Sleep troubles are the reason why so many of us dipped our toes into the world of essential oils. Whether it be racing thoughts, anxiety, restlessness, interrupted sleep, or even hormonal issues, the struggle is real. I think it is safe to say that we all have, at some point, looked for support in regards to healthy sleep patterns.
Sleep routines and support, involve so much more than a simple bottle of Lavender for some of us. There can be various contributing factors and the versatility of essential oils allow us to create personalized routines to meet our needs.
Before we dive into routines and recipes, let's chat about the oils we tend to think of when we think of a goodnight's sleep. Tree oils always come to mind! They are warm, cozy, and grounding. Some of my favorites are Northern Lights Black Spruce, Cypress, Pine, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Grounding, and Sacred Mountain. There are also some popular floral scents that tend to calm an anxious mind! Lavender, Valerian, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, German Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, and Geranium. Vetiver, Valor, Stress Away, Tranquil, Peace and Calming, Gentle Baby, and Rutavala. I always recommend picking 1-2 good blends and 2 single oils to layer and create a sleep routine with!
At our house, we TRY ( it can be hard), to promote a sense of calm before it is even time for bed! I tend to grab some comforting oils to diffuse right after dinner. A grounding aroma helps to signal the mind that it is the day's end and it is time to chill. This is great if you are prepping kiddos for bed, cleaning the kitchen, or just lounging and watching some TV. I like to call these our " After Dinner" diffuser blends. Here are a few that we tend to rotate between.
3 Peace and Calming, 3 Orange 3 Cedarwood
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3 Valor, 3 Frank, 4 Bergamot
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3 Rosemary, 4 Cedarwood, 3 Lavender
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3 Thieves, 2 Northern Lights Black Spruce, 2 Roman Chamomile
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3 Grounding, 3 Orange, 3 Bergamot
Do you see how I start with a few drops of a blend and then layer my singles with it? I have found that to be key in creating so many blends!
Next up, pre-bed.
Has it has been an REALLY long day? Do you have some kids that can't seem to stop bouncing off the walls? Are you worried about something or feeling anxious? Consider pausing your usual night time routine and taking some time for an Rest Easy Soak! You will need Epsom salt for this. If you want to take it up a notch, grab some baking soda while you are at it. ( thank you Jessica Davis for this recipe!)
Gift idea alert!
This is for a larger batch! Store it in a jar and have it ready to go for those nights when you don't have the energy to do anything extra :) If you find yourself scrambling, just grab 1/4 Epsom salt, add your oils (4-5 drops total), and soak!
1C Epsom salt
1/4C sea salt
1/4C baking soda
15-25 drops Essential Oils ( cut in half for the kiddos)
Favorite oil combinations for a relaxing bath!
Stress Away, Lavender, Orange
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Valor, Frank, Copaiba
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Peace and Calming, Lavender
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Roman Chamomile, Lavender
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Clary Sage, Vetiver, Orange
In preparation to lay your head down, I recommend creating a pillow/linen Spray! Another gift alert! This allows you to use your oils aromatically x2 if you also plan to run your diffuser. Not to mention, the oils can work their magic on anything that may be lingering on your sheets. For the kiddos, we call this "No More Monster" spray or " Sweet Dreams" spray. If you have never created one, you are missing out! Here is our favorite recipe:
2 ounce spray bottle (find here)
10 drops Lavender
10 drops Cedarwood
10 drops Orange
Top with witch hazel and spritz linens before bed! Tie a bow around the top and give as a gift. Have guests coming? Create one for them and leave by their bedside!
Time to prep that diffuser in the bedroom! I recommend doing this about 30 minutes before you hit the hay. This allows the blend time to make it's way through the air. Try using the same strategy as above when creating your blend. You will also want to turn the diffuser to the intermittent setting before you fall asleep to ensure that your diffuser runs all night long. Also, do not forget to turn that light on your diffuser off.
Favorite "Shut Eye" diffuser blends:
4 Stress Away, 2 Vetiver, 4 Bergamot
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3 Peace and Calming, 4 Bergamot, 3 Cedarwood
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2 Northern Lights Black Spruce, 2 Frankincense, 4 Lavender
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2 Clary Sage, 2 Cypress, 2 Cedarwood, 1 Vetiver
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3 Gentle Baby, 4 Orange, 2 Frankincense
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3 Valor, 2 Cypress, 4 Lavender
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2 Sacred Mountain, 1 Vetiver, 2 Northern Lights Black Spruce, 2 Bergamot, 2 Orange
Right before you lay your head down, grab a roller or your favorite calming oils and use them topically. There are some wonderful roll-ons available through Young Living, if you are not interested in creating your own. There is Tranquil, Valor, Peace and Calming, and RutaVala ( this one works really well for us). I recommend massaging your bedtime blend into the bottoms of your feet and the back of your neck. If I am really loving the aroma, I will often apply to my wrists. If you would prefer to create your own roll-ons ( another great gift idea), you can find the rollers here.
Favorite Bedtime Roll-On blends: ( top with liquid carrier oil once oils are added to the bottle)
10 Vetiver, 20 Lavender, 10 Bergamot
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20 Valor, 10 Orange, 10 Northern Lights Black Spruce
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10 Grounding, 10 Roman Chamomile, 10 Cedarwood
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15 drops Cedarwood, Lavender, and Orange
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15 Stress Away, 5 Vetiver, 15 Lavender
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10 drops Clary Sage, 5 drops Cedarwood, 10 drops Bergamot, 5 Northern Lights Black Spruce
And the holy grail of all the calming blends....LIQUID CHILL ROLLER
50 Lavender, 30 Valor, 30 Stress Away, 15 Patchouli, 15 Vetiver
Dilute with 40 drops of carrier oil in a 15 mL bottle are roller fitment cap.
Did you know that Thieves Mouthwash contains colloidal silver. With the combination of colloidal silver and essential oils, you are guaranteed an AMAZING funk fighting combination without the use of harsh ingredients that tend to leave your mouth stinging or burning. That is another reason why, you have an effective throat spray and fresh breath spray. The ingredients are actually serving a purpose. There is more than just fresh, bright, flavors going on here :)
These are some awesome recipes to make with just one bottle!
Honey-Lemon Throat Spray:
1 ounce Thieves Mouthwash
10 Thieves, 10 Lemon, 5 Copaiba, 5 Clove
1 TBSP Raw honey
1 ounce warm distilled water
Whisk together in small bowl. Add to a 2 ounce spray bottle. Spray back of throat as needed to soothe and refresh.
(recipe and picture, courtesy of Pretty Simple Essentials)
Fresh Breath Spray
1/2 teaspoon Thieves Mouthwash
5 drops Peppermint/Spearmint
10 mL spritzer
Add ingredients to spritzer, mix, and spritz in mouth when you need some fresh breath.
Kids Mouthwash
1 TBSP Thieves Mouthwash
3 drops Citrus Fresh
2 drops Peppermint (optional)
16 ounces of water depending on desired strength
Add a teaspoon of solution to small cup of water to use as mouthwash after brushing. If it is too strong, cut with water!
Adult Mouthwash (2 bottles from this recipe)
Remaining amount of Thieves Mouthwash split in half
10 drops Peppermint
5 drops Frankincense
5 drops Citrus Fresh
10-12 ounces of distilled water
Use 1-2 teaspoons to rinse mouth after brushing!
This product is amazing and for $11.25, it makes our order every month because of all we can do with it! Since we are part of the loyalty program we get 25% back on that. Who else loves this product and these recipes?
(also stay tuned to on how to snag this label and SO many more in the month of September!)
Masks have become a part of our daily routine. Some of us are wearing them for short trips to the grocery store and others wear them for a prolonged period of time, day in and day out. After wearing a mask for over 8 hours while flying last month, I found myself reaching for my Peppermint and Thieves Spray time and time again. The peppermint helped with a heavy ache that I would get in my head mid-day as well as some wooziness during some rough air. I clearly wasn't able to hand wash my mask, so I found myself giving it a good spritz with Thieves Spray from time to time. There is no other disinfectant I would use for this. Why? Because I am putting it back on my face and want to make sure I am inhaling a clean, non-toxic aroma. Since this trip, I have come across several helpful recipes in various oily groups! I wanted to share them with you as I have found them effective yet safe when it comes to staying away from toxins. Staying away from harsh chemicals and toxins is part of maintaining a healthy immune system.
Mask Spray:
Witch Hazel
Essential Oils ( this is your choice!)
I selected Peppermint and Raven for respiratory support and an uplifting aroma. You could also do Thieves, RC, Lavender, Spearmint...think of what you are wanting to address!
Add 7-10 drops of desired oils into spritzer. Top with witch hazel, add top, and shake. Spritz the inside of your mask before wearing.
Thieves Spray:
You can purchase this already made ( That is what I would do :) ) OR you can DIY this!
15 drops of Thieves oil
1 teaspoon witch hazel
A little under 2 ounces of distilled water.
Spritz your mask front and back with Thieves Spray in between wears.
Mask Soak:
16 ounces warm water
1 teaspoon Thieves Laundry Soap
1 teaspoon Thieves Household Cleaner
3-5 drops Lemon Oil
Mix all ingredients in bowl of water. Add masks to the bowl and gently work the solution through the masks. Soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse clean under warm water. Hang to air dry.
I hope you find these recipes helpful as we adapt to a new routine.
Giveaway #4: Thieves Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash aka The Dental Duo
We have been using Thieves dental products and the Kidscents toothpaste for at least 5 years now. After missing cleanings for two years, I still walked away with an amazing hygiene report. My hygienist wanted to know what I was using and then bought some for herself 
My last visit, she whispered in my ear, " All of the stuff that is put into toothpastes, is not meant for everyday use...it's not good for us everyday."
My last visit, she whispered in my ear, " All of the stuff that is put into toothpastes, is not meant for everyday use...it's not good for us everyday." For the longest time, I was brushing, flossing, and mouth washing like crazy to avoid the " Your gums are a little red and irritated... " statement. I didn't understand why my gums were receding when my oral care routine was on point. One day, I noticed some discoloration occuring along my gum line and between my teeth. After doing some digging, I realized my mouthwash was causing this!! Apparently, I wasn't the only one having this issue and the product was still on the market. This was before I was even investigating what I was in my products. It did get me thinking though....why all this irritation and discoloration when I am doing what I am supposed to be doing?
Years later, my interest was piqued when I saw Thieves toothpaste and Thieves Mouthwash. I actually tried the mouthwash first! Wow! It packed a punch and was not like the mouthwash you get at the store. Everything from the taste to the color is different. The tingling wasn't from alcohol burning my gums, it is alcohol-free. It was from the formula of Thieves! The second ingredient on the label is colloidal silver. That combined with the Thieves packs a punch when it comes to all the bacteria living in our mouths. Simply swish and spit ( do not ingest)! If you prefer a mintier mouthwash, add some peppermint! If you want to stretch your product, dilute with distilled water 1:1 and add peppermint. I like to add Frank to mine to support health gums.
At the convention in 2019, the Thieves Whitening toothpaste was released. A limit had to be placed on this one immediately! If you have had trouble with natural toothpastes in the past, this is the perfect one to try! I use a pea-sized amount on my toothbrush and my mouth is left feeling clean. Yes, this one also does give you that foaming feeling that we sometimes miss with a natural product. In the words of my husband, " This is their best toothpaste yet!" This family is sold on the switch! ( and yes, my teeth are nice and bright!)
Whew! I know that was a long read but these are truly, two of my favorite must-haves!!
To be entered to win this dental duo, comment below with a song that you like to blast all summer long! 
Giveaway #2: Lavaderm After-Sun Spray
You know those things that hand just have on hand "just because" you know you are going to need it? This is one of those items! We don't TRY to get a sunburn and we definitely don't sit around asking for bugs to bite us but, it happens!
Do you have a summer first-aid kit? The Lavaderm After-Sun Spray should be in there. In the past two months, we have already used it for two sunburns and some unwanted ant bites. It is pretty much your all-purpose, outdoor activity spray.
With ingredients like olive oil, glycerin, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and aloe vera leaf oil, skin is nourished and peeling from a burn is kept to a minimum (if at all). The menthol in this formula provides a cooling sensation that provides immediate relief to any discomfort and irritation the skin may be feeling. Elderberry, Lavender oil, Helichrysum oil, and Black Spruce oil all help with inflammation and soothe red/irritated skin.
Highlights for Lavaderm After-Sun Spray include:
- Temporarily relieves the pain and itching associated with minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites, and minor skin irritations
- Dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic
- Soothes and cools skin
- Provides immediate relief
- Moisturizes to help prevent peeling
- Promotes healthy-looking skin
- Made with plant-based and naturally derived ingredients
- Formulated without alcohol, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, animal-derived ingredients, synthetic preservatives, synthetic fragrances, or synthetic colorants
#protip: If you want to amplify that cooling sensation on the skin, apply directly after getting out of a warm shower while the pores are open. Prepare to be amazed!
To be entered to win this gem, tell me friends, what is your favorite outdoor activity over the summer months? (comment below!)
