I like using lavender oil and mix it with mint oil. Then add to a plain lotion for your face that has no fragrance. Once you use that you can put it under your nose and it will help you sleep and help with stress.
Re: HOTM: Lavender By: GrayGhost
Post # 13 Mar 13, 2016
When me and a friend(she was also a Therian!) were messing around in her front yard and somehow I banged my hand against a metal rod, and she got some lavender and gently brushed it over the general area and it legitimately dulled the pain quite noticeably, and calmed me. I have a bar of soap that I just started using earlier this month as well aha! It has bits of fried flowers in it that helps scrub as well as all of the other things it does to the skin and body. What great timing, and I also brought up the subject with my March Buddy without knowing about this thread.
It truly is the herb of the month LOL!
Re: HOTM: Lavender By: Hermesia
Post # 14 Mar 13, 2016
I'd give a warning about dried lavender flowers in baths: Don't use it or else it will seriously get in crevices and cracks where you don't want flowers to be, lol.
A pan in whatever shape you like. One option is to cut off the bottom of a bottle or a brick. Do not use aluminum molds.
Protective glasses for handling the caustic soda
Hand blender
Cooking pot
Glass bowl
Wooden spoon for stirring
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How To
Get the pan ready and first,place a few lavender flowersin it so that when you remove the soap from the mold, the flowers show up on the top portion of the soap. Carefully, and whileusing protective glasses,place the glass bowl in the sink and put the caustic soda in it. Then add the distilled water. Follow this order to avoid splashing.
Because this process produces a reaction that causes gasses, allow to set until it cools. Ideally you should do this by an open window, so as to ventilate well as soon as possible.
Place the oil in the pot, and warm over low heat. When the oil has heated to about 40 degrees Celsius, remove from heat and carefully mix in thecaustic soda,using the hand blender. Keep it from splashing. Beat until the mixture becomes thick and gel-like. Then, and without waiting for it to cool, add 20 to 30 drops of lavender essential oil and more lavender flowers. Mix well. Pour this mixture into the mold and add more lavender flowers so they are visible from this side as well.
Cover with a towel to retain heat until it turns to soap. Let set until it cools, between 12 and 24 hours, making sure not to move or stir it. Once its cold you can remove it from the mold. Leave in a fresh and dry place so that it becomes hard and matures, between one and half to two months.
This was on a plaque in an herbal garden I found awhile back.
"Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'
(Lavender)
Popular as a strewing herb for scenting linen and as a cosmetic scent from the earliest times. Oil of lavender was used as an insecticide and also medicinally for rheumatism, toothache, and faintness. 'Lavender' was one of the old street cries of London."
In a large bowl, cream the shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Combine the flour, lavender, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 7 dozen.
(this is not a recipe that I made myself, although I love it and make it quite a bit. Enjoy!!)
