The use of aromatic plant oils and extracts dates back to ancient times. People have long utilized perfumes as a part of rituals & religious ceremonies, to mask body odors, and to help boost mood.
Today, most perfumes contain synthetic fragrances, which can have a number of negative health effects — including allergies, damage to the immune system, endocrine disruption, and more.
Making your own body sprays with natural ingredients is an lovely way to enjoy fragrances, without all the toxic additives. One of my favorite blends combines three uplifting aromatic plants to help boost mood. I like to keep a bottle in my purse or backpack and spritz on for an instant pick-me-up whenever I need it.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is soothing to the nervous system. It has natural anti-depressant effects and can help to ease stress and anxiety (Gladstar, 2008).
Lemon (Citrus limon) is calming and uplifting to the spirits. Studies have found that lemon has mood boosting effects and may be helpful for reducing anxiety (Watson, K., 2021).
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) has “anti-depressant-like activity” according to a 2022 animal study, which demonstrated that patchouli essential oil increases dopamine levels (Astuti et al., 2022). Boosting dopamine provides feelings of pleasure and thus, may help alleviate depression (Watson, S., 2021).
To make this body spray, you will need:
- 35ml lemonbalm hydrosol
- 10ml lemon tincture
- 10 drops patchouli essential oil
Directions:
Combine out the ingredients into a small glass measuring cup, then pour into a 50 ml spray bottle.
To use: Shake well and spritz on, as desired.
References
Astuti, P., Khairan, K., Marthoenis, M., and Hasballah, K. (2022). Antidepressant-like Activity of Patchouli Oil var. Tapak Tuan (Pogostemon cablin Benth) via Elevated Dopamine Level: A Study Using Rat Model. Pharmaceuticals, 15(5): 608. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9145128/#__ffn_sectitle
Gladstar, R. (2008). Herbal Recipes for. Vibrant Health. Storey Publishing.
Watson, K. (2021). What You Need to Know About Lemon Essential Oil. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/lemon-essential-oil
Watson, S. (2021). Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure
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