As if it isn’t scary enough that Christmas is only two months away, Halloween is also just around the corner. The Springtime jives have settled, and I’ve remembered that with the warmer weather comes the unavoidable; hair frizz and mosquitos. But I’m not here to grumble, because golly you’re in for a treat this month – no tricks involved. October’s essential oil of the month is Bay Laurel Oil, a personal favourite. Also known as Sweet Bay or Laurel, this oil has a striking fragrance and uplifting effect.
Laurus nobilis oil is extracted through steam distillation from the leaves of a tall evergreen tree, adorned with blackberries, that is believed to have originated in Armenia.
The pale-yellow coloured oil has a smooth, thin consistency with a spicy and sweet scent with hints of floral - it’s like nothing I’ve ever smelled.
The history behind Laurel makes for an interesting read, as it extends from the Ancient Greek Gods to the Middle Ages and Romans. The leaves are a symbol of honour and courage and were given to brave Roman soldiers after victorious battles. Bay leaves also have significant medicinal value. It is believed to alleviate menstrual cramp pain and symptoms of chronic respiratory conditions. Additional potential benefits of using bay oil include reduced symptoms of fever, indigestion, asthma, flu, hair loss and viral infections.
Its invigorating scent has led to its use in soaps, body scrubs, massage oils, perfumes, lotions, and other bath and sauna products. However, you most likely know it as the secret ingredient to a good Bobotie. Dried bay leaves are commonly used in the culinary world to flavour sauces, stews and soups.
At Le Riche Naturals, we celebrate the wildcrafted Sweet Bay oil by using it as a top note in our Epicer perfume. It’s our secret to creating the perfect aphrodisiac potion as it blends well with bergamot, black pepper, geranium, lavender, citrus oils, rosemary and ylang-ylang.
Bay Laurel should be in every girl (and man’s) fragrance as it encourages confidence, creativity and focus. It should be a welcome addition to your collection of diffuser blend oils (to combat those colds and flu that are inevitable with seasonal changes). Bay oil is an excellent bug repellent – look for natural vaporizers, fumigants and sprays that contain bay oil to help drive insects away this summer. When experiencing muscular pain, skin infections, circulation problems or rheumatism – remember the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent and antiseptic health benefits of bay oil.
This October, forget about all that is daunting and frightening in life. Focus (with the help of bay oil) on making just today, this day, the best day. Try something new today - try Sweet Bay Oil.