Frankincense the magic elixir to rejuvenate body and soul ♥

Boswellia Carterii or Frankincense Tree is a small tree which grows to a height of three to seven metres and has abundant narrow leaves and white or pale pink flowers. It is native to the middle east and North Africa. Incisions are made in the trunk to allow the milky white oleo resin to seep out. This resin then hardens into an orange brown gum and is then steam distilled for its essential oil.

Hello there, my blooming gorgeous ones!

My apologies for such a long gap but I have been focusing on launching my new NYR business and preparing for my first parties, as you know. The parties went well with some lovely feedback and I was very proud of overcoming my fear of public speaking, even if it was only to a small group of lovely supportive people! Yep, I know, ridiculous for someone who was prepared to stand naked on a stage in Tunbridge Wells in 'The Graduate'....but there you go, such are the mysteries of the Comfort mind!

Ommmmmmmmm............

Interestingly with reference to anxiety, that does launch me very nicely into the subject  for this blog, which is about the many wonderful uses of Frankincense Essential oil. Although I would like to look mainly at the healing, rejuvenating and preserving properties it has on the luscious skin of our late blossoming bloomers :) , Frankincense is also a very useful oil to have in your 'Essential Oil Kit' for many other reasons. One being it is the perfect remedy to have handy when you are in stressful situations.

Anxiety can bring up those awful feelings of tightness in the throat, a quickened heart rate and shallow breathing.  So simply grab your Frankincense oil, find a hanky or tissue and put a couple of drops on it and inhale.....slowly and deeply. Frankincense works by slowing down the breathing and increasing the bodies ability to breathe deeply and freely and relieves tightness in the chest. It also helps to calm the mind.

In fact for any respiratory difficulties such as asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis and laryngitis its anticatarrhal, expectorant, anti infectious and soothing properties can prove very useful. I would suggest a few drops in a bowl of hot water in a room, as an inhalation (not for asthmatics) or again inhaling from a hanky. Another way to apply it .....my own invention.....is to grab a tube of Aloe Vera (has a multitude of uses!), squeeze a blob into your hand and then add a couple of drops of Frankincense or one of Eucalyptus and one of Frankincense and rub the ointment over your chest and neck.A   handy oil for your medicine chest!

Frankincense Oil is actually probably one of the most important incense ingredients since history began. It has been burnt on alters and in temples since early antiquity. The use actually probably goes further back than the earliest written records and is perpetuated in the current practises of many religions. The English name is derived from the medieval French word Franc meaning " Pure" or "Free" and the Latin incensium meaning "to smoke". It played a role in the religious and domestic life of the Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Hebrews, Greeks and Roman Civilisations. The gum is also mentioned 22 times within the bible and was offered as a gift for the newly born Jesus by the Magi. It has been discovered that burning Frankincense produces a psycho- active substance trahydrocannabinole which helps to expand consciousness. In meditation practise it is used to calm and centre the mind and stop the ceaseless chatter. To deepen the breath. To calm and elevate.

So pop a couple of drops in your burner before your daily meditation and yoga practise ;)

The Utchat or Sacred Eye.

'Frankincense, like Chamomile was employed in the worship of the Egyptian sun god Ra, a primordial symbol for whom was the Utchat or "All Seeing"- the sacred eye that burned with judgement. Frankincense rekindles the inner light of the mind' Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay.






For skin care it is an extremely important oil and one used in many of NYR's beauty preparations. It was used by the Egyptians for embalming to preserve the bodies. It has what is known as cytophalactic properties which means it stimulates skin renewal and had been shown to work in improving slackening on the skin and slowing down the appearance of wrinkles. It may even work on existing wrinkles that have already formed too....hurrah!

Elixir of youth in a bottle

I often use it in blends I make for the skin particularly if I am wanting to work on assisting the skin to rejuvenate and heal. I love to blend it with a Rosehip oil and Grapeseed oil base and then add Lavender, Rose and Geranium and maybe a drop of Mandarin or Orange to lift the fragrance of the blend.

Here's my own secret recipe for beautiful skin! (You will need a little measuring jug and a small glass bottle)

Base 
50ml Grapeseed Oil (Half a bottle of 100ml NYR Grapeseed Oil)
5ml Rosehip Oil

Aromatherapy Oil
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Rose
2 drops Geranium
3 drops Mandarin (to lift fragrance)

You can play around a little with adding or subtracting a drop of each oil until you are happy with the fragrance but I wouldn't exceed about 15 drops in total.

Beautiful and a wonderful nightly treatment for the skin......delicious!

Award winning Cream

If blending your own is not for you Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil has been proven to moisturise the skin in clinical trial or up to 12 hours, would be a great alternative.

NYR do a fabulous award winning Frankincense Range which contain a wealth of organic, wild crafted and natural ingredients. The range include their multi award winning Frankincense Nourishing Cream and Frankincense Hydrating Cream which were pitted against leading high street and luxury moisturisers and came out top in customer trials.

Rejuvenating Frankincense Serum

They also have the fabulous Frankincense Serum which is designed to penetrate the skin layers and really deliver those important ingredients to the deepest layers of your skin. Add a couple of drops to your skin after cleansing and before moisturising. You will also find that your need for moisturiser becomes much reduced.

NEW! Frankincense Cleanser

Also announcing their Rejuvenating Frankincense Cleanser. This two step cleanser is getting rave reviews  from everyone and is definitely on  my 'to try' list!
Step 1 - Cleanses
Step 2 - Smoothes and Refines.
It can also be used wet with a hand hot damp muslin cloth or wiped off dry.




To check out any of these go to my website and if you fancy giving them a try please get in contact at https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/SamanthaComfort


So definitely one to keep in your medicine chest and used in your daily beauty regime.

Rejuvenating for Body and Soul!!

Speak soon my gorgeous bloomers :) xxx

Blissed out in a vat of 'Wild Rose Beauty Balm'

Aaaaah my gorgeous friend!

Hello there my gorgeous blossoming bloomer :)

Yes, its official, I have fallen crazily in love with a face product! This may seem a touch sad but seriously Wild Rose Beauty Balm may rank as one of my all time favourite products ever! Before I launch into any poetic musings ;) I felt it really important at this stage to tell you why I have chosen to promote and support Neal's Yard Products. If this bit isn't of interest, then shoot down to the poetic musings underneath!!

My main reason is because, above all others, I absolutely believe in their ethics as a company and the extremely high standards of their products. Plus lets face it they are so delightful to have and use!

I love the look of those gorgeous blue bottles sitting prettily in my bathroom. I find them such a treat to use and they smell absolutely delicious! I love the fact that they are filled with only the highest quality natural, organic and wild crafted ingredients. I feel confident they are doing no harm to my body and that their ingredients actually promote health and wellbeing rather than contaminating my body with chemicals and nasty fillers .Plus, as I mentioned in my previous blog I received an amazing Professional Aromatherapy training with Neal's Yard ten years ago, so know they walk their talk.

Here are some other reasons I choose them.

Neal's Yard Store Covent Garden

• Not tested on animals.
• British Company
• Have been certified organic from the Soil Association for over twenty years.They have more certified organic health and beauty products than any other UK company. Any non organic ingredients come from potent wild crafted ingredients or naturally sourced materials that might be gathered under non controlled environments and therefore, although naturally organic, can not be certified so.
• Are free from anything that might compromise your health i.e., Mineral Oils, Silicones, Parabens,Synthetic Fragrances, GMO products, Phthalates, Nano, EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer,DEA, Acrylates and BHT. All nasties that you don't want to be absorbing through your skin and into your blood stream on a regular basis!!!
• Support Organic Farming and ingredients are sourced ethically and sustainably.
• Their glass, plastic bottles and paper are all completely recyclable.
• Carbon Neutral Company
• Supporter of charities and environmental organisations and winner of an International Green Award. Their owner Peter Kindersley was awarded Outstanding Achievement award at the Natural Organic Award.

'changing the world with pure products
one blue bottle at a time'

Good enough reasons I think :) Anyway enough of that.... on to my Wild Rose Beauty Balm love affair!

If like me simplicity works well for you you could literally just have this one product and use it for EVERYTHING!!! It also smell completely GORGEOUS and is packed with FANTASTIC ingredients. 

Is that enough CAPITALS for you!! :)

Cleanser

You can use it as your daily cleanser.Taking a small amount onto your finger tips and massage it into the skin. Let it soak for a second Then take a  hand hot cloth or flannel (sadly their muslin cloth they provide isn't that effective) hold it over the face and just gently wipe away. Makes an effective eye make up remover too, although some may find it a little oily over the eye area but to me its fine.

Moisturiser It makes a lovely moisturiser. I massage it in at night time generally (as it is a little heavier) and let it soak in overnight. However it does work well as a little extra day time moisturiser when I am up dog walking on a cold frosty morning!

Face pack Love it! Apply an extra layer of this gorgeous balm and let it soak in.Lie in a bath, relax and inhale deeply......aaaaaah....

Aftersun/Dry Skin/Hair Nourisher It contains some fantastic ingredients to help nourish, replenish and heal the skin. Perfect to take on holiday to apply to burnt bits, flaky bits, dry ends and sore spots!

Lips Great Lip balm too!

Seriously if you are a can't be bothered with loads of different products, travel light kinda girl.... then this one is for you!

Here are the luscious ingredients listed below.

Wild Rose Hips

Wild Rosehip Oil. Cold pressed oil from Rosehip Seeds that contain 30-40% GLA and are one of the richest sources of antioxidant Vit C. Deeply nourishing to the skin and helpful with skin conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis as well as Ageing and damaged skin. Helps to prevent wrinkle formation

Borage and Hemp Seed Oil. Also very rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids

Frankincense Oil. Excellent cytophalatic properties. It encourages skin renewal and turnover, restores slackness to the skin and helps prevent wrinkles....hurrah!

Patchouli. Also a very effective skin regenerator

Palmarosa Oil. Another effective skin regenerator and balancer

Geranium Oil.  A very useful oil to help balance sebum production in the skin and is a great hormonal balancer and has healing, antiseptic and astringent properties.

Rosemary Oil. Which helps promote good blood flow and circulation in the skin.

Fabulous stuff!  I am strangely addicted as you can tell!

If you fancy trying it for yourself please visit https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/SamanthaComfort

Remember if you order with me before the end of this month and spend over £45 in total you recieve a Rose and Geranium Shower Gel absolutely free!

Plus hold the front page! News just in that if you fancy purchasing one of their fragrance candles you will recieve one of their matching room frangrance room sprays (£16) absolutely free as well! ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL LUNCHTIME MONDAY!

Enjoy!!!!

Love Sam xx

Aromatic Delights, Blossoming in New Directions, Neal's Yard Remedies and Special Announcements!

Everybody needs beauty .......places to play in and pray in, 

where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. 

John Muir (Naturalist,Author and Preservationist 1838-1914)

Hello my blossoming beauty! I have some exciting news!


 I have decided to return to my first love of Aromatherapy and reintroduce it back into my practice. I have also become a consultant for Neal's Yard Organic Range. This combination has provided me with a wonderful new direction for my therapy practice, will work beautifully with the concept behind 'Blossoming' and will also have some fabulous benefits and offers for you too, which I will be sharing with you very shortly.....hurrah!


Firstly, if you can bear with me, I just wanted to tell you a little about my personal journey into the world of  Holistic Aromatherapy , the reason for my love of and connection to Neal's Yard Remedies and also what this will all mean for 'Blossoming' , my therapy practice and you, my late blooming beauty! 


The aromatic world of essential oils was something I was drawn to and intrigued in from fairly early on.Whilst pursuing an acting career and travelling, I continued feeling a strong instinctive pull towards working in the field of complimentary healing. I began with studying Reiki level 1 and 2 and working with energy healing, which I found to be astonishingly powerful. However it was Aromatherapy and the sensory pleasure of working with these beautiful but potent oils which continued to appeal.Opening each little bottle, inhaling their aromatic aroma's, creating heady blends that not only delighted the senses but which worked gently but powerfully together to heal the body by utilising the healing power of nature. 

NB I now work with both these healing energies together.

"..the art and science, of using essential oils in treatments. Aromatherapy is truly a holistic therapy, taking into account the mind, body and spirit of the person seeking help..." Patricia Davis

Sandalwood

Whilst appealing to my more esoteric, spiritual, sensual, right brained side I am also by nature quite a grounded person (despite a few friend's view to the contrary!) and Aromatherapy has its roots deep within the science of chemistry. The volatile oils are carefully extracted from the flowers, leaves, nut kernels, seeds, peel, roots, bark and wood of plants, trees and fruits. The chemistry of each oil means that it can have a multitude of different actions within the body including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral anti-microbial, anti inflammatory, cytophalatic, decongestant....etc The list of the positive actions the oils have is endless and it is the art of the Aromatherapist ,with their understanding of essential oils science and chemistry, to carefully blend oils together to have the most synergistic healing effect on the body. 


However Aromatherapy is so much more than that.The effect that just inhaling these oils can have can be quite profound too.Their scents have the power to evoke deep emotional response within people by working directly through the olfactory system straight to the limbic system. They have also been used throughout their rich history in spiritual and religious practise throughout the world to connect to the spirit world and transport us to heavenly realms. 


An Aromatherapy treatment can be one of these most blissful, sensual, delicious and delightful experiences you can have!

Neals Yard London

Anyway one day nearly twelve years ago, I happened to walk into a Neal's Yard shop, picked up a leaflet about a new Diploma they were offering in 'Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Science.' and everything fell into place.There was no doubt in my mind and in my heart that this was exactly what I was meant to do.It was the first year they had run their 'Diploma in Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Science' and I look back at that year of intense study with huge fondness. Not only were we blessed with fantastic teachers and lecturers but we got to study right in the heart of Neal's Yard in Covent Garden and at Chelsea Physic Garden.


 My happiest memory was our week long study trip to a herb farm located in the fragrant and picturesque foot hills of the Pyrenees near the old fortressed town of Carcassonne in southern France. There we received advanced level training in the French tradition of aromatic medicine from French Doctors/ Naturopaths on how to use the oils internally (orally and anally!) to treat illness. In the UK our practice is restricted to the use of massage, poultices and inhalation as our means of allowing these potent, volatile oils to enter the body. The french have a much more advanced system.

Lavender Fields of Provence

 We spent the week living together and studying in a wonderful old french farmhouse, surrounded by fields of wild lavender .Time off from study saw us relaxing over long lunches and leisurely evening meals made from fresh ingredients sourced locally, lovingly prepared by the staff and washed down with local red wine and fresh mint tea. After lessons  we enjoyed walks and early evening ambles through vibrant purple lavender fields and clambered up hill sides breathing in the warm scent of wild rosemary, thyme, mint and basil deep into our nostrils. Absolute heaven and the highlight of my wonderful course.


 Having qualified as a Holistic Aromatherapist and having gained my membership of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (MIFPA) I left the UK to set up an Aromatherapy Practice and help run a Health Club in Southern Spain.

Aromatherapy Practice, Elviria, Spain
(Notice the beautiful Neal's Yard blue bottles in the background!)

After returning to the UK I left my Aromatherapy practice for a while. I decided to re qualify in Rejuvanessence (www.in-essence.co.uk) which has became the main focus for my therapy practice for the last two years.  However the universe has continued gently nudging me to return to my first love again and  recent events have served to reawaken this desire in me again. I will be starting to offer relaxing aromatherapy massage and clinical Aromatherapy in my practice very shortly. However this time I would like to particularly focus on oils for skincare particularly for skin rejuvenation and for the beautiful healthy glowing skin so desired and treasured by us 'Blossoming' late bloomers!


Becoming a consultant for Neal's Yard beautiful range of products works perfectly with this too.


I will go into depth about this over the next few days, weeks and months but briefly I will now be offering the following.

• Neal's Yard Organic Parties with wonderful free gifts and benefits for the hostess and as an extra special gift of a free Aromatherapy massage to win from me for one lucky lady! 
• Relaxing Aromatherapy Massage at Knowle Grange from April and Clinical Aromatherapy too by special arrangement
• Special articles about which oils I believe are most beneficial for beauty to all us blossoming beauties and suggested Neal's Yard products that contain these oils.
• Offering special personalised Aromatherapy Facial Blends for clients to use at home
• Neal's Yard/ Aromatherapy Facials in the future.

For further details on  hosting parties, the Neal's Yard Organic range or even opportunities to become a consultant yourself please visit my NYR website.

https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/SamanthaComfort

Speak soon!


Love Sam xxx