Disclosure: As a member of the Goddess Garden Ambassador Program. I received samples and compensation for my time and effort in creating this post.

I want to get personal with you for a few minutes. The last couple of years of my life I have to deal with many personal blows. I lost my parents, my younger sister and best friend. I developed chronic fatigue syndrome and numerous other illnesses. My doctors warned me that the stress of all of this was too much for my body. I suffer from stress and anxiety in which I am always waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Few of my family and friends know all of this about me, and it is hard for everyone to understand. I had always been the rock of my group, and the one that everyone would turn to for advice and help, and now I was the person who could get so stressed out over the smallest thing that she can get out of bed.

I was told that I would need to find ways to reduce my stress. My doctors wanted me to talk about my experiences, which worked for a little while. They also suggested mediation and yoga, this would not work for me because my brain just can’t shut off. We did learn that certain essential oils did help me.

Our sense of smell is the strongest sense we have. When we inhale, olfactory nerve cells at the top of the nasal cavity send signals to the brain. This area of the brain is the same region responsible for memory formation and mood. Smells affect your memories and mood.

Essential oils also directly affect the body. When we breathe in an essential oil scent/vapor, the particles enter our lungs and transfer directly into the bloodstream. If you apply an oil directly to the skin, the oil is absorbed and transferred into the bloodstream that way. While in the blood, the oil’s properties can impact the endocrine system which regulates your hormones.

More attention is being paid to this since Hawaii officially banned chemical sunscreens oxybenzone and octinoxate in the summer of 2018. It shed a light on the need to clearly identify ingredients as they could have a harmful effect on people and the environment. With the case of chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone, research has shown it kills coral reefs and make them more susceptible to other environmental stressors. For more information, read this article from Goddess Garden, What Is Octinoxate and Is it Safe in Sunscreen?

Oxybenzone is used  in more  than just sunscreen. It is also used in nail polish, hair spray and cosmetics as a photostabilizer. It can also sometimes show up in fragrances where it won’t be listed among the ingredients because fragrance ingredients aren’t required to be disclosed. One way to ensure that the products/essential oils you are using are pure is my using those that are certified organic. With that certification, you know that the oils are not contaminated with chemical additives and are pure.

When I started looking for essential oils, I found many different products, but I was never sure I would find any that were certified organic products. Then I got the new line of oils from Goddess Garden. They have always provided me with that products that made my life healthier. These oils are calming and reduce my level of stress.

The story starter variety pack includes organic rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon and clove bud.

Rosemary:

Massage one to two drops over your chest and throat every few hours to help with a cough, or add a drop to your hands, rub together and cup over your mouth and nose for up to a minute to help you focus on looming deadlines or appointments.

Rosemary blends well with black spruce, cedarwood, fir needle, lavender, lime, marjoram, peppermint, sage, spearmint, sweet fennel, tea tree and thyme.

Eucalyptus:

Popular for stimulating mental activity and clearing congested sinuses, keep eucalyptus oil handy for use during allergy or cold/flu season.

Eucalyptus blends well with peppermint, rosemary, sage and spearmint.

Lemon:

Lemon oil is purported to have antibacterial properties and is a natural degreaser. Add lemon oil to castile soap for a natural and effective cleanser that will also purify the air and lift your spirits.

Lemon blends well with black spruce, clary sage, juniper berry, mandarin, Roman chamomile, peppermint, pink grapefruit, sage, thyme, white grapefruit and ylang ylang.

Clove Bud:

Diffuse or use the rollerball for an added memory boost. As a plus, the warm, homey scent offers feelings of protection, calmness and happiness.

Clove bud blends well with cinnamon bark, sweet orange and ylang ylang.

I really like the Goddess Garden Story Starter Kit.