight was appealing, but they truly are not a good value.

You may see these, and other diffusing options on Nature's Gift Aromatherapy Accessories page, at http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapyaccessories.htm

Marge Clark, author of Essential Oils and Aromatics, founder of http://www.naturesgift.com

Since 1995 your online source for clinical grade essential oils, aromatherapy accessories, and their effective and safe healing uses.