Scented Sails and Body Oils

Cleopatra V11, Queen of Egypt, was said to have exceptionally lovely skin; and if myth can be trusted, bathed daily in asses milk to maintain that loveliness.  The verdict is still out though… some people feel the climate would have been too hot and affected the milk, resulting in her sliding into a curdled stinky mess; others knowing of the ingenuity of the Egyptians feel ice could have been transported to Egypt and placed in cooling rooms to keep milk fresh.

If she did use asses milk, though, it would have been a very good choice.  Asses milk is very high in linoleic acid; and linoleic acid is soothing and calming to the skin.  It reduces wrinkles, dry skin and coloured splotches in as little as three weeks.

Unfortunately, asses milk is very scarce in this area but if you too would like skin like Cleopatra, you will find linoleic acid in the supermarket.  Linoleic acid features in warm seed oils like safflower or grape seed oil, as well as superb but expensive oils, such as rose seed oil.   

 Applying linoleic acid through a full body massage is the perfect way to soften and calm all your skin, - especially when mixed with aromatic essential oils, such as frankincense, rose, patchouli, or sandalwood that have regenerative and tonic effects. 

Cleopatra knew the power of essential oils when she sailed down the Nile with purple, essential oil soaked sails wafting out an aromatic message to the people that said here comes a woman of romance, mystery and beauty. 

So, if you would like to naturally soothe, calm and soften your skin and/or send a message like Cleopatra, a full body, hand or foot massage with oils containing linoleic acid and essential oil would be just the ticket. 

You can find a recipe for such a body oil below:

You will need:

An amber coloured 50ml bottle with a dripper lid (or eyedropper lid)

30ml Organic Grapeseed oil

10ml Organic Almond oil

10ml Organic Apricot oil 

2 drop 100% pure Sandalwood essential oil

4 drops 100% pure Lavender essential oil

6 drops of 3% pure Rose essential oil.

Here's what you do:

Put the essential oils into the amber bottle and shake well

Add 15ml organic grapeseed oil, 5ml organic almond oil,  5ml organic apricot oil.  Shake.

Add the rest of the grapeseed, almond and apricot oils. Tilt bottle gently forward and backwards.

Label the bottle so you know what is in it

Date the label so you know when you made it.

Let it sit for a day or so, stored in a dark and dry place.

The perfume of the oil will not be developed fully until a couple of days have passed and may not seem overly strong after this, but the warmth of the body when it is applied will release the aromas.  Smelling from the bottle therefore may not seem very satisfying.  

Please don't be tempted to put extra essential oil into the bottle and before you use it do a test to make sure allergic reactions do not occur.  Do not use if this does happen. 

Cleopatra, move over, for here we come.

 Linda.

The Tatong Naturopath.