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11 Apr 2007

Jasmine Oil

Jasmine is native to Iran, India and China. It is a shrub with abundant clusters of small white, star shaped flowers. The fragrance of the flowers is strong and heady and intensifies at sundown. Over 80% of perfumes produced today include jasmin as one of the ingredients.

The traditional method used to extract the oil is called Enfleurage but being a complicated and labor intensive way, it is now normally extracted with the aid of volatile solvents. The oil produced is called absolute and is not a pure essential oil due to a minute amount of the sovent remaining. This in no way effects the quality of the oil.

Jasmine has long been regarded as an oil particularly good for women. Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine both use it extensively for female related problems. A few drops of jasmine oil in the bath can ease period pains, PMS symptoms and menopausal problems.

Jasmine oil is very popular in Aromatherapy due to it being uplifting and relieving stress, anxiety, and worry. Added to massage oil it can relieve muscular spams and sprains. Inhaled it is a great relief for catarral coughs and sore throats.

Jasmine is a known aphrodisiac and in many parts of the world, women rub a little oil or rub the flowers into their hair before going out for that special evening. The natural oil in the hair will maintain the jasmin perfume for hours.

Note : Jasmine can inhibit the flow of breast milk so must be avoided by nursing mothers.

There are many other ways to use jasmine oil like using it to scent candles, freshen potpourri and in soap making.

Add a little jasmine to your life and keep your spirits uplifted and your home smelling marvellous.

Some ways to try jasmine oil:

Amore Perfume
7 drops rose oil
7 drops jasmine oil
7 drops lavender oil
7 drops sandalwood essential oil
5 drops vanilla essential oil
7 drops cedarwood essential oil
1 pint vodka

Pour the vodka into a jar that has a lid. Add the oils, put on the lid, and shake well. Let sit for one week before using. Decant into your favorite perfume atomizers.

Bath Oil
From Everyday Mehudi

Your favorite carrier oil (Almond, Grapeseed etc.)
Your favorite essential oils (mix two or three of your favorites -- Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang make a great combination)

Add five drops each of five drops each of your favorite essential oils to about one cup of carrier oil. Then pour it into an attractive bottle.

Oriental Jasmine & Rice Bran Body Soap
This soap is gentle enough to use everyday. It cleanses and softens the skin.

1-4 oz. size bar castile soap
1/3 cup soy milk
4 tbsp rice bran
5 drops jasmine fragrance oil

To Make This Body Natural Soap:
Shred the soap and set aside. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, warm the soymilk and gradually add the shredded soap until the mixture becomes a stiff mass. Remove the pan from the heat and add the rice bran and jasmine oil, stirring until the bran is evenly distributed. Spoon the soap into a mold. For large body bars, double the recipe and use an empty milk carton as a soap mold. Slice to desired thickness.

Castile soap is made from 100 percent olive oil and is used to soften and moisturize the skin. Castile can be found at health food stores, some drug stores, craft stores or major department stores. Oriental Jasmine & Rice Body Soap is a wonderful alternative to soap, which can be too drying and harsh for the facial skin.

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7 comments:

Marion said...

Thanks for this post, Jackie...I know next to nothing about Jasmine, even though I have a vine in my garden.

I love the scent, but it is very strong and has to be some distance from me. I knew none of the medicinal properties though!

Again, wonderfully informative!

inmymindseye said...

thank you. I enjoy your blog, I'll be back!http://inmymindseye1.blogspot.com/

Diane Dehler said...

Jasmine is one of my favorites.

BTW after reading your lemon balm entry I planted some in a pot in my little container garden. It seems to be growing nicely.

Diane Dehler said...

Jackie,
Thanks for telling me about Blog Village; there are many interesting blogs here. I don't have a picture in my profile and don't know how to upload one. Maybe, one will magically appear. You never know. :)

My lavender seems to be growing an inch a day. A friend of mine used to give me handkerchiefs with a drop of lavender oil on them for my headaches and it really helps.

Diane Dehler said...

Hi Jackie,
Just stopped by for a visit.

Diane Dehler said...

Hi Jackie,
I saw some jasmine plants at a store near me and thought of you. I want the night-blooming variety though and I'm not sure how to tell the difference.

Gotina said...

I just found jasmin hair oil in an Asian store today and did not hesitate to buy it though I had no idea how to apply it. Surfing the net looking for information, I came across your blog and found it extremely useful and informative. Thank you for sharing that!