Product Description

A reader's guide to creating exciting, inventive, and unique cosmetics and body-care products using all-natural ingredients and the power of aromatherapy. Includes an overview of aromatherapy, techniques used to extract aromatic plant materials, tips on creating unique and personal creams and lotions, and a full complement of inspirational recipes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13234 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-17
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .47" h x 6.04" w x 8.84" l, .69 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From the Back Cover
Create Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions for Radiant Skin in Five Easy Steps! Enter the world of aromatherapy creams and lotions with Donna Maria, and learn how easy it is to craft natural skin-care products that rival those found at the most exclusive department stores and salons. With a simple five-step method you can create personalized facial creams, body rubs, moisturizers, lip balms, and more with all-natural ingredients -- including some of the world's most exotic aromatic oils. Free yourself from synthetic substances, experience the pleasure of homemade lotions, and preserve and protect your skin. Donna Maria reveals her secret formulas for creating light, nourishing creams that will revitalize your skin and promote a healthier, younger-looking complexion from head to toe!

About the Author
Author Donna Maria is a Washington, DC, attorney, an aromatherapist and the founder and president of The Handmade Toiletries Network. Her Storey book, Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions, is a must-have collection of tips and recipes for creating unique bodycare products. Her articles have appeared in such magazines as The Aromatic Thymes, The Natural Foods Merchandiser, The Saponifier and The Handcrafted Soap Maker's Guild Newsletter. In addition to The Handmade Toiletries Network, Donna is a member of the Aromatic Plant Project, the American Society of Association Executives, the Cosmetics, Toiletries & Fragrances Association, the Handcrafted SoapMaker's Guild and the National Association For Holisitic Aromatherapy. She lives in her hometown of Washington, DC.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
One: Aromatic Self-Care Interest in the use of natural aromatic oils has risen steadily over the past quarter-century as people have grown increasingly weary of the traditional treatments for ailments from minor skin problems to chronic fatigue and depression. Homeopathy, reflexology, herbalism, flower essence therapy, iridology, acupuncture, massage therapy, and many other complementary forms of alternative care are now available. If used responsibly, these modalities allow us to play a more active role in maintaining our health and well-being. A significant outgrowth of the renewed interest in nonconventional self-care is the fascinating rediscovery of a cousin to the centuries-old practice of using aromatic oils to positively affect the human condition. Today, this practice is typically called aromatherapy, and its proper definition and scope are the subjects of considerable international discussion and debate. The most widely accepted description of aromatherapy encompasses the blending of plant essential oils to promote health, beauty, and well-being. This book concentrates on the incorporation of essential oils in combination with other natural plant extracts, both aromatic and unscented, into handmade skin-care products. What Are Aromatic Oils? Aromatic oils are removed by various extraction techniques from leaves, petals, blossoms, barks, twigs, and other fragrant plant parts. Different extraction techniques produce diverse types of oils with different chemical makeups and uses. For example, rose essential oil extracted via the steam distillation method is very different from rose absolute, which is extracted with solvents. These differences do not necessarily mean that one oil is superior to another, but they often indicate the suitability of the oil for a particular purpose. There are several types of aromatic oils, including essential oils and absolutes. Essential oils have historically been considered the purest form of aromatic plant material because they are extracted without solvents. As such, they are the oils most frequently used for skin-care purposes, and the most readily available. For the sake of ease, I typically use the term aromatic oils to refer to aromatic oils collectively and am more specific about types of oils as necessary. Taking the All-Natural Approach The benefits of incorporating aromatic oils and other unadulterated plant extracts into handmade toiletries are as diverse as the hundreds of plants from which the aromatics are taken, and can vary greatly from person to person. Some people experience the greatest satisfaction when they find the perfect blend of aromas to suit their taste or mood, while others enjoy the process of creating the base product regardless of the final aroma. Still others are most concerned about the effects of the aromatic oils on their skin and will sacrifice a pleasant smell to obtain the desired therapeutic effect. In any case, using aromatic ingredients from faraway lan