Fragrance oil can be used in many arts and crafts, as well as in simple ways around the home. If you have a favorite fragrance, an aromatherapy burner can be used to diffuse it around the room. A flame is lit under a special bowl (usually glass) into which you drip fragrance oil, and as the oil is heated the scent will be activated and fill the air. Different oils are thought to have properties that can contribute to wellness. For calming and relaxation, medical practitioners suggest angelica, cedarwood, valerian, lavender, Melissa, ylang ylang, vetiver, and tangerine--among many others. For an energizing or revitalizing effect, thyme, rose, mint, and cinnamon are among the most commonly recommended fragrances. There are also many common oils with antioxidant properties, as well as some that can be used for antiseptics. Other ways to use fragrance oils for wellness include inhalations, massage, and compresses. Inhalations are intended mostly for respiratory problems, and combine the therapeutic properties of the oils with steam to treat a cold, cough, or sore throat. Compresses are intended for pain in a targeted area, and can be made with cold or hot water and essential oil on a washcloth. Massage is mostly for stress relief or for muscle aches, but can also be used for detoxifying the body with an oil such as juniper. About 10 drops of oil in 250 ml of water will give you a good room spray--just be careful not to let the oily water land on a polished piece of furniture. If you have a fireplace, you can put a drop or two of oil on the logs, and it will gradually fill the room. If you are burning a candle, you can drip the oil into the melted wax that pools around the wick--as long as you do not directly touch the oil to the flame, since fragrance oil is highly flammable. For more information about wellness and fragrance oil, visit the FDA at www.fda.gov.
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