Today's post is going to be a wee bit "sciency" (if I can use that as a real word), but don't let that scare you off. I will keep it simple - because if it gets too technical, it's over my head!
I see tons of my friends still using air freshener sprays in their homes and it really does make me sad, because they have no idea how harmful these things are. They believe the "Greenwashing" on the labels that make them sound like they are safe and natural.
One of these products' website says this about their ingredients: "Fragrance: Perfume - you know it as flowers, fruit, fresh rain" - Well, I'm here to tell you there are no flowers, fruit or fresh rain in that air freshener spray. They make it sound real good with their cleverly worded marketing; but when you dig into just some (I'm not going into all of them) of the ingredients they list, you will see that they are not so beautiful, after all. They also brag about all the things that are NOT in their chemical concoction, while glossing over the things that ARE in it. I'm only highlighting two ingredients to give you some insight into why it's important to look up the actual ingredients in these products that people use every day - spraying them all over their house to be inhaled and absorbed into the skin. They also make products to spray on your furniture and clothing - don't do it!
One of these products' website says this about their ingredients: "Fragrance: Perfume - you know it as flowers, fruit, fresh rain" - Well, I'm here to tell you there are no flowers, fruit or fresh rain in that air freshener spray. They make it sound real good with their cleverly worded marketing; but when you dig into just some (I'm not going into all of them) of the ingredients they list, you will see that they are not so beautiful, after all. They also brag about all the things that are NOT in their chemical concoction, while glossing over the things that ARE in it. I'm only highlighting two ingredients to give you some insight into why it's important to look up the actual ingredients in these products that people use every day - spraying them all over their house to be inhaled and absorbed into the skin. They also make products to spray on your furniture and clothing - don't do it!
Benzisothiazolinone - the Environmental Working Group gives this one a rate of 6 for Allergies and Immunotoxicity. Also, the following references are shared from the EWG site:
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
| The US EPA reports the LC50 value is moderately toxic to aquatic life. | US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2005. Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for Benzisothiazoline-3-one. |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
The second ingredient I will share with you from this aerosol spray is:
Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride: Here's a scientific article on that one. Not only is it classified as highly irritating to the eyes and skin; they also note in this study how rats exposed to this for two weeks gained weight! Quote: "The effects of DDAC on body weight changes were obvious ..." Click here for article Could using these products daily, and sometimes multiple times a day, as many people do, actually be contributing to weight gain in humans, too? Obviously, I don't have that answer - but if what happens to rats in experiments is any indication, I would say it's possible.
Click Here if you would like access to my Green Living materials where you can learn more about how to avoid being a victim to deceptive and clever marketing tactics and bring safe and effective products back into your home. 
Why do we diffuse YL essential oils daily? Because they have amazing abilities to affect mood and peace of mind.
This is what is in three of my diffusers today - Changing Leaves recipe! It smells amazing, and there are tons of benefits from these three oils that are distilled very meticulously to retain the entirety of the chemistry profile that gives us the benefits of the hundreds of molecules we find in each oil! Let's look at the Fragrant Influence of each of these oils from the Essential Oils Desk Reference:
This is what is in three of my diffusers today - Changing Leaves recipe! It smells amazing, and there are tons of benefits from these three oils that are distilled very meticulously to retain the entirety of the chemistry profile that gives us the benefits of the hundreds of molecules we find in each oil! Let's look at the Fragrant Influence of each of these oils from the Essential Oils Desk Reference:
- Sage - Mentally stimulating and helps combat despair and mental fatigue. Sage strengthens the vital centers of the body, balancing the pelvic chakra where negative emotions from denial and abuse are stored.
- Frankincense - Increases spiritual awareness, promotes meditation, improves attitude and uplifts spirits. Frankincense contains sesquiterpenes which stimulate the limbic system o the brain and the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands.
- Northern Lights Black Spruce - Releases emotional blocks, bringing about a feeling of balance and grounding.
Sounds like a really great combination to me, and that's why I have it going in three diffusers right now. With the way things are in the world right now, it seems very appropriate to me to be diffusing these oils with the fragrant influence that they provide.
What's in your diffuser today? Comment below and share your favorite!
If you'd like to get my collection of Fall Diffusing Recipes, just Click Here and fill out the form.
Some people live their entire "working lives" making a living doing something they were trained to do just to pay the bills and live the life they choose, according to how much money they make. That used to be me, too; but no more.
I discovered something I'm passionate about, a way to help other people live their lives more abundantly with better wellness, more energy, and an all-around better outlook on life! Now, THAT'S Gratifying!!
Most of us have heard of Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion. Now, I was never into physics in school, and I never gave this kind of discussion much thought. But in this time in our world where people seem hell-bent on "Forcing" things, it's time for all of us to consider Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I took this picture on my walk the other day because I thought it was an amazing visual of how nature reflects this concept back to us. These water fowl were sitting on a branch of a tree that had fallen in the lake and the sky is reflected in the water, just as are the birds and the branches.... Equal and Opposite!
Think about how you might apply this concept in your own life to create more peace & tranquility. Stop trying to "force" your thoughts and beliefs on others. It's okay to differ in opinions and beliefs - really, it is! What is NOT okay is trying to make your opinions and beliefs right and everyone else's wrong!
Your beliefs are yours, based on your experiences in life and what feels right to you. Own it, explore it, be open to possibilities of how it may or may not change. Another way to bring more peace & tranquility into your life is to accept that not everyone will have the same belief or opinion as you, and that's okay, too. If they are not respectful of your opinions, maybe they are not worth having in your sphere of influence. For me personally, I have had to end some relationships - not because they think differently than me, but because they cannot respect my thoughts & opinions and are constantly trying to FORCE their's on me. There's that Law of Physics again - rather than choose to fight with them and convince them that my opinions are valid - I choose to distance them.
Whether you are talking personal relationships or politics - it's all the same - choose your "equal and opposite reaction" and make it peaceful! That's not always the easiest thing to do, for sure. I have learned and developed some really powerful tools that have helped me in this over the years. If you would like to know more about them, just click here to connect with me and send me a message. You can also get my "Tools for Peace & Tranquility" and get started on a peaceful path!
I don't know about you, but I really abused my skin in my younger days. By all reasonable thought, I should have the worst skin in the world - sun damaged and stressed to the max!
Luckily for me, I realized at some point in my 40s that it was time to start taking better care of it. I started eating healthier, managing my stress (as best I could, anyway) and cleaning my skin with gentle products on a regular basis. I still didn't understand that the ingredients in skin care products is critically important - you can find lots of products that make your skin feel nice and even look better; but when you research the ingredients, you find they have harsh chemicals in them that are known to cause health problems.
Enter Young Living, plant based skin care products infused with amazing essential oils, as well as their new CBD Beauty Boost and voila! You can improve your skin even after you hit middle age! (Whatever that is these days... LOL)
It's never too late to take care of your skin and reverse damage from years of less than ideal choices. Believe me, I'm living proof! If you want to know my favorite products that keep my skin youthful click on this link and fill out the form.
Take care of your skin with Plant Based approaches - you're worth it!
Here's a shortcut to set up a Young Living Account with my favorite products (for those who don't have an account yet). Keep in mind that your 24% discount will not show up until you get to the Checkout process.
