a change of pace…nice smells for the win
Some days, things just don’t turn out as expected.
Looks? = very average. Texture? = really average. Taste? = quite good, actually.
Much improved with topping of latest obsession (sweet black bean spread)… recipe? Yeah, not bothering with that – unless you like gummy banana cake? Yeah, thought not. I always eat my mistakes though… unless they are REALLY bad… then Boosty gets them.
I’m trying to use up my over-stocked kitchen. I have problems with food hoarding and jar-filling. I have sworn myself to using up what we have before I purchase more… mainly for economical reasons…. and space issues. Lack of appropriate ingredients sometimes results in gummy cakes for breakfast. Oh well.
I am getting through a lot of stuff though… the top shelf of my jar-army has been defeated.
I’m off food-cooking now. Time for some non-food related creativity. Today I’m having a play with essential oils… I find that most store-bought perfumes effect my skin (not in a good way). Solid perfumes are the way to go for sensitive skin, particularly those that are vegetable oil/beeswax based. The fact that you can create whatever scents you like and get way more bang for your buck is also a bonus. Experimenting with scent is quite similar to cooking actually, different combinations coming together to create a sensory experience. I’m a big fan of those musky, woody smells (Read: Hippie Smells; Viper always teases me about my fondness for patchouli)… I do however like the freshness that citrus brings to such scents… a little lift for those “heavier” woody tones. Anyway, you can use whatever essential oils YOU like… or just use one, up to you.
DIY Solid Perfume:
- 2T grated beeswax
- 1T coconut oil (measurement taken while oil was in a solid form… see picture below) If you don’t like the smell of unrefined coconut oil, use the refined, odourless variety.
- Essential oils of choice*
- Small container – re use old make up containers/lip balm tins/tiny jars etc
- In a double boiler, gently melt beeswax and coconut oil.
- Take off heat.
- Add in your essential oils… you need to work kind of quickly here as the mix will start to go solid as it cools.
- Pour carefully into your chosen container. It will solidify once at room temperature.
Great for chucking in your bag for little “boosts” of scent throughout the day.. rub on your wrists/neck/whatever.
I’m sure we need to add a bit of visual art to our “sensory” theme here today.
Artwork courtesy of Misty.
Critique by Boosty. I think she likes it? Or maybe she just wants to escape out the gate from her small tormentor.
15 Responses to “a change of pace…nice smells for the win”
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Vegan. Stay at home Mum of Misty. Yoga teacher in training. Passionate about REAL food - creating it, eating it, sharing it. I can never stick to a recipe.
Using up your pantry is a noble feat. One I feel I could always do- I’m a hoarder too and usually can’t resist buying a new food goodie that I use a few times then stash a way because I don’t want to run out. Leads to wayyyy too much food in the house!
That perfume sounds lovely! I loooove sandalwood.
Same, sandalwood is amazing…. I just got a birthday pressie from my Mother in Law of all sorts of lovely essential oils from Bali – awesome
Ha, I do the exact same thing with foodie products…. squirrel them away in fear of using them up too quickly and then my cupboards are stuffed WAY too full! We are funny creatures, aren’t we?
I love making my own perfume! I gave up “normal” prefume many many years ago… due to allergic reactions and massive headaches. I love love love the smell of patchouli, sandalwood and bergamont. I tend to gravitate towards the more “manly/woodsy” smells lol. I find them very comforting though.
Man Ami…. we are like two peas in a pod, no? Just wish we lived closer so we could hang out some time
We could smell like hippies together!
agreed!! We could lather up in patchouli and drink wine
I have a little bottle of clove essential oil from a gorgeous sanctuary/distillery/greegreenforestland in Mauritius that I sometimes dab on as perfume
Oh I LOVE clove oil, delicious delicious delicious
That muffin cupcake thing looks delicious. I always eat my mistakes too, but never share the recipes. I don’t have a boosty to eat mine. I wish my cats were useful in that area, but they only eat cat much and chicken.
I am so trying this DIY perfume. I love it.
Try it!! It’s so quick and easy, plus you can create your own signature scents… oooo la la!
Cats are fussy huh? Dogs will eat poo if they are hungry!
aw how fun for Misty! I used to love drawing with chalk:) And way to go, using up your pantry. THat is a difficult task! and i love the wonderful scents of essential oils. very relaxing. thanks for sharing! happy weekend!
Misty is obsessed with chalk, he snuck into our car with a piece of chalk and drew all over the entire interior! Hehehe, good thing it rubs off easily
i’m such a food hoarder … and food hoarding – cooking. i have a freezer full of cooked meat/ protein muffins / etc. for the just in case emergencies … that don’t happen all that often!
and misty is too cute – an artist in the making!
Oh yeah… if my freezer wasn’t the size of a shoe box I’d have it fill to busting point of “ready-meals” that we would never get round to eating. Ha. Is it a woman-thing this food hoarding/cooking/MUST be prepared thing? Strange!
Boone is too cute
i have the opposite problem when it comes to ‘stocking up’ – i often buy what i need on the day of. i should take notes from you! the only issue is my super small new york kitchen. i literally have 10 inches of counter space, a teensy freezer and very little cupboard space.
would you be willing to share your standard shopping list?
Oh yes, I can imagine (and sympathise) how frustrating is is not having much space in the kitchen. I don’t actually have a cupboard/pantry… I have my jar shelf!
Works for me though…. I have a super small freezer too – it sucks!
Yeah, for sure I will do a post up this week on my standard grocery-list