Foot and Leg Reviver
Try one of these invigorating oils on your feet and legs after prolonged standing, sitting or walking.
Blend 1
10ml carrier oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil
1 drop lemongrass oil
Blend 2
10ml carrier oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil
1 drop peppermint oil
Add the essential oils to the carrier oil and shake well. Smooth the blend around each toe, kneading into the arch of the foot and the heel. Then massage the leg with a swirling motion towards the heart. Finish with brisk hand-over-hand strokes over your feet and legs to stimulate the circulation.
Koala Soap
This gently antiseptic soap has an early morning, awakening aroma. It's especially good for oily or blemished skin.
100g pure soap flakes
50ml grapeseed oil
150ml orange flower water
10 drops pure lavender oil
10 drops pure palmarosa oil
8 drops pure frankincense oil
20 drops pure eucalyptus oil
Put the soap flakes into a medium-sized saucepan with a heavy base. Add the grapeseed oil and stir well with a metal spoon. Place the saucepan on the stove over a moderate heat and stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Add a little water at a time, stirring briskly until completely absorbed. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes. Add the essential oils, stirring until thoroughly mixed. Spoon the soap into greased ramekin dishes or biscuit moulds. Leave for 48 hours to harden.
Important: Eucalyptus is the most volatile of all essential oils and will evaporate within seconds if added to the very hot soap mixture. It's essential to add it to the mixture last of all, and only after the mixture has cooled sufficiently.
Tasmanian Devil Aftershave
First you will need to make a small bottle of essential oil concentrate, which you then add to the cider vinegar base. You will have to make up a fresh batch once a week because the aftershave has no alcohol or synthetic preservatives. The cider vinegar helps maintain the skin's natural pH balance.
Concentrate
10 drops pure eucalyptus oil
10 drops pure lavender oil
5 drops pure juniper berry oil
8 drops pure sandalwood oil
8 drops pure frankincense oil
Put the essential oils into a 5ml dark glass bottle and shake well.
Aftershave
5ml cider vinegar
2 drops Tasmanian devil concentrate
50ml bottled or filtered water
Put the cider vinegar into a dark glass bottle, add the concentrate and shake well. Top up with distilled water and shake again.
Aftershave balm
Add 8-10 drops of the Tasmanian devil concentrate to 50ml unperfumed moisturiser or jojoba oil
Captain Cook's Handkerchief Drops
Enjoy this refreshing and revitalising blend throughout the day.
5ml vodka
3 drops eucalyptus oil
3 drops lavender oil
2 drops grapefruit oil
2 drops bergamot oil
2 drops lemon oil
2 drop petitgrain oil
3 drops cedarwood oil
2 drops sandalwood oil
Mix the vodka and oils in a perfume bottle and shake well. Put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale.
Blue Gum Shower Gel
This invigorating, breath-easy gel is a great way to start the day.
50ml unperfumed shower gel
8 drops eucalyptus oil
3 drops black pepper oil
3 drop pure lemon oil
3 drops clary sage oil
5 drops frankincense oil
Add the essential oils to the gel and stir until thoroughly mixed. Pour a little onto a amp sponge and massage all over your body.
Eucalyptus Collage
The eucalyptus tree provides plenty of interesting shapes and textures to make an unusual and decorative collage. The rough outer bark peels in vertical strips and the fruit comes in the form of tiny wooden cups (gum nuts) on fine stems at the ends of the leaf clusters.
This picture uses seven eucalyptus stems with gum nuts and five pieces of bark, which have been dried in a warm airing cupboard for 7-10 days. Experiment with your own design, and try using pressed leaves.
You will need:
- 5 pieces eucalyptus bark
- 7 eucalyptus seed stems
- handmade or other textured paper
- scissors
- all purpose, clear adhesive
- a box picture frame
- woodstain (optional)
Stain the frame (if you wish). Cut the paper as a backing to fit into the box frame. Arrange the plant material on the backing to form a pleasing design. Then, using clear, all-purpose adhesive, carefully glue the bark and seed stems to the paper. Leave to dry.
Eucalyptus Blend Room Spray
To make an invigorating air freshener, combine eucalyptus essential oil with lemongrass and lavender essential oils in a water base, with a drop of benzoin to add a sweeter base note. Put into a spray-mist bottle and spray to clear stale air or chemical-smelling atmosphere.
The spray can also be used in sickrooms and bathrooms, and is especially beneficial if someone is suffering from a cold or the flu as head-clearing eucalyptus remains the dominant fragrance.
200ml bottled or filtered water
3 drops eucalyptus oil
2 drops lemongrass oil
1 drop lavender oil
1 drop benzoin oil
Mix the oils and water in a spray bottle, shake well and spray.