Clarity and Freshness of Spirit

https://www.facebook.com/CivilizationAndCulture

Vettica - Campania, Italy

 

So tonite I thot that it may be a nice time to discuss a few items that I have been wont to use when things are feeling dull and congested,whether physically or emotionally/mentally.

'Early Morning Wake Up'

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Petitgrain Essential oil with a pinch of Camphor 4 parts

Lemongrass Essential oil 1/2 -1 part

Nutmeg Essential oil 1 part

Rosemary Essential oil 4 parts

Lime Essential oil 8 parts

Lavender Essential oil 3-4 parts

Fennel Seed oil 3 parts 

Menthol Crystal 2-3 parts

(in any product development its good to note that menthol may not exceed 17%

by regulation.)

Ambrette seed wax isolate crystals 3-5 parts

 

As with many types of Aroma- Therapy applications, this essence can be

creatively used many ways. I've used it in candles and massage oils,

but my favorite way of using it myself is by adding it to an organic

liquid castile soap. Its very effective at bringing you sharply

and evenly awake if used on front of the body so the soap

and shower stream release the aromatheraputic vapor with

the warmth of the shower water- rinsing down and the vapor

coming up to be breathed- true aromatherapy, if you will.

And this is an excellent blend for room or bathroom

spray to freshen the air and deter germs, and nice as well

in cleaning solutions for bath, tub or tile. The menthol

adds a bit of chill and coolness to foster alertness when

a long work day  or other warm and strenuous activity has

worn you out leaving you feeling groggy or off

and irritable.

 

In my personal habits, I practice kundalini yoga as a primary

way to recharge and relax, and part of that includes

using some mantra. the sounds of mantras are

very organized and patterned- so when practiced at times

of mental or energetic stress, give the mind a framework

to rest on while you enjoy that shower or bath or sit or walk

thru the park. And never underestimate the value of

deep and even breathing in 'freak out' times..

We may not be able to change a situation out of our

control, but we CAN change our reaction to it!

Most of all, be good to yourself, and find a point in

any day, that one is just done. then spend the rest of

the evening recharging or replenishing yourself,

making you much more capable the next morning

when you enter that world again.

A spot of good tea I think is always a good thing!

Be Well with your day tomorrow,

'Flint'.

*******

 

I was introduced to a lovely FB  Art Page-

check it out and give it a like if it

strikes your fancy.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phenergi-digital-arts/122160837930868

 

 

 

 Beauty Beats Antique

 

The understated but adored blossoms of Bitter Orange have occupied a place in the scented palettes of our society for about 300 years, give or take a few. Crisp and refreshing, invigorating of mind and spirit. Even the founder of our country had a much liked personal favorite with Neroli on its base note. Around the end of the 17th century- Anne Marie Orsini, the Ducchess of Bracciano, and the Princess of NEROLA, Italy, introduced the odour of the Bitter Orange tree, as a fasionable aroma by using it to perfume her gloves and bath. Since that day, the term 'Neroli' has been used to describe this essential oil or fragrance. Crisp and refreshing, layered with a sweet, flowery song lined with subtle spice edge. It lends itself to nearly any scent combination. We are very pleased to present a note that is pretty, yet smells strongly of its plain single flower, and has a better staying power than most citral blends. Flowers with a touch of leaf, herb, and hidden resin chord. Both men and women find this scent timeless and stately with a reserved grace.

$35.00 (+postage) 30ml.



     Aromatherapy For Stress:
In todays modern and fast passed world, we increasingly put off taking the time too walk and breath slowly, allowing our authentic presence to emerge from our worldly selves, shake off the bustle of the day, and do small and conscious acts of meaning to give ourselves our sense of purpose and goodness.  There are so many wonderful ways the natural world provides us with, to bring us back into our skin- centered and anchored, listening to ourselves ways of expressing joy or frustration. Perhaps a slow and caring meal, a peaceful yoga session, a relaxing warm or cool bath or shower to revitalize spirits, with a nice Aromatheraputic blend of essential oils that we can breath deeply of, or add to the bath water, or diluted into a lovely and deeply nutritious body oil, or gently pumped into the ambient air with with one of our air powered diffusors.  So outside of oils with irritating or photosensitive qualities, there are no one hard set of rules about which essences are just for one thing or another. Its a process of slowly taking delight in the vegetal world and slowly compiling a recipe over time that is both beautiful and pleasing to the senses, and just perfect and right just for you.  Over the years I have experimented with many blends and simples for diverting my stress into a aromatic paean of this very dirt I walk upon. This is a small blend that I have enjoyed tooling around for many years. Take this as merely a guide towards a lovely relaxation of the body/mind/spirit intersections.

5 parts Lavendar essential oil
3-4 parts Frankincense oil
2-3 parts Sweet Orange oil
2-3 parts Clary Sage oil
1-2 parts Nutmeg oil
1 part Cistus oil or resinoid
4-5 parts Cananga oil
Optional: bit of jasmine or honeysuckle attar...

One of my personal favorite ways of using pure essential oils is to add a few drops to the water trickled onto the hot rocks of a relaxing and cleansing Sauna Sweat, with a quick dip in a cold pool or river, or a roll in dry fresh snow of the upper elevation Oregon mountains!

Be Well, and may your day leave you contented and relaxed with your life. :)
-Flint

Check out our men's parfums that uses our own

Artisan distilled Incense Cedar essential oil- Red Hawk-

Qetzal-  Bay Rhum... come hike our trails and mountains

and smell the refreshing and invigorating Incense Cedar

in its natural setting. Incense Cedar Essesntial oil mid-end summer.

What are the best places for easy trail hikes that are not too close to the city?

Thanks for the great question. I am the Ask Oregon expert on outdoor recreation and the Assistant Manager of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Adventure Center, and these are my recommendations for easy hikes in Oregon away from the city. Since Oregon is so rich in variety, I’ve included hike suggestions for northern Oregon, central Oregon to the coast, and southern Oregon as a sort of sampler platter into what the state has to offer. I assume that by easy you mean, easy to find, well-maintained and signed, and good for hikers of all skill levels from kids to seniors.

To the east of Portland you can find endless options for easy hikes. One of my favorites is the Eagle Creek Trail where you will pass half a dozen waterfalls like picturesque Punchbowl Falls (4.2 miles roundtrip). From Punchbowl Falls you can keep on hiking, but it will get steeper as you go, around the six-mile mark you will come across Tunnel Falls, a 120 foot waterfall that has a tunnel built through it. If you feel up for the longer hike and elevation gain, it’s well worth the effort.

Southeast of Eagle Creek, on the other side of Mt Hood, is another great hike (3 miles round trip) that leads to Bagby Hot Springs. The trail follows along the Collawash River through an old-growth forest of douglas firs and cedars. This is a great hike for viewing wildflowers in the spring and rich fall colors in October and November. You can reward yourself with a soak in the rustic hot springs bath house where the tubs are carved out of cedar logs, but be aware, swimsuits are rare.

The first two hikes can be crowded when the weather is nice. If you want to get away from the crowds, go to the Mount Jefferson Wilderness and Canyon Creek Meadows (4.5 miles to the lower meadow). This is one of the best easy hikes to high cascades wildflower meadows. Blue lupine and red paintbrush peak at the end of July. This trail leads you to a scenic viewpoint of Three Fingered Jack (7.5 miles round trip). On the way back to the trailhead you will pass beaver ponds and waterfalls.

Central Oregon offers hikes of a different color – reddish brown. There are tons of great easy hikes away from the city in the central portion of the state. I am always amazed with the beauty around Smith Rock State Park. The trails around the park are relatively easy. Don’t worry though, If you get tired, there are many benches along the way to rest your legs and while you’re resting look up at the rocky cliffs and you’re almost guaranteed to see thrill-seeking rock-climbers defying gravity, Smith Rock is a world renowned climbing destination.

The McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is an all-season favorite of mine. Stretching 26.2 miles from Clear Lake to McKenzie Bridge, you can find a number of easy hikes along the way. Sahalie & Koosah Falls are two spectacular waterfalls about half a mile apart. You can park at either Sahalie Falls or Koosah Falls’ convenient trailheads right off Highway 126 and hike in a loop between the two falls (approximately 2.6 miles). Continue west on highway 126 and take the turn-off for Trailbridge Reservoir. From here, follow the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail 1.5 miles to Tamolitch Falls. Old lava flows have shaped the landscape of the McKenzie River Valley and part of the river flows underground only to re-emerge at Tamolitch Falls. It’s brilliant blue water will amaze you and beg you to linger before hiking back to your car.

If you continue west on Highway 126 you will reach the Oregon coast. A great, easy hike along the way is Sweet Creek Falls, just outside of Mapleton. This 2.2 mile trail passes a dozen small waterfalls and is a favorite among kids who can play in the shallow water when it’s warm and collect fallen leaves in autumn.

To really get away from the city, you have to go to the southeastern corner of the state. A notable easy hike here is Steens Mountain Summit. This is the ninth tallest mountain in Oregon and arguably the easiest to climb. The landscape is unlike any of the previously mentioned hikes.

Oregon’s natural beauty shines on all of these hikes. Get to know the landscape and what shaped it and you will enjoy each of these hikes even more because every trail tells a story.
Let me know if I can answer anymore questions for you. Enjoy your hiking!

Answered by Cari Soong, Ask Oregon Outdoor Adventure Expert on December 10th, 2012 -

 

Welcome to The Old Civet Cat Parfum Blog,

Le Murmure Parfumé

(The Fragrant Whisper)

Le Murmure Parfumé is happy to be up and chugging along as a fragrant train ride to the other side should be in this odoriferous reality.... We hope to bring some beauty and art and timeless music with some tattering's of our scented explorations, and talk about our selections and new releases as they float to the top of our discussion. 

This last month we have come upon a new inspiration, specifically designed with the young man in mind, for a cologne that is fresh yet tinged with spices and a trace of floral musk's, and spirited freshness.

"Red Hawk"

if you have interesting or germane questions that may be good content for blog discussion, please send them to me at : Flint@theoldcivetcat.com/