5 Things You Can Do with Old Perfumes

Do you have older perfumes that you aren't sure what to do with? You don't really want to wear them, even though you still like them, but you don't want to throw them out? You could try adding them to other products. Here's some suggestions:

We offer unscented products. Why not give new life to your old perfumes by adding them to a product? For example, try our unscented Shine On Shampoo. Add a little bit of your old favorite perfume to it, mix it up, and voila'! A new version of your old perfume.

Or how about adding it to some Ocean Splendor Salt Scrub or our Whipped Sugar Scrub? It doesn't take much, but you'll smell beautiful and have smooth, silky skin afterward.

You could even add a couple drops or mists to your bath, with some of our Therapeutic Bath Salts or Himalayan Pink Salt chunks.

Or maybe you want to add it to lotion. Our Emollient Lotion is wonderful for your skin, and when you add a couple drops or a mist of your favorite perfume to it, it's got your signature on it.

There's many things you can do with your old perfumes, get creative! Don't let them sit in a drawer or cabinet or gather dust in your boudoir--use them, wear them, enjoy them! It's why you bought them in the first place.

Bad Shopping Experience is an Opportunity

I like to think about bad experiences as opportunities. If I don't learn from that experience, the universe is bound to present me with another one, similar in nature, to make her point. So learn I do.

I recently ordered some products online from a company whom I had never ordered before. I was excited about getting my goodies in the mail; I had ordered something that was fun and just for me. (I don't do that very often.)

I received my automated order confirmation. So I waited. Patiently.

After several weeks, I hadn't received anything and was worried. The items all said "in stock". So I emailed the small company. I eventually got a response but it was basically a copy of the order confirmation. Thanks.

I waited some more, then emailed again, inquiring about the status of my order. "OMG! I've been sick. I'm sorry." More than a week later, I finally received my package. Six weeks total wait time.

Inside the package, I found my order. I expected to find a note or something from the one-person shop's owner, who I'm sure would want to retain me as a customer. Nothing. Not to mention that I was disappointed in the order itself.

I had been so excited about this purchase, but when it finally did arrive, all I felt was disappointment. Needless to say, they lost a repeat customer.

So, after having said all this, here's what I learned:

1. I don't want any unsatisfied customers.
2. I will always do everything in my power to ensure that orders go out in a timely manner.
3. I will always ensure that every order has extra goodies in it--from a handwritten thank-you note to samples, and more. Every HaEE customer is special and your orders are too.
4. If we do make a mistake, we will admit it, rectify it, and make it up to you. We will never just ignore you and "hope" that you place an order again with us someday. We will work even harder to make up for our mistake.

Feeling dissatisfied with a product or company shouldn't be an everyday occurrence. You should enjoy the product you purchased, be satisfied with the relationship between you and the product's company--because you are ultimately in the driver's seat. Our businesses exist because people want to purchase a particular product and want to be able to trust the company that makes and/or sells the products you purchase.

I want Heaven and Earth Essentials to be that kind of company.

If you ever have an issue with any of our products, I want to know about it so I can personally fix it. Of course, if you love something we've created, I'd enjoy hearing about that too.

New Soaps Curing, Available Soon

Our newest batches of soap are now in the curing cabinet! I love making cold-process soap, it reminds me of my Grandmother and all the things she would make by hand--from pickles and sweets to clothing and crafts.

Once I start making soap it's hard to stop because while I'm working on one batch, an idea for the next batch is already forming in my head. But I'm trying to stay focused so the current batch is the best ever. It's always hard to pick a favorite, they're my babies, and there's some really yummy scents in here right now!

Our newest batches of soap include:

Tiger Eye: With a deep scent and a dusting of gold mica on top, this soap is a luxurious blend of Dark Mosses and Ancient Woods, Dark Patchouli, Red Musk, Red Currant, Black Musk, and Mysore Sandalwood. It reminds me of an Egyptian Queen. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Rice Bran Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Handmilled Decadence: It looks good enough to eat! The real vanilla and cocoa colored these bars a natural fudgy brown, but don't eat it, it's actually a luxurious, lathery bar of decadent soap! White Musk, Sandalwood EO, Cedarwood EO, Milk and Honey, Carnation, Patchouli EO, Dark Amber, Swirls of White Chocolate, Cocoa Absolute, and a gentle stir of Vanilla Absolute. This beautiful batch is made with Coconut Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sweet Almond Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, and Avocado Oil.


Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey: You can never go wrong with these ingredients. Gentle and comforting, like mom taking care of you when you don't feel well. This batch has real oatmeal, real milk, and real (local) honey. What could be better? Soy Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Beeswax, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Powdered Milk, Oatmeal, and Local Honey.

Handmilled Lotus Flower: A nice floral soap to perk you up, like a Spring day! Sunflower Seed Oil (very high in Vitamin E), Avocado Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Mexicali Champagne: I had to try it! This batch is made with a bottle of Corona beer and lime, of course. A blend of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Soy Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Shea Butter, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Classic Sandalwood and Amber: Always a good choice. This pairing is like a tweed blazer that never goes out of style or that perfect pair of shoes. Comfortable. What you go for when you want to feel good about yourself. Try a bar! Made with Coconut Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Castor Oil, Babassu Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Curious to see what other Artisan Soaps we have? Check out our website--and don't forget, they make excellent gifts!

3 Ways to Avoid Dry, Winter Skin

Winter is coming up very quickly here...and so is dry, Winter skin. Having spent a day this past weekend outside in under 30-degree weather, I'm reminded that our dry-skin season is upon us.

The best advice I have for your skin is "don't wait until you have dry skin to start moisturizing"! You can avoid having dry skin by following some simple rules every day. Add it to your daily routine and you'll soon forget that you're evening doing it.

Moisturize Your Face--this is very important. Last Saturday when I was outside all day, everything was covered up except my face. If you wear makeup, this can help dry up your facial skin too. So make sure you moisturize--but keep it simple. There's no need for expensive, highly-marketed products; you are only paying for their commercials, highly-paid CEOs, marketing and legal teams, and research laboratories. Try natural products, they are better for you anyway. Make sure you read the label, and do not use fragrances on your face. They dry your skin out faster than if you used nothing at all. A good lotion stick with Shea Butter works well. I use our Lotion Stick with Emu Oil and Tamanu Oil religiously, very good for moisturizing and healing.

Moisturize Your Body. This should include your bath products, including shower gel, soaps, oils, and lotions. Does the product you are using really moisturize? Look at the label. Spoil yourself--get the Artisan-style soaps with the Mango Butter, Babassu Oil, Shea Butter; exotic oils and butters help keep your skin soft and supple.

How about your lotion? Again, read the label. Can you pronounce all or even most of the ingredients? Does it contain alcohol, which really dries out your skin? If so, does it at least have Shea Butter or another butter/oil to balance out the alcohol? Also, essential oils are all natural and do not have the same drying effect as fragrances. If you want to just moisturize your skin, go for unscented or essential oils. If you want to smell pretty, go for the scented lotions.

Moisturize Your Really Dry Skin Areas. I saw a woman I know in the beauty salon the other day. It's freezing cold outside and she is wearing open shoes and no socks (I was wearing winter socks and boots). She's in her 60s. I asked her why she wasn't keeping her feet warm, and she said she never wears socks and that she only had to walk outside for a minute because her daughter was picking her up. Okay...but I really looked at the skin on her ankles and heels and asked her if she ever used lotion on them (because it sure didn't look like it). She told me the name of the inexpensive lotion she uses. I told her to stop using that because it's not helping at all and her response was "but I like the way it smells". Needless to say I'm making her some Healing Lotion. Having feet that smell like almonds is nice, but having dry, cracked, painful feet is another story.

So read your product ingredients, try natural if possible. And moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your skin will love you for it.

How to Use Essential Oils on Your Pet

All-natural essential oils can help humans with various issues, but they can also be beneficial to your pet--dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that they are much more sensitive than we are, so you MUST be careful to use less, use a diluted solution, or make sure you place it in the correct area on the animal.

A few rules: A dilution rate of about 90% should be used on your small dog or cat, and essential oils should be applied only to their paws, and Wintergreen and high-phenol oils should not be used on cats (for example, oregano or thyme).

Amounts to use:
Small dogs and cats - use 3-5 drops of diluted essential oil (90% carrier oil) per application.
Larger dogs - use 3-5 drops of undiluted essential oil per application.
Horses - 20-30 drops of undiluted essential oil per application.
(Other animals can benefit as well, such as goats, cattle, sheep, et al.)

Here's a very brief list of essential oils and blends available from Heaven and Earth Essentials that can be used to treat your pet:

Tranquility Blend or Pure Lavender - for calming an animal down, if they've been hurt or traumatized in some way, or if you or the vet are going to perform a procedure on them.

Muscle Pain Blend - for hurt muscles, arthritis. Massage on sore area. (Do not apply to open wounds.)

Pure Peppermint - Put 1 drop on a cotton swab, apply to a wood tick that is on your animal. When it releases its head, remove it from the animal (works on humans too).

Cold & Flu Blend - helps with sinus and lung congestion. Add a few drops to a mister with water, then spray the area where the animal sleeps.

Rosemary and Sandalwood essential oils - help keep your pet's coat nice and shiny.

Pure Lavender - for scratches and burns. Helps with tissue regeneration.

All-Natural Flea Spray - contains essential oils of Lemongrass, Citronella, and Lemon Eucalyptus, and helps keep fleas and other parasites away.

All-Natural Mosquito Spray - contains Wintergreen essential oil and other natural ingredients to keep those pesky mosquitoes away. (Do not use on cats.)

These are just a few things you can do with essential oils. Make sure you are using all-natural essential oils, not fragrance oils. Our pets give us unconditional love and devotion, they deserve the same in return. So make sure you give them a big hug when you are done working with them. My dog, Windsor, shown above, will do just about anything for a hug from me.

Antibacterial Soap--Friend or Foe?

Antibacterial Soap--it's been all the rage for the past couple years. Many think it's their friend, but is it? You can't go anywhere without seeing it. It's in restrooms, grocery stores (to use on shopping carts), libraries, school classrooms, purses, backpacks, and so many more places.

Remember the good ol' days when you washed your hands with a plain old bar of soap? It didn't even have to smell pretty, but it smelled clean. And it worked if you actually used it.

So why does everyone insist on using antibacterial products instead of the old bar of soap? Marketing, of course. What could be more convenient? And that bacteria is just horrible, we must eradicate it.

Right?

Here's some facts about bacteria:
Bacteria are vital in recycling nutrients, with many steps in nutrient cycles depending on these organisms, such as the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere and putrefaction.

There are approximately 10 times as many bacterial cells in the human body as there are human cells.

There are good kinds of bacteria (like lactic acid bacteria, or Lactobacillus), which for thousands of years have been used in the preparation of fermented foods like cheese, yogurt, wine, vinegar, pickles, and more.

Did you know that the bacteria in your septic system help to break down waste and keep the system clean?

Other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, can cause all kinds of issues with humans, from skin infections to pneumonia, even death. However, these bacteria are part of our normal human flora and usually exist on our skin or in our noses without causing any disease.

Of course, there are other, really nasty bacteria, and we don't even want to discuss those here.

But think about this: When you use the antibacterial products, cleaning products, bleach, etc. to kill and eliminate bacteria, those products do not selectively attack the bad bacteria. They go for ALL bacteria--even the ones we need.

When you flush bleach down the toilet or constantly wash your hands with antibacterial soap, you are actually hurting yourself, your septic system, your environment! Think about it--because most people don't.

Try an old-fashioned bar of soap. Wash your hands appropriately (silently sing the ABCs or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). Don't use the antibacterial soap or wipes. Make your own, or try a bar of soap in a small, reusable container (let it dry out between uses).

We're concerned for our environment. Here at Heaven and Earth Essentials, we're in the process of making batches of old-fashioned soap--and you know what? I've never felt better about making and using this type of soap!

Psychology of Scents

Have you ever given thought to the psychology of the scents you wear? Sure, you might wear it because you like the way it smells. But WHY do you like it when you wear it?

Does it make you feel prettier? Smarter? More confident? Is it uplifting and fresh, or dark and sultry? Do you wear the same scent all the time or do you have several that you wear depending on the occasion? Or do you wear it because someone else likes it on you?

There is a lot of psychology behind why we wear the scents we do. It's not something people think about.

...But let's think about it for a minute. Think about yourself, your friends, your daughter, your mom, your grandmother. What scents do they wear?

Some people wear a perfume because it's the latest and greatest and some movie star wears it (or at least they promote it). Does it smell good to you or are you just wearing it so you can be like that movie star?

Some people wear a perfume that is comforting to them. Vanillas, pumpkin, roses, other florals--these are the scents that might remind us of a time in childhood when we were safe and life was simpler and less chaotic. (A trip to grandma's house smelled like cookies and lilacs, and that was a happy place--is that why I love lilac perfumes?)

Citrus scents are very uplifting and refreshing. These are perfect for first thing in the morning when you are showering--they help wake you up and energize you. Or if you need a low-cal energy boost during the day, try a spritz of citrus fragrance (essential oils are the best!).

Getting ready for a date? Many studies have shown that men are attracted to women wearing vanilla-based or jasmine scents.

So the next time you buy that perfume, or are getting ready for that date, think about why you are wearing that particular scent. What is your ultimate goal? Wear the scent that will help you close that deal, make you more comfortable if you're nervous, uplifted when you're feeling down, or give you more self-confidence.

Heaven and Earth Essentials has over 300 handblended fragrances that can make you feel beautiful, confident, uplifted, refreshed, sexy, comforted, and everything else in between. Think about what scents you like, and let's go from there!