Herbal Gifts For the teenager

 

 

Lavender Water Voile

Makes 2 ounces

The word voile is French for veil, and is used to describe something that is very light and delicate. When used to describe fragrance, a voile is gentle and soft, just a whisper of fragrance on your skin.You could also use a different favorite floral scent in this recipe, such as frangipani or jasmine.

- 1/4 cup filtered or distilled water
- 1/8 teaspoon caster oil
- 6 to 8 drops Lavender essential oil

1. Mix together all ingredients and stir well. Pour into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid

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Homemade body Glitter

Make your own body glitter using this simple recipe. Wonderful recipe for a school dance or a special night out.

Aloe Vera Gel
Glitter
Small container (recycle old make up containers or 35mm film containers, or look in stores that carry beads, crafts, or fishing tackle)

Fill your container about 3/4 full with the aloe vera gel. If you are using food coloring, mix a few drops at a time in with your gel until you get the desired color.
Stir in a sprinkling of glitter at a time to avoid clumps.

Add as much or as little glitter as you like. You can try larger glitter and even small shapes such as stars; or, for a more shimmering look, use fine glitter.

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Garden Cologne

Makes 4 ounces
Feel free to experiment with your own combination of herbs and flowers. Rose and lavender flowers are easy to find blooming in the summer months. You also can try scented geraniums, sweet peas and gardenias.

- 2 tablespoons fresh rose petals
- 2 tablespoons fresh lavender flowers
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- 1 cup filtered or distilled water
- 1/2 cup witch hazel
 Place flower petals, lemon zest and mint leaves in small saucepan. Pour water over ingredients and heat until just boiling.
 Remove from heat and let sit until cool. Add vodka or witch hazel and pour into clean jar.
 Let the mixture sit for 2 weeks. Then strain out all solids using a fine strainer or coffee filter. Pour into a clean container.

Hungary Water Cologne

Makes 4 ounces

This cologne is named after Queen Isabella of Hungary who, legend has it, used an orange-scented water to restore her youth, with much success. The king of Poland proposed marriage to her when he was 18; she was 72! There are several variations of the original recipe. They all contain bergamot, lavender and citrus essential oils, but vary in their proportions. Feel free to experiment with your own blend.

- 1/8 teaspoon orange essential oil
- 1/2 teaspoon beramot essential oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Lavender essential oil
- 1/2 witch hazel

1. Mix together all ingredients and pour into a glass container with tight-fitting lid. Let sit for 1 week.

Herbs for Hair

When making shampoos it is important to know what herb does what. Below is a list:

Catnip Traditionally believed to promote hair growth
Chamomile Can help to keep the scalp and hair follicles healthy so that new hair grows well
Comfrey Can soothe and heal scalp irritations
Elderberries Have traditionally been used to add color tones to graying hair
Lemon Balm Leaves a fresh citrus fragrance on the hair
Lemongrass Has astringent properties and can be effective in toning the scalp
Lemon Verbena Leaves a fresh citrus fragrance on the hair
Nettle An astringent herb that is beneficial in the treatment of skin irritations and itching
Parsley This common plant can be helpful in relieving skin irritations
Rosemary Is said to enhance the color of dark hair and to help control dandruff
Sage An astringent for oily hair. Can also be beneficial for damaged or fragile hair
Thyme Has antiseptic, tonic and astringent properties
Yarrow Acts as a tonic for the hair

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Rose water

3 cups rose petals
3 cups purified water

Pick the rose petals just after the dew has been dried by the morning sun. Place in a glass or porcelain container and pour boiling water over the petals. Allow to steep for two days, stirring frequently. Strain and bottle.

Peppermint Skin Toner
:
1 pint vinegar
1 pint purified water
1 cup mint leaves

Place all ingredients in a glass or enamel saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into a glass jar and allow to steep for four days. Strain and bottle. Be sure to label with a pretty card and ribbon.

Lavender Sachet

1/2 pound lavender flowers
1/2 ounce dried mint
1/2 ounce dried thyme
1/4 ounce ground caraway
1/4 ounce ground cloves
1 ounce sea salt

Detach the lavender flowers and leaves from the stems and mix with the other ingredients. Place in small bags made of silk, unbleached cotton or cotton with die-fast color. Sew shut and tie with a ribbon if desired. You can be creative with this mixture and sew heart shapes that can then be decorated with miniature ribbon roses and ribbon.

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Herb Closet or Drawer Squares

Place handfuls of each of dried lavender flowers, rosemary, one tablespoon each crushed cloves and small pieces of dried lemon peel together. Sew small cotton squares about four by four inches; leaving a space open. Stuff with herb mixture. Tie several together and wrap in tissue paper tied with raffia. Attach a note explaining that these will protect clothes from insects and can be placed in drawers, closets or boxes.

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Sensitive skin astringent

4 tbl. Rosewater
2 tbl. orange water
2 tbl. witch hazel

Mix together and apply to skin with cotton ball, rinse with cool water.

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Orchard Bliss perfume

Making your own perfume oils is easy and economical. Since perfume oils need to be diluted before applying to the skin, follow these simple instructions given here.


1 T. Castor oil or Sweet Almond oil
1 drop peach fragrance oil
1 drop rosemary  essential oil
1 drop apple fragrance oil


In a small  container, add the drops of perfume oil to the Castor oil and stir well with a wooden toothpick. Store in small glass vials or miniature perfume bottles.

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Orange Peppermint Acne Relief Soap

16 oz orange oil or clear melt & pour soap
1 teaspoon sweet orange oil
1 teaspoon dried crushed peppermint leaves
1 teaspoon ground orange peel
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
5 drops orange soap color
or 3 drops red and 2 drops yellow food color

Melt soap base in microwave on medium for 2 minutes
or stove top method in double-boiler.
Add all ingredients stirring until smooth.
Pour into olive oil coated molds or small
loaf pan. Let harden completely and slice or
remove from mold. Let air dry 24 hours before
packaging. Great for oily skin or minor acne
breakouts. (Teenagers love it and it smells
great too!)