Essential Oils

[Tigerlily]

This may seem like a dumb question, but it needs to be asked! :bug:

Are the essential oils you put in your bath (for a ritual bath, for expample) or the essential oils you use to anoint your altar/statues of deities/candles the same as the oils for candle burners?

The oils for candle burners are the only type of oils I can find. We don't have a pagan shop nearby either. :(

[-Ember]

Not always. Many of the commercial oils are synthetics with properties you don't want to include in your bath (some of them you don't want prolonged skin contact with.) I don't know about putting them on the candles and dieties, if that would have any secular problems, but I personally would have problems as it wouldn't fit with my symbolic set and wouldn't have the same energy as the real essential oils.

Places to look besides pagan stores:

Health food/herb stores. Many of these carry at least a few oils.

Any store that caters to the "make your own beauty supplies" market. If you are making your own bath salts or lip balm, you need to scent it....

Anywhere that is trying to sell aroma-therepy products.

You can also very carefully read the lables on the oils you were looking at. There are some which are natural.

[Mab]

yeah, our local health food stores carry a TON of herbs & essential oils (and I find they are cheaper than metaphysical stores). They can be a very good resource.

[banondraig]

check out this thread for a way to test your essential oils:

http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=3949

[Ivy Artemisia]

You may want to even create your own ritual oils. Some of the essential oils can get a little pricey. I'll just charge and consecrate herbs, and put them in a carrier oil (like almond or grapeseed)... set them on a sunny window for two weeks (which is nice, because you can capture waxing or waning influence in your oil) and the strain and use. It can be less expensive than some of the essential oils, and you are imparting your energy into them as you create them. Just an idea!! :)

[Tigerlily]

Oh making my own oils. That sounds wonderful. And a DOLLAR store near by sells these cute little vial bottles. ^.^

Would olive oil work instead of grapeseed or almond?

[DebLipp]

Oh making my own oils. That sounds wonderful. And a DOLLAR store near by sells these cute little vial bottles. ^.^

Would olive oil work instead of grapeseed or almond?

Olive oil works but it will go bad if not refrigerated, and even then will go bad eventually. Jojoba oil NEVER goes bad but it is very expensive.

Olive oil will also impart a flavor or aroma of its own. Almond oil is an excellent choice because it is so light. Almond oil also eventually turns bad.

[-Ember]

Two things to be aware of with that.

1) The oils are MUCH less concentrated. Don't follow the same instructions intended for the distilled oils... most of them are there because the distilled oils are so potent and potentially dangerous.

2) They don't store as well... the carrier oil will turn and go rancid eventually.

Yes, olive oil works. Some people do not like the scent that it natually possesses however.

[Tigerlily]

Okay thanks for the help guys! I'll look into it. :hugz:

[Aidron]

Not much I feel I can add at the moment beyond other recommendations to find your oils.

I actually acquire mine at a flea market not far from here. You'd be surprised what you can find at flea markets (especially the large ones). I've seen seen a few lots that were completely metaphysical (though eventually went out of business). If you have those in your area, I urge you to check them out. I get my oils cheaper than most, they are pure essential oils (I've put them through several tests to make sure), and the woman I buy them from carries 250+ types of oils, with at least half being essential oils.