Hey there, friends!
Today, let’s take a little journey back in time and talk about something truly incredible—the history of essential oils. These tiny bottles of plant-powered goodness aren’t just a trend; they’ve been around for thousands of years, playing a major role in wellness, beauty, and even spiritual practices. So, let’s dive into where it all began!
Ancient Beginnings - Essential oils have been used for centuries—literally! Some of the earliest recorded uses date back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, China, and India. The Egyptians, in particular, were obsessed with essential oils. They used them in everything from cosmetics to medicine to elaborate burial rituals. (Ever heard of the famous Egyptian mummies? Yep, essential oils played a part in that process!)
In China and India, essential oils were key components of traditional medicine. Ayurvedic practices incorporated these powerful plant extracts to support overall well-being, balance energy, and even aid in meditation. Meanwhile, in Greece, Hippocrates—often called the father of modern medicine—was a huge advocate for aromatic oils, believing in their ability to promote health and healing.
Biblical References & Sacred Uses
If you’ve ever read the Bible, you might have noticed that essential oils and aromatic plants are mentioned over 200 times. Oils like frankincense, myrrh, and cedarwood were highly prized in biblical times for their spiritual significance and therapeutic benefits. Frankincense and myrrh weren’t just gifts for baby Jesus; they were considered more valuable than gold back in the day!
Medieval & Renaissance Revival
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and essential oils were still making waves. Monks and healers across Europe used them to create herbal remedies and protect against illness. During the Renaissance, advancements in distillation techniques made essential oils even more accessible, and they became a staple in apothecaries for their believed medicinal properties.
Modern-Day Essential Oils
Today, essential oils are more popular than ever, and for good reason! Science is finally catching up with what ancient civilizations already knew—these little drops of nature are packed with benefits. Whether you’re using them for relaxation, skincare, immune support, or just to make your home smell amazing, essential oils continue to be a game-changer in natural wellness.
So, the next time you reach for and open a bottle of lavender or peppermint oil, remember this —you’re taking part in a tradition that’s thousands of years old. That's pretty cool, right?
What’s your favorite essential oil, and how do you use it? I’d love to hear! Drop me a message anytime. 😊
💜 Cheryl Jones
📧 c.and.e@att.net
As the days grow shorter and the weather starts to get a bit crisper, you instantly know that fall is here and the holidays are just around the corner. With the holidays comes family get togethers, dinners, parties and parties. Most of us feel the intense need to have a sparkling clean house for those family gatherings and parties.
For those of us in the south, as this weather cools off, we throw open the windows and let that autumn air in. But now that we have that supposed extra hour, with the time change, and the cooler weather, why not put those two to use? Along with throwing open the windows to air out the house, put that "extra hour" to good use by getting a jump on that "deep cleaning" for the holidays.
Why not put mother nature to use for you? Instead of using the dryer and heating up the house, why not hang the laundry to dry in the crisp fall air? You'll get that fresh clean smell without having to use synthetic dryer sheets or smelly scent extenders. Plus the sun, which is the original solar dryer, will help to kill bacteria that you don't even know is there hanging out on your clothes. And the windows open helps to air out all the musty smells that have accumulated all summer. You know those smells, the ones that have just been hiding - wet dog smell in the carpets, towels or sofas, stinky shoes and socks that just stays hanging around in the closet smelling up the clean clothes, and let's not forget the smelly clothes hamper that accumulates the damp towels, smelly gym clothes, etc. Let nature come in and remove many of these "hiders" out of the house for you. You don't have to do anything but open some windows and doors, provided you have screens. You won't have to spray any chemical sprays or plug ins to get that fresh clean scent blowing through your house.
If you start now at the beginning of November, with doing one deep clean item a day/week; when it comes to Thanksgiving, your house should be clean and smelling great for when family and friends arrive.
For those up north, you know Colorado, Massachusetts, N. Dakota, etc., it's different for you guys. What we southerners call "Fall Cleaning" is what ya'll call Spring Cleaning. But the concept is still the same just a different set of seasons. You do it for the big spring holidays of Easter and Mother's day. There are other holidays around the same time, but those are the biggies in the spring, like Thanksgiving and Christmas are in the fall/winter. The spring cleaning has one big drawback that the fall doesn't..... and that's the loss of an hour instead of the gain of an hour.
Just a little something to think about as the seasons change, and the holiday hustle and bustle begins. Take a few minutes to throw open those window and drink in the sun.
Blessings to you,
Cheryl
