March is National Sleep Awareness Month. It's the perfect opportunity to improve our sleep hygiene.
Sleep is a main pillar of health and a fundamental aspect of our well-being. Yet so many of us struggle to get the rest we need. It has become increasingly difficult to unwind and relax in our world which leads to restless nights, groggy mornings, mood issues and coping methods that further impair our restorative sleep cycle.
Fortunately, there are things that you can do right now that can help you improve your sleep hygiene and get the rest and rejuvenation you need for better physical, mental and emotional health.
In honor of National Sleep Awareness Month, here are our top six tips for better sleep:
The human body thrives on routine, and this includes sleep. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps regulate your body's internal clock and improve the quality of your sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night and try to maintain this schedule even on weekends and days off.
Having a relaxing bedtime routine and schedule will signal to your body and mind that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep. Read a book, journal or practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing. These all help calm your mind and prepare your system for sleep.
Make sleep a priority.
Your sleep environment can have a significant impact on your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep! Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet to promote deep relaxation. Avoid using electronics in bed as the blue light emitted by screens disrupts your natural sleep-wake cycle. When you're in a calm and relaxing environment, your body can more easily transition into sleep mode. By creating an environment conducive to sleep, you can signal to your body and mind that it's time to wind down and get ready for rest.
Regular exercise can improve the quality of your sleep by reducing anxiety and promoting feelings of relaxation. Exercise reduces the stress hormone cortisol which contributes to feelings of anxiety that make it harder to fall asleep.
Exercise also helps regulate the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, known as the circadian rhythm. Exercising at the same time each day helps set a consistent schedule for your body, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up at the same time each day.
Deep sleep is the most restorative stage of sleep, helping to repair and regenerate the body. Regular exercise has been shown to increase the amount of time spent in deep sleep, which can lead to feeling more refreshed and energized upon waking.
Be sure to finish exercise a few hours before bedtime to give your body time to cool down internally.
Caffeine and alcohol can disrupt your sleep by interfering with your body's natural sleep-wake cycle and the depth of your sleep. Try to limit your intake of these substances, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime. Caffeine use can exacerbate sleep deprivation and reduce total sleep time resulting in daytime sleepiness. Alcohol disrupts the body's sleep process. Studies have shown that low alcohol intake reduced sleep quality by 9.3%. Moderate alcohol intake (2 drinks per day for men and one for women) reduced sleep quality by 24%. Heavy alcohol intake reduced sleep quality by nearly 40%.
Light plays a significant role in regulating our circadian rhythm, the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to bright lights and to blue light suppresses the production of the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep. To promote healthy sleep, expose yourself to bright light during the day. Even better if you can get outside into the natural light soon after you wake up for at least 20 minutes.
Limit your exposure to bright lights and screens, such as those on phones and computers, in the evening hours leading up to bedtime. Even better if you can get outside into the fading dusk light for at least 20 minutes - but dont come back into bright and blue lights! You want soft, dim light in the evening that promotes a calm and relaxing environment before bed
.
By paying attention to light exposure, you can help support your body's natural sleep-wake cycle and improve your sleep quality.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to promote relaxation. It can improve sleep depth and quality. Lavender, roman chamomile, and bergamot are all popular essential oils for promoting sleep.
When you inhale these scents, they stimulate the olfactory nerve, which sends signals to the brain and triggers a relaxation response. This, in turn, can help reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, and induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness.
You can use them in an essential oil diffuser in your bedroom, add them to a warm bath or even apply them topically such as with this Sweet Dreams Room, Linen & Body Spray.
Just be sure to use high-quality, pure essential oils like these and follow proper safety guidelines. Overall, aromatherapy can be a natural and pleasant way to improve your sleep quality and promote overall well-being
Getting enough high-quality sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being. By implementing the six tips outlined in this article you can improve your sleep hygiene and enjoy better quality sleep. It’s important to remember that everyone’s sleep needs and preferences are different, so it may take some experimentation to find the tips that work best for you. Additionally, if you constantly struggle with sleep issues we encourage you to consult your healthcare team to rule out sleep apnea or any underlying medical conditions.
With some effort and focus on improving your sleep habits, you can learn to retrain your brain and prioritize getting the deep, restful sleep you need to feel your best.
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This is because several of your body’s systems take sleeping as an opportunity for development and repair. Quality
sleep, for example, benefits your immune system because it enhances your T cells’ capability to defend your body by eliminating infected cells. That's why Statistics Canada underscores sleep as being vital for everything from your mental and physical performance to your mood. This makes forming healthy sleep habits a necessity.
A consistent sleep schedule makes it easier for your body to stay asleep in the hours your body has learned to rest. If you have irregular sleep cycles, limiting daytime naps to 20-30 minutes can help make sure that you’re tired and sleepy when it’s already time for bed. Taking naps longer than 30 minutes causes your body to need less sleep
Weight loss improves your body’s blood sugar regulation. In turn, this lowers the chances of you developing sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement. Overall, it can help you sleep fuller.
Losing weight, though, doesn’t have to be anything complicated. In fact, weight loss plans are most effective when you don’t restrict what you eat. This way, you can still eat your favorite foods in controlled amounts.
Just make sure to include more nutritious options in your diet, like fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, lean meat, complex carbs, and unsaturated fats.
Drinking coffee late in the day or having a huge meal before bed can both lower the quality of your sleep. Caffeine is a stimulant that’s meant to keep you up and boost your concentration and energy levels. It stays in your system for 10 hours at most, so if you drink it in the late afternoon or early evening, you will be too energized or alert to fall asleep.
As such, try not to drink coffee after lunch. On the other hand, there is a huge chance for those who eat large meals before bed to have difficulty staying asleep. Like with coffee, you might want to schedule your meals and follow that
schedule to a T.
Your gadgets emit blue light that inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. This could ultimately throw off your body clock for several days. Additionally, using your gadgets and consuming social media content can stimulate your brain into wakefulness and alertness. The best practice here is to log off 1 to 2 hours before you sleep so that you give your body and mind the time to wind down. Instead, you can try reading a book or journaling to help you wind down after a long day.
Making your bedroom more conducive to rest can help improve the quality of your sleep. One way you can do this is by using a lavender pillow spray. Lavender is
generally regarded as an anxiolytic, a sedative, or as an aromatherapy option.
This is because the flower’s scent interacts with a neurotransmitter called GABA, which slows down your brain activity. It also relaxes your heartbeat and muscles, making it easier for you to fall asleep.
Sleep is crucial for the body to optimize its functions. While unhealthy sleep habits may seem difficult to get out of, the best healthy habits out there are simple to do and are key to getting better sleep quality.
Most deodorants contain harmful chemicals that are absorbed through your skin and into your system. Studies from The National Cancer Center link the use of commercial deodorants to breast cancer and hormonal imbalances.
Your underarms have hormonal receptors that can react to deodorant ingredients. Studies have also shown how the chemicals and toxins from deodorant are stored in fat cells including in the armpits.
In this article, we explore the dangers of commercial deodorants including some of the effects they have on your health and we help you find an everyday natural deodorant that keeps you feeling fresh and protected without toxins or chemicals.
Have you considered switching to a natural deodorant? Here are a few reasons why you should think about switching to natural deodorant as soon as possible:
Most commercial deodorants contain harsh chemical ingredients such as parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, aluminum etc. They can irritate and even damage your skin causing inflammation, rashes, allergies and contact dermatitis. Regular use of these chemicals can darken and thicken the underarm skin over time.
There are so many reasons why you should switch to natural deodorant. Another reason for you to consider is that the chemicals and toxins absorb through your skin into your system. Your body stores them in fat cells, which are prevalent under your arms. These harsh and toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
The most common harmful chemicals in deodorant are usually aluminum, triclosan, parabens, and phthalates, though there are more. These chemicals can be toxic to your body and have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
Aluminum works by temporarily stopping up and blocking your sweat glands to prevent sweating. Aluminum can cause genomic instability on the cellular level, increasing the chance of cell mutation. It has been linked to breast cancer, kidney problems and more.
Aluminum works by temporarily stopping up and blocking your sweat glands to prevent sweating. Aluminum can cause genomic instability on the cellular level, increasing the chance of cell mutation. It has been linked to breast cancer, kidney problems and more.
Parabens are a group of chemicals used as a preservative in deodorant to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeasts. They are added to many personal care products to increase their shelf-life and stability. These harmful chemicals are absorbed through the skin or by inhalation or ingestion. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer and other health problems. They act as hormone impersonators, mimicking estrogen.
Phthalates are used to make deodorants and other cosmetics soft and flexible and to extend the life of synthetic fragrances. They are common ingredients, used in most deodorants and antiperspirants. These harmful chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system. Exposure to phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) has been linked to early onset puberty. It has also been linked to cancer, hormone disruption and even birth defects.
Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical used in personal care products. In deodorant, it is used to kill germs on the skin that cause odor. This chemical can interfere with your hormonal signaling, mimicking other hormones and acts as an endocrine disruptor.
There are many studies available to research that support triclosan’s endocrine disrupting abilities as well as an increased risk of breast cancer from its use. The FDA banned its use in hand soap due to concerns with its effect on the health of both humans and aquatic life. It has not yet been banned in deodorant or other products.
The main reason for switching to natural deodorant is to stop using the harmful chemicals and toxins that are found in commercial deodorants that build up in your cells and harm your endocrine system. Natural deodorant works with your body to control odor-causing bacteria with the use of plants.
A good natural deodorant that is made with safe, non-toxic ingredients helps give your cells and glands an opportunity to clear out the stored chemicals in your armpit area and fat cells. Plus, they can actually work just as well (if not better!) than conventional deodorants, requiring you to use much less deodorant. So why not make the switch today? Your body will definitely thank you for it!
Natural deodorants made with essential oils also have aromatherapy benefits, benefiting and supporting your overall well-being. Different essential oils have different properties that can act as natural mood enhancers. You can learn more about that in this article.
When shopping for a natural deodorant, these are some things you should look for:
Does it contain aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium? These are the two most common ingredients in toxic deodorants and are linked to cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Find out by reading the label if the product has aluminum.
Does it contain parabens, phthalates or triclosan ? Again, check the label as you want to avoid these ingredients.
Does it contain any other harmful chemicals? Can you understand what all of the ingredients are? When reading labels, research the ingredients you do not know.
We highly recommend Natural Zen’s Candelilla and Coconut Deodorant as the best natural deodorant that works. We love it and think you will to for these five reasons:
Candelilla Wax: This natural wax is derived directly from a shrub and it is one of the few natural sources of wax found in Nature. It is a natural sunscreen and it has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Sunflower Oil: Sunflower oil is high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, both of which are beneficial for the skin. It is also non-comedogenic, meaning it will not clog your pores.
Organic Coconut Oil: Organic coconut oil has natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. It is also an excellent moisturizer and can help to heal dry, cracked skin.
Essential Oils: Essential oils have naturally fragrant antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to help prevent odor causing bacteria. They are also good for skin repair and improving and uplifting your mood.
We've been in your shoes, searching for a chemical free natural deodorant that actually works without any harsh skin irritants. But what we found was that most "natural" deodorants don't work at all - or they eventually burn your skin due to ingredients such as baking soda.
So, we developed our own natural deodorant without baking soda, talcs or powders. We used ingredients that protect you from odor and bacteria naturally while repairing and softening your skin.
If you're looking for a natural deodorant that works without any of the harmful chemicals, then Candelilla and Coconut Deodorant from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio is the best choice for you. Not only does it protect you from odor and bacteria, it glides along your skin like a dream and it smells amazing all day with natural mood boosting essential oils.
In this article, we've shown you how toxic chemical based deodorants can harm your body – from increased cell mutation and direct links to cancer, to disrupting your endocrine system and hormone balance. We also discussed the harmful accumulative effects of using these products over time. These include skin thickening and irritations, skin darkening and toxin build up in your cells.
We have also shown you how to choose a natural deodorant and introduced you to one that works exceptionally well and has only 4 natural ingredients derived directly from plants.
If any of this information has persuaded you to switch to natural deodorant, we've got good news! Our personal favorite - and in our humble opinion - the BEST natural deodorant is this Candelilla and Coconut Deodorant from Natural Zen.
This deodorant is hand-poured, and the ingredients are vegan and sustainably sourced. Plus, it smells naturally amazing with mood boosting plant essences for a scentsational way to start your day!
You won't find another deodorant like this on the market today. It's an amazing natural product that uses the power of Nature to nurture your well-being and keep you feeling fresh and odor free.
Less toxins, less stress and more Zen.
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Either way, you've come to the right place! In this blog post, we'll be discussing how to use an essential oil diffuser and how it can benefit you. We've got you covered on a variety of questions, from how much oil to use in your diffuser to how long to diffuse for. So sit back, relax, and let's get started!
Essential oils are distributed into the air by an essential oil diffuser, which gives you various health advantages. Also called an aroma diffuser, they disperse essential oil molecules into the air with their vapor allowing you to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of plant essences.
The essential oils used in an aroma diffuser can help to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, tension, and other negative feelings naturally and quickly. They can also help to promote relaxation and well-being, relieve headache and respiratory symptoms, aid digestion and so much more. In addition, essential oils also have natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties that can help to keep the air clean and healthy and support our well-being.
Essential oils have a positive impact on your mood and brain chemistry. Some essential oils, such as lavender oil, are well studied, and known to be calming, helping to relieve stress, insomnia and tension. Other essential oils, such as citrus oils, are known to be uplifting and great for alleviating symptoms of depression and boosting your mood naturally.
One of the main benefits of using an essential oil diffuser is that the essential oils can help you to relax. In fact, many people use specific essential oils to help them relax their muscles or to calm the mind and fall asleep at night. Many essential oils create a calming atmosphere that helps you relax, lowers your blood pressure, relieves stress and triggers the mind that it's time to be quiet or drift off to sleep.
If you are suffering from allergies, sinus issues or cold or flu symptoms using an essential oil diffuser helps loosen up congestion, reduce inflammation and thin out mucous. Specific oils can open your respiratory airways and make it easier to breathe. They make an amazing natural respiratory wellness tool.
By dispersing essential oils into the air, you can transform your indoor space into an aromatherapy oasis. Most homes are full of toxic chemicals from chemical cleaning products, synthetic scents, pet dander, building materials and more.
This leads to stagnant air that is unpleasant to breathe. Natural non-toxic home fragrance alternatives are important to lessen the toxic burden on your body. Diffusing essential oils freshens the air and offers natural scent with a variety of beneficial effects on the body, mind and emotions.
By diffusing essential oils that help with focus, such as peppermint oil or rosemary essential oil, you can boost your focus and improve your concentration, thought clarity and productivity. Every little bit of focus counts these days! Peppermint oil, as an example, has been found to improve cognitive function and memory. It also helps increase alertness and energy and there are many other oils that boost focus and concentration as well.
Essential oils can create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, helping us manage stress and improve our daily well-being by allowing us to easily enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy. Lavender and Bergamot oil are known to be relaxants and can help reduce stress, release tension and calm anxiety. Rose oil is known to help restore equilibrium and balance, particularly emotional balance.
Last but not least, an essential oil diffuser makes your home smell amazing, naturally. Instead of using synthetic and chemical scented air fresheners and sprays, essential oil diffusers provide the benefit of Nature’s plant essences scenting and freshening our homes with health promoting benefits. The power of Nature to nurture our well-being is a beautiful thing!
The most efficient approach to using essential oils is by diffusing them. Follow along with this step-by-step process of diffusing your essential oils for aromatherapy benefits.
An essential oil diffuser is a device that is used to disperse essential oils into the air. This can be done for both aromatherapy and aromachology purposes, but they both work in a similar way.
We recommend the Cozy Hearth Essential Oil Diffuser as we find it to be the best essential oil diffuser we have tried, and we have tried many! This aroma diffuser is the perfect way to diffuse essential oils while creating a cozy ambiance in your home with a magical flame like effect. You will end up staring at it just like a campfire. It is relaxing and mesmerizing and it doubles as a humidifier.
You can visit our high quality selection of essential oils and learn about their individual uses and benefits here.
Essential oils are usually diffused with water to vaporize and spread the aroma. It is the water that will carry and disperse the essential oil molecules throughout the room.
Fill the essential oil diffuser with water up to the fill line. Add the recommended amount of drops of essential oil to the water well. Turn on the diffuser by pressing the power button. Choose your desired diffusion setting and light mode.
Now relax and enjoy the ambiance and the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy.
What Are the Best Smelling Essential Oils to Use?
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone's sense of smell - and their ability to smell - is unique and different. However, some essential oils are considered more popular than others due to their pleasant aroma. Some of the most popular essential oils for aromatherapy include lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint, and citrus oils.
How Many Drops of Oil Should I Put in My Essential Oil Diffuser?
3 to 5 drops of essential oil per 100 ml water is recommended when using a diffuser, but always check the manufacturer's guide for your personal aromatherapy diffuser.
How Long Should I Diffuse Essential Oils For?
A standard rule of thumb for determining how long to diffuse essential oils is to diffuse for 20 to 30 minutes, which is enough time to saturate a standard-size room with the therapeutic scent molecules.
What Are the Most Common Essential Oils for Starting Out?
The three most common essential oils to start out with include the following suggestions to cover a large variety of aromatherapy uses:
What Are the Best Essential Oils to Diffuse
1. Lavender
2. Orange
3. Grapefruit
4. Peppermint
5. Frankincense
6. Eucalyptus
7. Lemongrass
8. Roman Chamomile
If you need an easy and affordable way to relax and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while boosting your well-being, an essential oil diffuser is a great option. Not sure which one to buy? Check out our top pick, the Cozy Hearth Essential Oil Room Flame Diffuser.
This diffuser not only looks beautiful, but it also offers ambient features like a flame setting for a truly relaxing experience. It comes in both black and white to fit in with any space and it is so easy to use. Ready to start enjoying the benefits of aromatherapy? Order your Cozy Hearth essential oil diffuser and natural essential oils today!
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Would you like to improve your well-being, enhance your sleep, boost your mood and relieve stress? Our chic Cozy Hearth Essential Oil Room Diffuser will brighten up your space with the pleasant smell and benefits of your favorite essential oils.
Our Cozy Hearth Diffuser comes with a long-life LED light that creates a soothing glow of amber light on the vapor to make it look like moving flames for incredible ambiance. It provides a relaxing atmosphere and it is perfect for creating personal spaces that everyone will enjoy being in!
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Would you like to improve your well-being, enhance your sleep, boost your mood and relieve stress? Our chic Cozy Hearth Essential Oil Room Diffuser will brighten up your space with the pleasant smell and benefits of your favorite essential oils.
Our Cozy Hearth Diffuser comes with a long-life LED light that creates a soothing glow of amber light on the vapor to make it look like moving flames for incredible ambiance. It provides a relaxing atmosphere and it is perfect for creating personal spaces that everyone will enjoy being in!
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The uses and benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil are extensive with a long history and variety of uses. Most people are familiar with chamomile tea, but are unaware that the benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil are even more effective.
Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs with the earliest recorded uses dating back to 1550 BC in Egypt and to the 1st century AD in Europe. The Egyptians considered it to be a sacred plant that was a gift from the God of the Sun.
In this article, we are going to cover the uses and benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil so that you can add this remarkable essential oil to your wellness toolkit and natural medicine cabinet.
Roman Chamomile essential oil is the concentrated extract or plant essence of the Anthenis nobilis L plant, whose common name is Roman Chamomile.
The name is derived from the Greek, meaning ground apple and the Latin nobilis refers to flowers that are noble in nature. To the Saxons, chamomile was considered one of the nine sacred herbs.
Roman Chamomile grows extensively in central and eastern Europe as well as in England and it belongs to the daisy family. The plant grows up to 30 cm high with lacy leaves and small white daisy-like flowers. Roman chamomile essential oil is steam distilled from the flowers.
Roman Chamomile essential oil is a medium to strong middle note with a fragrance that is much like apples and sweet straw mixed together. It can be described as a delicate, sweet herbal aroma that is warm and gentle.
Though best known for its sedative and calming effects, the benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil are numerous, ranging from soothing digestive issues to wound healing.
As you can see, Roman Chamomile essential oil has a large variety of uses and benefits. With its extensive recorded history of use and many medical studies and trials, this is an essential oil to include in your natural home medicine cabinet.
Here is a benefit reference by application method to quickly refer to as you gain confidence in using this amazing essential oil in your wellness toolbox.
If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. Keep out of the reach of children.
In order to enjoy the medicinal benefits of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil, it is important that you purchase 100% essential oil that is undiluted and of high quality from a home fragrance shop that you can trust.
Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio is an ethical entrepreneur located in Calgary, Alberta that carries high quality 100% pure essential oils. You can buy Roman Chamomile essential oil in the online shop by visiting www.naturalzen.ca
The uses and benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil are extensive and varied, making it an“essential” oil to have on hand. It can be so helpful in soothing and calming the mind, the skin and the systems of the body. Roman chamomile is gentle enough to be applied neat and to be used to safely help children. The power of Nature to promote our well-being is amazing.
Here is a final review of the uses and benefits of Roman Chamomile essential oil.
Share with us in the comments below if you use Roman Chamomile essential oil and what your favourite method of use is. Or pop on over to our social media and let us know, we love hearing from you!
Wishing you wellness and Zen!
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If our homes smell good, the atmosphere and energy can create coziness and nurture our emotional and mental state. It welcomes our guests and loved ones and makes them feel good.
If our homes smell bad however, it makes us and others feel uncomfortable and uneasy in the space. We've all experienced that!
Odors develop naturally in our homes, from cooking smells to dog and pet odors - and everything in between. You don't always know what your home smells like, but you always want it to be inviting and uplifting.
Products scented with synthetic fragrance have harmful chemicals so they are not the best solution, as chemical fragrance is harmful to your respiratory health.
There are easy ways to scent your home using natural, eco-friendly home fragrance solutions. Create an inviting and cozy home vibe with our tips on how to make your home smell and feel amazing naturally, without the toxins:
Most candles contain petrol products, chemicals and synthetic fragrance. Candelilla & Coconut Candles from Natural Zen are a great natural candle alternative. Free from chemicals, additives, dyes and synthetics, these clean burning candles use the pure scents of Nature to add warm light, comforting scent and magical ambiance to your home.
Ditch the toxic commercial sprays and switch to natural plant based Room and Linen Sprays to remove odors and freshen up your home, linens, fabrics and car. These Room & Linen Sprays from Natural Zen have no additives, chemicals or toxins.
Just shake, spray into the air or on fabrics, carpets etc. and enjoy instant Zen without the toxins. Now you can enjoy uplifting scents wherever you like with just a spray. Remove unwanted odors, freshen your air and fabrics and enjoy the welcoming vibe in your home.
Wax melts are cubes of scented wax that go in a wax warmer to scent your home without a candle flame or candle care to worry about. They are a unique, fun and enjoyable way to scent your home.
Use wax melts made without chemicals, dyes, additives or synthetics like Candelilla & Coconut wax melts that can be composted when they run out of scent. Your indoor air quality is important!
Essential oils and natural plant fragrance oils are an amazing way and cost effective way to add scent to your home, office and vehicle on a regular basis. An essential oil diffuser is the perfect way to use essential oils to add natural home fragrance to your space.
A diffuser covers a large area and adds beneficial moisture and plant compounds to the air to enhance your mood and well-being.You can place a couple drops of essential oils on your furnace filter to scent your entire home naturally.
Zen Stones from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio are a unique way to add scent to anyplace you need it. They act as passive diffusers and can be added to closets, drawers, bags, lockers, pockets, shoes and in small spaces to add your favorite scent and eliminate odors.
Simply add essential or fragrance oil drops to the Zen Stones as light or as strong as you would like it. When the scent wears off in a few days, place more drops on the stones of any scent you would like.
These are just a few ways to add natural fragrance to make your home smell and feel good naturally. Home fragrance can be uplifting, relaxing, rejuvenating, energizing and welcoming - feelings we all need in our homes right now.
With natural home fragrance options, we can avoid chemicals and delight in the benefits of Nature's scents in our homes.
There is after all, no place like home!
As essential oils have become more widely available and continue to grow in popularity, you may be wondering what is aromatherapy? As this natural health practice becomes more commonplace, it is worth the time to learn about aromatherapy and its purpose.
“Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which seeks to induce relaxation, to increase energy, to reduce the effects of stress and to restore lost balance to mind, body and soul.”
~ Robert Tisserand
Aromatherapy is a holistic, natural healing practice or treatment that uses aromatic essential oils for therapeutic benefit. These essential oils, or natural plant extracts, are the highly concentrated compounds or essences of plants. You can learn more about essential oils here.
It can enhance cognition, focus, sleep, respiratory function and energy levels. Aromatherapy can alleviate a large variety of symptoms, repair skin conditions and elevate emotional well-being and spiritual balance.
Aromatherapy has been used throughout history, for many centuries in various forms. Aromatic plants were used for their benefits by humankind dating back on record many thousands of years.
Many ancient texts describe various procedures and rituals involved in the making of healing ointments, medicated oils, poultices and healing perfumes and many aromatic and medicinal plants have been found in ancient burial grounds.
One of the oldest books on the use of plants for aromatherapy and medical therapy is dated to 2000 B.C.
When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of our brains. Essential oils can also be absorbed through our skin.
Our olfactory system includes all cells and organs relating to and contributing to our sense of smell. When we inhale essential oils through our nose, the airborne molecules interact with our olfactory organs and immediately affect the brain.
These inhaled molecules are also carried to our lungs where they interact with our respiratory system. The inhalation of essential oils affects our bodies through several pathways and systems.
One of the systems affected by inhaling essential oils is our limbic system. During inhalation, odor molecules travel through our noses and affect our brains through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is this limbic system, also known as our emotional brain.
Our limbic system is directly connected to parts of our brain that control our blood pressure, heart rate,memory, breathing, hormone balance and stress levels. This is the reason that smell often triggers emotional reactions.
These inhaled molecules are also carried to our lungs where they interact with our respiratory system. The inhalation of essential oils affects our bodies through several pathways and systems.
One of the systems affected by inhaling essential oils is our limbic system. During inhalation, odor molecules travel through our noses and affect our brains through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is this limbic system, also known as our emotional brain.
Our limbic system is directly connected to parts of our brain that control our blood pressure, heart rate,memory, breathing, hormone balance and stress levels. This is the reason that smell often triggers emotional reactions.
The benefits of aromatherapy are extensive and encompass an entire field of study, so we will just briefly depict the overall benefits of this holistic practice.
Each essential oil has a different benefit and effect. As an example, Lavender Essential Oil is used to promote relaxation and sleep as well as an extensive list of other uses. Essential oils can also be blended and mixed for specific benefits.
There are a lot of essential oils, and a lot of information that can make it seem overwhelming to get started using essential oils. Fortunately, there are some very easy, simple and doable ways that we have identified that will help you to get started quickly.
We have found that it is best to begin with the top, most popular essential oils and build up from there. Lavender is the one we most recommend as a starting point. Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Tea Tree and either Orange or Frankincense are the top six oils we believe are best to begin with as they are easy to use and have so many benefits.
To easily learn more about the top essential oils, how to specifically use them and what to use them for, we have put together The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils Ebook to help eliminate the overwhelm.
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic, holistic use of essential oils for medicinal purposes. Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic compounds of plants. Aromatherapy has been used throughout the history of civilization to enhance health.
By inhaling essential oils through the nose or absorbing them through the skin, essential oils travel specific pathways inside our bodies that affect the brain and our emotional center. It can be used to enhance functions and alleviate symptoms and stress.
Each essential oil has specific properties that work on different issues so it is important to know what oil to use for what goal you are trying to achieve. There are many benefits that you can enjoy from aromatherapy.
While it may seem overwhelming to get started due to the vast amount of essential oils, their individual and synergistic properties and volume of information, we have provided a simple and easy to understand Ebook called The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils.
This Ebook will help you get started today, with focus on the top 6 essential oils, what they do and how to use them to enjoy their health promoting benefits.
It is important to purchase essential oils that are high quality and not cut with carrier oils and cheaper ingredients. For therapeutic use, you want to buy the pure, concentrated essential oils.
Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio has high quality essential oils for aromatherapy that are affordable and sustainably sourced. Your discount code can be found inside the Ebook here.
We hope you decide to take the step to get started with aromatherapy. It can enhance and benefit your well-being and health in so many ways. We invite you to stay connected with us and our Natural Zen community on Facebook and Instagram.
Let us know in the comments below if you are going to get started with aromatherapy, and what your first oil will be!
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Essential oils are the highly concentrated essences of plants. Roots, seeds, bark and flowers are distilled, extracted or pressed to release their natural, aromatic compounds.The oils capture the plant’s essence (scent and flavor).
These compounds are what we call essential oils, and they are used to bring you the power of nature to enhance your well-being.
Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove.
Essential oils have been used throughout history for medicinal, therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, as well as for emotional and spiritual support.
Essential oils are a versatile, affordable and convenient way to support your health and well-being. You can use them to heal skin conditions, improve respiratory health, treat colds and flu, strengthen your immune system, treat insomnia, to relieve symptoms of headache, anxiety and stress. and so much more.
Essential oils can also improve cognitive function, relieve pain and uplift your mood. Many essential oils also have antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
Essential oils are used to enhance health, help with symptoms and to promote well being. Often referred to as essential oil therapy, Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of your body, mind and spirit.
The therapeutic benefits of essential oils improve psychological, spiritual and physical well-being, so they work together to enhance every level of your health.
There are many ways to use essential oils. You will find them in many skin care products, bath and body products, candles, cleaning products and even in many of the foods that you eat as flavoring.
You can inhale them, apply them topically and in some cases ingest them, as in the case of food flavoring. Essential oil diffusers are a common and easy way to use essential oils in your daily life.
There are so many kinds of essential oils, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We recommend the following essential oils to get started, they cover the majority of needs and are the most popular oils.
You can start with any, or all of these essential oils. With these on hand, you can mix and blend the oils to address most needs.
We remember feeling confused by the vast amount of oils, uses and information we encountered when we first began learning about essential oils and studying Aromatherapy.
To help you get started in a simplified, easy to understand format, we have written A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils.
It will help you get to know the top essential oils in depth, the different methods of using them and includes many recipes to get you started enjoying the benefits of essential oils immediately.
We have even included a special discount code for the high quality essential oils from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio to help you start out as simply as possible.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and potent essences of plants that contain powerful compounds. Essential oils and aromatherapy are an effective, natural method to elevate your sense of well-being.
Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of your body, mind and spirit. Essential oils work on all of your levels of being, including supporting your emotional and spiritual health.
You will find them to be a cost effective and very enjoyable addition to your health care and natural medicine cabinet.
While there are many essential oils, starting out with the top few oils and using them in combination with A Beginners Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils is a simple, effective and ideal way for you to start right away.
We hope you take the step to get started enjoying the natural benefits of essential oils. Not only do they enhance your health and well-being, they also uplift and elevate your space.Essential oils are an easy way to add Zen to your life.
Are you looking for high quality, but affordable essential oils? Visit Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio to access the right essential oils for you.
Carmel & Brett
]]>Are you looking for a natural, vegan way to hydrate and repair dry, chapped lips? Introducing candelilla and coconut lip balm from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio.
Our vegan lip balm is ultra moisturizing, making your lips feel luxuriously healthy, soft and rejuvenated. Natural Zen lip balms are sustainably crafted with candelilla, organic coconut oil and plant extracts. Our lip balms are chemical and additive free, made with 100% plant based and natural ingredients for ultimate lip care.
Available online here.
The texture of our lip balm is perfect, not too hard and not too soft. It glides on easily, soothing and hydrating your lips. Our lip balm tubes conveniently tuck into your pocket or purse for on the go lip care.
Our lip balms are currently available in the following natural flavors:
Apple Spice - Apple Spice is a delectably juicy and delicious lip balm flavor with the mouth-watering flavor of apples warmed with a pinch of cinnamon.
Cranberry Ice - Cranberry Ice is a mouth-watering, juicy lip balm flavor with the tangy tartness of cranberries blended with a sweet hint of vanilla
Peppermint - Peppermint is a tingly, invigorating lip balm flavor, made with pure peppermint supreme essential oil.
Lip Balm Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, candelilla wax, natural plant flavor extracts
How to Use Our Lip Balm: Apply lip balm from the tube directly on your lips whenever needed. Reapply often in dry, windy and cold conditions.
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Natural Zen candles are non-toxic with a clean and luxurious burn, adding ambiance and mood in all the right ways. You can use this naturally scented candle to add ambient light to a room, to uplift your mood and senses with natural scent, to create a spa like experience and to dissolve stress and tension.
This is your chance to try one for free!
Our candle giveaway contest closes at midnight January 10th, 2021. Winners will be selected at random on January 11th and notified by email. Winner will receive a natural 10 oz. Candelilla and Coconut Candle in the scent of their choice.
Good luck everyone and much Zen!
]]>Unable to tolerate the synthetic and chemical scents of the candles available to us and the toxic emissions of paraffin wax, we set out on a mission to craft a candle using only the purest of natures ingredients.
Together, we spent a long period of time researching, sourcing and testing. We chose every element of our candles carefully. We wanted to ensure a beautifully scented, clean burning and healthy candle that would not contribute to deforestation or genetic engineering.
We hit many roadblocks in our candle development. We wanted our candles to be vegan and cruelty free, so we could not use beeswax. We did not want to contribute to deforestation or threaten animal habitats, so we could not use palm wax. Paraffin wax, a petroleum product, was out of the question with its know carcinogens, toxic emissions and environmental issues.
This left only soy wax, but we were not open to using that either. Though many soy candles will state they are non GMO, if you contact the wax suppliers, there is no proof they are able to offer that the soybeans used to produce soy wax are indeed from all non GMO soybeans, which are very hard to come by. There is not yet solid evidence on the effects genetically modified organisms will have on us. Our generations are the lab rats and only time will tell, but we don’t have a good feeling about it.
There is evidence of the destruction the leading soy producer has had on the planet and the environment, as well as on small farmers and their families. We did not want to contribute to that and increase demand for GMO products.
We had to forge a new path and craft candles from a wax that nobody else was using. We chose candelilla wax, a wildcrafted and sustainable wax handcrafted from the candelilla shrub (Euphorbia Cerifera) whose name means little candles. Candelilla wax was used in the 20th century but eventually paraffin wax, a cheaper, softer and easier to find wax made from petroleum by-products replaced it.
Candelilla wax is a very hard wax with a high melting point and a beautiful creamy color. Brett spent many weeks in the kitchen testing it and came up with the right proprietary blend of candelilla wax and organic coconut oil to create a beautiful, clean burning and eco friendly candle.
We are those people. Those people who cant stand walking down the aisle of the laundry soap at the grocers where the air is laden with synthetic fragrances. Those people who instantly get a headache from a passing cloud of toxic perfume or the inhale of a chemically scented candle. A lot of you are those people too! So neither we, nor you, could have a candle with toxic chemicals to give it scent.
Most candles are scented with toxic and synthetic chemicals containing petroleum by-products. When lit, they emit known carcinogens.
Why does this happen? We can tell you why. They are a fraction of the price and allow you to create thousands of variations of synthetic scents. They are formulated for candles with additional additives for maximum scent load and burning properties. Available everywhere.
We were not going to compromise your candle enjoyment, or our beautiful, eco-friendly, natural candles because of cost or convenience. We scent our luxury candles with a natural formulation of essential oils and true flower essences, extracted in coconut oil for beautiful, delicate and pure aromas that you can confidently scent your home with. A true scent experience that you can deeply enjoy.
We completed our candle components with organic ECO wicks and elegant glass containers that you could reuse in your home or recycle.
We crafted our luxury candles and gave them as gifts. We passionately melted and poured, burned and recorded, tested and tweaked for months. We fell in love with our candles and created a candle studio in our home and an office to build the Natural Zen business in.
We decided to turn this into our livelihood and life's work. It is a joy to work together as a husband and wife team, in a space we created with love and intention to craft a candle we are delighted with for both its beauty and its environmental difference.
We are excited to launch our Natural Zen Candelilla and Coconut Candles so that you can enjoy the ultimate candle experience with the cleanest candles on the planet. We know you will love their beautiful fragrances, warm flickering light and soothing ambience as much as we do.
To many moments of Natural Zen,
PS - Learn more in this video and blog post with Brett, our chandler where he explains the process in depth along with some fascinating information you don;t want to miss!
Why We Chose Candelilla and Coconut Oil
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We are SO excited that you are one of the first to see what we have planned for the holidays this year! All season long, we will be introducing you to new ways of finding Zen so you can spread a little extra love and comfort this holiday season, along with savings, giveaways, discounts and treats.
Our 40 days of Christmas celebration runs from November 17th up to December 26th.
We also have our biggest sale of the year coming in our online store, AND we will send you an early bird special discount code on launch day that you can use for the rest of the year.- even with other discounts.
It all begins November 17th.
Sign up now to get your early bird discount!
Enjoy 40 days of celebrating you for all of your work, play, spirit and tenacity. Our natural home fragrance products will help you create relaxation, ambiance and holiday magic.
In the meantime, we would love to hear what you think below.
Tell us: What is your most nostalgic holiday scent?
Is it the smell of oranges and cloves, the scent of fresh cut pine boughs or the brisk aroma of a winter wind? What's your Zen?
This holiday season, we have added a beautiful collection of holiday scents to create the perfect ambiance in your home. Always natural, with no additives, synthetics, dyes or chemicals, our gorgeous scents are available in Candles, Wax Melts and Natural Fragrance Oils.
If you prefer to light, melt or diffuse, we have you covered.
The nostalgic scents of the Yuletide season invoke powerful emotions in us. Lift your spirits, infuse your home and enchant your senses with our Holiday Scent Collection.
Visit us November 12th to get your holiday candles and scents, and get started decking your halls for the most wonderful time of the year!
PS~ This Holiday Season, We’re Celebrating You with 40 Days of Christmas.
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The immune system protects your body from foreign invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and toxins. It is made up of a complex system of organs, cells, and proteins that all work together in synergy to protect you.
If you are wondering not only how to boost your immune system, but if you even can, studies have shown some interesting data on how much of the effects on our immune systems are hereditary versus lifestyle.
An amazing 80% of the influences on our immune responses are non-hereditary and attributed to environmental and lifestyle factors. This is good news, as those are the factors our actions and decisions can influence.
This means that individual lifestyle factors, as well as the germs we are exposed to throughout our lives, both play an important role in balancing and boosting the immune system.
Healthy lifestyle choices not only effect the immune system, but all the systems of our intricate bodies. These suggestions on how to boost your immune system are just a few of the many steps and choices available when determining healthy lifestyle steps that result in optimal functioning.
Strategies for healthy living are always recommended as your first and most powerful step towards boosting your immune system function. Every part of your body functions better when it is bolstered by health building actions such as these:
Smoking and vaping have a negative, deteriorating effect on your immune and respiratory systems, but also on all internal organs.
Regular exercise contributes to overall good health and therefor, to a healthy immune system
Avoid processed and refined foods and load your diet up with a variety of colourful fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and opt for organic protein sources. Choose heart healthy fat sources and add probiotics to your diet.
Ensuring we have adequate intake of macro and micronutrients is important for immune balance.
According to Harvard Health there are five micronutrients that play a significant role in maintaining your immune function:
Vitamin B6 |
Chicken, cereals, bananas, pork loin, potatoes with skin |
Vitamin C |
Tomatoes, citrus fruit, sweet peppers, broccoli, kiwi fruit |
Vitamin E |
Sunflower seeds and oil, almonds, safflower oil, peanut butter |
Magnesium |
Whole wheat, legumes, nuts, seeds |
Zinc |
Oysters, beef, Alaskan king crab, turkey (dark meat) |
It's no secret that we are all feeling a lot of stress these days. Not all stress is avoidable so it is crucial to develop healthy coping strategies and stress relievers in to your life. These can include:
Sleep plays a crucial role in overall health and has a direct and significant effect on your immune system, along with all of your body systems. Some ways to promote good sleep are:
Essential oils are the pure concentrated essences distilled or pressed from beneficial plants, roots, barks etc. Essential oils have been shown to support healthy immune and respiratory function. They can also support the body's antioxidant defense, reduce inflammation, relieve stress and a variety of other immune boosting benefits.
Simply place essential oils in an oil diffuser, direct inhale from the bottle, add to a steam inhalation treatment or bath, apply topically or use in a room and pillow spray
Eucalyptus is well known for immune function enhancing as well as natural decongestant and expectorant properties. Add 3 to 6 drops to a diffuser or add 2 drops to your bath or shower. Dilute 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil into a ¼ tsp of sweet almond oil and add to your bath.
Frankincense essential oil can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, steeped into a tea or taken as a supplement. It is a strong immune system booster on a cellular level. Frankincense is a natural anti-inflammatory and even aids the body in creating additional white blood cells.
Tea Tree essential oil has a multitude of benefits including natural qualities in fighting harmful pathogens. Tea tree helps eliminate viruses and bacteria and it has immune boosting properties. The best way to unlock it's immune boosting properties is by adding 3-6 drops to a diffuser.
Rosemary essential oil provides fast comfort from congestion and headaches. It is well known to boost resistance to illness and disease and can help decongest the nasal airways. Rosemary essential oil promotes a stronger immune system so diffuse often. Add 5 drops to your diffuser or dilute with carrier oil and apply topically.
Aromatherapy can provide numerous potential health benefits including supporting a strong immune system, Essential oils are easy and enjoyable to implement and a natural stress reliever. They offer a simple, natural way to help ward off bacteria and viruses and to relieve and comfort symptoms quickly.
If you don't have a diffuser, try using steam to inhale essential oils.
Add your essential oils to steaming hot water in a basin. Cover your head with a towel and place your head above the basin. Keeping your eyes closed, breathe through your nose from a comfortable distance, exhaling through your mouth.
In this post you learned how to boost your immune system with six simple strategies that are natural and effective. Lifestyle choices have a significant effect on the immune system and its response. By switching out some your daily choices and adding in the six steps we covered in this post, you can better support your immune system and overall health and experience less illness.
What is something you already do to help boost your immune system? Let us know in the comments below!
Wishing you Zen,
You might be interested in our therapeutic grade essential oils at the best prices!
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🎃 Our Spooktacular Double Candle Giveaway is Here🕯Enter to Win a Natural Candelilla & Coconut Candle for You and Your Favourite Ghoul by 10/31/20 👻
Treat yourself this Halloween to a luxury hand poured Candelilla and Coconut candle. Enjoy some boo-tiful cozy home vibes with our relaxing Zen candles. Winner and their friend will receive an all natural 10 oz jar candle of their choice with 60 hours of clean burntime.
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No purchase necessary. Giveaway closes October 31st at the bewitching hour. Winner will be notified by email on November 2nd. Prizes will be shipped to the addresses provided by the winner.
Good luck and Happy Halloween. 🎃🦇👻
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Are you tired of candles tunneling down the center, putting off toxic smoke or covering your walls with black soot?
The question is, what are the best candle care tips that will prevent these candle burning frustrations from happening.
Here are the best candle care tips from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio to help you get the longest burn time, the cleanest performance and the most enjoyment out of your candles.
Selecting a natural candle made from clean ingredients is a large part of ensuring a clean burning and relaxing candle experience. Candles that are made with chemicals and synthetic ingredients contain toxins and carcinogens and create air pollution.
It is important to select candles that do not contain synthetic ingredients. Many candle makers add chemicals to make the wax stick to the glass, to prevent the appearance of frosting or to stabilize the wick's burn performance.
These aren't listed on labels so get to know the candle studio's practices and values. Ask them questions about their candle making process.
A large proportion of candles on the market do not list all of their ingredients. As an example, a candle might say it is Coconut but really the coconut is mixed with soy or paraffin. Or a candle may say it is soy when in fact it is mixed with paraffin.
It is also very important to select candles that use plant based fragrance and essential oils as synthetic fragrance is toxic and can cause reactions.
It is important to trim your wick to ¼ inch each and every time you burn your candle. This helps to control the amount of wax being drawn through the wick for the ideal combustion rate.
This also creates less soot and carbon particles. Keeping your wick trimmed results in your candle burning longer and at a slower speed. If you do not trim your wick, your candle will burn at a faster rate as the wick itself will burn instead of fuel on the wick. It will also create carbon balls on the wick tip.
Select candles with clean wick ingredients such as these. Some wicks have metal or paper cores that create soot and toxins when they combust. Many wicks are made from fibers that were treated with pesticides during growth.
Many wicks are treated with synthetic chemical agents. It is best to select an organic coreless wick treated with salt or plant wax for the cleanest burn and to avoid toxic emissions and compromising your air quality.
You can trim your wick with scissors or for precise trimming with ease, a wick trimmer. To keep your candle clean, do not allow debris or wick trimmings to fall into the candle. Wipe them out if they do.
Though sharp scissors will do, we recommend that you use a wick trimmer for a perfect trim.
Continuously keep your wick trimmed to ¼ inch. You may have to blow it out, allow it to cool, trim and relight.
That's right, wherever you blow it out the first time, it will remember. One of the most important steps you can take to avoid candle tunneling and to the longest burn time out of your candle is to burn your candle properly the very first time you use it.
Why can't you burn your candle longer than 4 hours at a time? If you burn your candle for more than the specified time (which varies depending on size) it will allow carbon to collect on the wick and the end of your wick will begin to mushroom.
This causes the wick to become unstable and the flame will become too large, causing the incorrect rate of combustion. This can cause smoke and release soot into the air and onto your candle jar.
When your candle jar burns down to less than ½ an inch, it is time to stop using your candle and purchase a new one for safety reasons.
Allowing the heat of the direct flame to burn against the glass bottom of the jar can result in the glass cracking which expose the flame.
When your candle has reached ½ an inch, replace it with a new candle. Safety first!
It is important to burn your candle in an area that is free from drafts, fans and wind. Any bursts of air that cause your candle flame to dance around are also causing your candle wick to draw fuel at an inconsistent rate.
Drafts and breeze can cause your candle wick to create smoke and even soot. They can also push your wick to burn to the side, creating an uneven performance and tunneling to one side.
For maximum candle performance, ensure your candle is sitting on an even surface while it burns. If a candle is resting on an uneven surface while in use, it can cause the candle to born to one side, creating tunneling. This prevents you from achieving the longest burn time possible from your candle.
Blowing on a candle wick while the wick is sitting in meted wax can cause the wick to shift. This can cause an uneven burn and less overall burn time from your candle. Blowing out a candle also creates smoke in your room, and that is never pleasant.
It is important to store your candle properly to continue ensuring you get the best performance and longest usage time. You can do so by following these steps:
If you follow the best candle care tips from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio on a regular basis you will enjoy the maximum amount of burn time, scent throw and ambiance out of your candles.
To many moments of candle Zen,
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Did you know candle wicks are made out of a variety of fibers? Most candle wicks are treated with toxic agents and contain a core that adds an extra element of toxicity..
Many candle wicks contain a core to enhance stiffness, often made out of metal or paper (and previously lead) Our candle wicks do not contain a core and are made of only braided ring spun organic cotton.
Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio's non-toxic candle wicks are made from the highest quality organic ring spun cotton, and they have been tested by the Oekotex Standard (the leading authority on textile safety) for chemicals and toxins.
Our candle wicks are free from pollutants and harmful substances so that you and your family can breathe deeply, enjoying, the true scents of Nature and the magical ambiance of the cleanest burning candle.
The organic candle wicks in our Natural Zen Luxury Candelilla and Coconut candles do not contain any of the chemical or toxic agents that most candle wicks are treated with to enhance their burn and color.
Our non-toxic candle wicks rely only on salt and the braiding technique used to provide the perfect candle burn. You will quickly love these clean burning luxury candles!
Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio helps you improve your indoor air quality while enhancing your mood and space with our natural home fragrance delights.
You can relax and enjoy the true scents of Nature knowing your candle is non-toxic and the best choice.
Our wicks are only one of the clean ingredients that make our candles amazing.
Learn more about our unique wax.
So light up a candle from Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio and put up your feet. Enjoy the ambiance and relaxation of the cleanest candles on the market.
To many moments of Zen,
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At Natural Zen, it is our mission to handcraft natural candles, wax melts and home fragrance goods for you and your families that are non-toxic and plant based, free from synthetics, carcinogens, GMO’s, dyes, chemicals and additives. We use ingredients straight from Nature that are natural, sustainable and environmentally friendly such as candelilla, organic coconut oil, essential oils and plant essences.
Most candles and melts on the market today have toxic ingredients that negatively effect your air quality and health or that cause serious destruction to our environment. We created Natural Zen Home Fragrance Studio to offer both you and the environment a healthier way to enjoy the magic of natural candles and home fragrance.
Did you know that the majority of scented candles and wax melts have a toxic impact on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)? From the wax to the wick to the fragrance, dyes and additives, the average scented candle releases a multitude of harmful chemicals into the air — even when they remain unlit.
Paraffin WaxThe majority of candles on the market are made from paraffin wax, a cheap petroleum by-product. Petroleum waste is bleached with chemicals, deodorized and then made into an inexpensive wax product. Unfortunately, when you burn a paraffin candle, it releases toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air including acetone, benzene and toluene, which are carcinogens. These same chemicals are found in diesel fuel emissions and can cause headaches, allergies, asthma attacks and skin problems. Candles made of paraffin wax emit benzene even when they are not lit!
Burning paraffin candles produces a black soot with ultrafine particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours. These particles are similar to diesel exhaust in both their size and composition. They penetrate deeply into the lungs and are absorbed into your blood stream. These ultrafine particles are commonly associated with allergies, asthma and respiratory diseases, as well as strokes, heart attacks, and even cancer.
Synthetic Fragrances, Additives and DyesThe majority of candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature, while unlit. Many of these are petrol based. They also use toxic chemical additives to force the wax to cling to the sides of the jar and to chemically enhance how the wick burns.
Imagine, while you and your family are relaxing and enjoying the scent of your favorite candle or wax melts, you are breathing in formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. These toxic chemicals can contribute to a myriad of health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and allergy symptoms to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and sadly, even cancer.
At Natural Zen, our hand poured candles, melts and Zen Stones are scented with essential oils and plant materials so you can truly enjoy the uplifting natural scents knowing your family’s health is protected. We do not dye our candles or melts and we use no additives to enhance appearance or jar adhesion, or to chemically alter burn properties as most candles do. Instead, we enjoy our hand poured candles in all of their natural glory, knowing that we are crafting the purest candles and melts on the market today.
Environmental Damage of Common Candle WaxesWe are all familiar with the environmental issues associated with petroleum, as well as the plight that honey bees currently face on our planet, so it is obvious why we would not choose to handcraft our candles with paraffin or beeswax.
Surprisingly, a large number of us are not familiar with the environmental issues cause by the other candle wax choices of soy and palm.
Soy WaxWe don’t use soy wax because we do not want to support Monsanto. This corporation has caused a century of environmental destruction and human misery across the globe.
Their GMO Round Up Ready Soy Beans have taken over the vast majority of soy crops. They have sued and persecuted individual farmers across the world, wiping out their livelihood. They have price fixed, mislabeled, schemed and tricked and have effected our health in destructive ways.
Over 100,000 farmers in India have committed suicide due to the destruction Monsanto has caused. If you are not aware of Monsanto (recently acquired by Bayer) please research them. You can learn more here.
The enormous increase in the collection of palm oil has caused massive deforestation issues, wiping out the habitat of many species, including elephants, tigers and the orangutan. Most palm oil is grown and harvested in an unsustainable and very destructive manner, wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem, the climate and communities.
You can read more on this environmental issue here.
This doesn’t mean that you have to stop enjoying candles, melts and home fragrance goods. Natural Zen focuses on crafting a healthier, environmentally responsible line of candles, wax melts and home fragrance goods that will create the ambiance, tranquility and mood enhancement that you desire in your scared space - without damaging you or the world.
Visit us today for your candle and home fragrance needs and support one of many small businesses trying to make a difference in the world.
Have you ever wondered, what are the benefits of burning candles?
With the popularity of burning candles for relaxation, hygge and aromatherapy continuing to rise, we thought we would answer a question we are frequently asked - what are the benefits of burning candles?
Read on so that you could further enjoy this simple method of reducing stress and calming the mind and senses.
We recommend that when you burn candles, you select natural candles that are free from chemicals, toxins, synthetics and dyes so that you are breathing the very best and truly benefiting from the natural scents of Nature.
Across the world, candles are used to mark celebration, create romantic moments, add ambiance to a room, mark ceremonies and rituals and to relax the mind and body.
It is amazing how a candle can transform any space into a feeling of sanctuary with its warm flickering light and soft, mesmerizing glow.
Here are ten reasons to indulge:
The flicker of candles and the magical candlelight they produce creates an enchanting ambiance that really can’t be replicated by any other form of light.
A relaxing ambiance helps to lower your blood pressure, calm symptoms of anxiety and stress, release muscle tension and even helps to regulate your breathing.
Lighting candles in your home can really create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Adding lit candles and scattering them about in different locations throughout your room or home will create a sense of softness, and it will instantly make it feel warm, calm and welcoming.
Candles are well known for their soothing, healing properties and are often used to create a peaceful ambiance in bathrooms, spas, living rooms and bedrooms.
The sheer act of lighting a candle, with the mesmerizing flicker and the gentle glow it creates, helps to soothe and calm the mind.
The next time you have a stressful day or are feeling anxious, try lighting a candle. Watch the flickering flame and just breathe for a few minutes while focusing on it. You will notice a big difference.
Aromatherapy candles are made without synthetic fragrances and use natural plant based fragrances. These natural scents have therapeutic benefits and help you feel relaxed, calm and energized. They can even help you focus, relieve headache symptoms and boost your mental function.
Different scents have different effects on our mind and body. Lavender candles for example, help relieve stress and calm the mind and emotions.
Lemon candles help relieve depression and boost your mental and physical energy. Eucalyptus candles improve mental clarity and enhance respiratory function
Try out different candle scents for specific results that you would like to create, just be sure to stay away from synthetic fragrances which are made with petroleum products.
Throughout history we have used candles to mark celebratory moments. Whether you’re lighting candles on a cake to celebrate your birthday or anniversary, candles are a beautiful way to mark momentous celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries. birthdays, graduations, retirement and so much more.
Candles are also an amazing way to mark a ritual such as daily meditation sessions, a weekly planning session, a yoga practice etc.
I like to light a candle whenever I cook, to add that extra element to the room and a bit of love and focus to the process of preparing food for my family.
Candles are a simple and stylish way to add a finishing touch to any room of your house. Candles are very versatile, they come in a variety of display styles and scents and they look great in every room.
There is an endless variety of candle holders, lanterns and display accessories available as well.
In the bathroom, candles help create the feeling of a spa like retreat and they are a necessity for any bubble bath. In the bedroom they create a sense of romance and intimacy. In the dining room they add a lovely touch of magic to the dining table, lifting the entire dining experience.
In the kitchen candles are fantastic for eliminating odors, adding a focal point and infusing your gathering and cooking space with an enchanting vibe.
Candles on the outdoor patio or deck add a whimsical vibe to the space and are dual purpose if you use a candle like our Buzz Off insect repellent candle.
Candles captivate and mesmerize us with the element of fire and no matter what your decor style is, candles will uplift and elevate your space with a magical touch. Just be sure to use natural candles free of chemicals and toxins such as these.
Naturally scented candles are the perfect way to add a wonderful, subtle fragrance to your home space, and to eliminate any unwelcome odors. We have a wide variety of naturally scented candles available.
From fruity, floral, woodsy, earthy and airy to festive and seasonal, we have a lovely selection of natural candles and home fragrance goods for you to elevate your home sanctuary with the powerful scents of Nature.
It is amazing that the enjoyable act of burning candles is beneficial and elevating to your health. Self-care and taking care of your mind and emotions are part of staying balanced and living a healthy lifestyle.
Using natural candles can provide the perfect atmosphere to calm your mind and body and improve your sense of well-being. If you ever feel overwhelmed by fear, anxiety or depression, burning candles can help. It is a quick and instant way to release tension and worry.
Lighting candles during meditation or prayer is a lovely way to enhance and support your practice. You can use visualization exercises and techniques that involve focusing on the flame of a burning candle to improve your practice, soften your heart and mind and help you be in the right state to retreat inwardly for spiritual benefit.
Candles are used in churches, temples, mosques, ashrams etc all actress the word due to their benefits for spiritual connection, inward focus and spiritual upliftment.
Our sense of smell is so strongly tied with our memory center, so we associate specific scents with a moment of time or a memory. Scent not only triggers memories, it also affects our emotional state.
Candles also help us recall specific memories of people we hold dear and so they are used in remembrance of people we have lost. Communities hold candlelight vigils to show support for causes and churches have tables where you can light a candle for a loved one.
Candlelight at a dinner table, in the bedroom and in the bathtub instantly add an element of romance and intrigue to the air. Keep candles in your washroom and on your nightstand so you can transform the atmosphere into a romantic one whenever you desire. The sense of intimacy candles help to create is definitely an element to take advantage of..
Everyone has different tastes in scent preferences and everyone experiences smells differently. It is enjoyable and freeing to be able to indulge in your own personal tastes and individuality by burning the candle scents you most love. This is a wonderful way to practice self-care and connect with your inner, intuitive self. By transforming your space into one that speakers to you personally, you create a sanctuary that helps restore your whole being on every level.
Candles are so easy to travel with and they provide you with so many benefits. No matter where you stay on your journey, you can invoke a feeling of sanctuary, home and belonging by lighting your favourite candle scent.
You can change the smell and vibe of a hotel or guest room in an instant while providing a relaxation technique to your body and senses, which is always helpful during travel.
Conclusion
Enjoy these 10 simple ways of using candles to enhance your health and well-being. There is a reason candles speak to your soul and make you feel better. Now that you know some of the benefits of burning candles, you can find ways to use them more often to practice self-care and elevate your well-being in the comfort of your own home.
Let us know in the comments below if there are other benefits you receive from burning candles and tell us why you personally enjoy burning them!
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In this article, we cover:
Essential oils are plant compounds with active, healing and therapeutic properties. Pure essential oils contain powerful dynamic components. These potent plant extracts can help alleviate dry and irritated skin by working with your body and your body's chemistry for synergistic, healing results.
Essential oils have a huge range of healing properties, targeting everything from dry skin to anxiety. When applied topically, they are absorbed into the skin via the hair follicle.
All essential oils are reputed to have antibacterial properties. Some are antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. Essential oils also contain antioxidants that help prevent cell damage caused by oxidation.
When it comes to repairing damaged skin, here are the best essential oils for dry skin.
Frankincense - Known for its woodsy and calming aroma, frankincense essential oil brings those same calming properties to dry, irritated skin. It is very gentle and calming and it has the potential to minimize scars and fine lines. Frankincense essential oil supports skin cell regeneration, which in turn reduces flaky skin and inflammation. Frankincense also helps to even out skin tone.
Lavender - Lavender essential oil is such a calming oil. It is remarkable at calming the skin, soothing bug bites and burns as well as soothing chapped and dry skin. Lavender essential oil also promotes skin cell regeneration, which leaves your skin feeling soft, hydrated and smooth. Not only will lavender calm your skin, it will calm your mood also!
Chamomile - Chamomile essential oil is well known for its calming properties for the skin. You have likely heard of it as a major component in night time teas for insomnia and relaxation - it has the same benefits for your skin. Chamomile essential oil is high in sesquiterpenes This means that it is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and extremely soothing for dry and irritated skin.
Patchouli - Patchouli essential oil is a natural anti-inflammatory that quickly helps repair cracked, chapped and dry skin. Patchouli oil is also ideal for use on scarred skin, rough skin patches and other skin irritations. Patchouli essential oil is also an excellent option for dermatitis and acne. Not only will it quickly promote skin repair and cell regeneration, Patchouli will also help ease feelings of anxiety and stress.
It is recommended that the majority of essential oils be diluted into a carrier oil prior to being applied to the skin to prevent any reactions or skin irritations.
Frankincense, Patchouli and Lavender essential oils can be applied directly to the skin for most people using 1 - 2 drops, which is called a “neat” application. However, we still recommend that it be diluted to see how your own skin reacts to each oil, as these are highly concentrated plant essences.
To dilute essential oils for application to the skin, simply add to your favorite moisturizer or carrier oil and apply to your skin for a hydration boost or cellular repair. Follow the dilution chart below. The best carrier oils to use are coconut, jojoba, grapeseed and sweet almond oil.
Essential oils are a natural and fast acting method to alleviate dry and chapped skin as well as other skin irritations. You only need a drop or two, so they are also a very economical way to effectively and naturally treat your skin issues.
Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli and Chamomile are the best essential oils for dry skin repair and skin hydration. While using these oils topically to hydrate your skin, be sure to breathe in deeply to also enjoy their aromatic therapeutic properties.
Do you have any essential oil tips for dry or chapped skin that we have not covered here? If so, let us know in the comments below!
Now that a face mask has become a necessary part of our daily wardrobe, we wanted to share some tips with you on how to breathe easier in a mask. We have solutions for the top reasons you may feel uncomfortable breathing in a face mask.
Learn how to solve those mask wearing challenges, and how you can become comfortable while breathing in a mask with these 4 tips.
Issue: Your mask is so tight it is uncomfortable or digging in to your ears, is rubbing uncomfortably on your face or is so loose it doesn't create a seal.
Solution: If you have to tighten your mask to the point of discomfort to create a seal, you are wearing the wrong size or kind of mask for you. Also if your face mask is not creating a seal, you are not wearing the right mask for you.
We suggest using a fabric mask with ties that tie in a bow and do not rest on the ears, they are easier to adjust and breathe in. This style of mask will not dig in and can be easily adjusted to create the proper seal. If your mask is rubbing uncomfortably on your skin, a 3D mask frame can help resolve this issue.
Issue: Wearing a face mask can cause you to breathe differently. Wearing a mask can unconsciously lead you to take short, shallow breathes. This can make you feel uncomfortable and light headed. It also can cause a headache.
Solution: When you put your face mask on, breathe in through the nose with a deep breath, and then out through the mouth. Do this three times, its regulates and relaxes your nervous system. Repeat anytime you start to feel uncomfortable, it acts as a calming reset.
You can insert a 3D mask frame that fits inside your face mask and holds it off of your nose and mouth while still creating a seal for easier breathing. This can help you a lot with mask comfort.
Issue: Your mask is dirty, you don’t know what to do with it
Solution: Wash your mask daily. Do not put on a dirty mask. Change your mask if it gets wet/soaked or if you are wearing it longer than 4 hours. Refresh your mask with a mask refresher spray while wearing for longer periods. Carry extra masks.
Ensure you remove your mask using the ties or ear bands and do not touch the front of the mas to avoid contaminating your hands. Wash in hot, soapy water with natural laundry detergent and dry. Carry a small reusable bag with you to put your soiled mask in if you have to change it while out.
Issue: Your mask smells, your breath smells while wearing a mask or you have been wearing your mask for many hours
Solution: Refresh your face mask with an aromatherapy Mask Refresher spray such as this one from Natural Zen. Spray onto your mask, allow it to air dry for 30 seconds (so the alcohol dries after killing surface bacteria) and then put your mask back on.
The essential oils will remain on your mask and will freshen your breath, uplift your senses, improve your breathing and mental focus - and keep your mask refreshed and smelling amazing. You may even come to enjoy breathing with a mask on due to the aromatherapy benefits of the mask spray.
Hopefully these 4 simple tips help you and your family learn how to breathe easier in a mask.
Do you have any tips to help others wear a mask more comfortably? If you do, please let us know in the comments below so we can all benefit.
]]>Our holiday candles are available online starting November 12th.
You can also find our candles in Calgary at the Crossroads Market.
Our handpoured Candelilla and Coconut Candles are toxin free, crafted without chemicals, synthetics or dyes. Our enchanting holiday scents are also available in wax melts and diffuser oils.
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"I am going to talk today about why we chose the wax that we did. When we started this process, the idea was to make a completely non-toxic candle. Paraffin is highly toxic so we obviously weren’t going to use that, even though it is the most common choice for candle making.
We looked at the idea of using palm wax, but we could not find an eco-friendly source. Palm production is responsible for great deforestation so we weren’t going to do that.
Then we looked into the idea of soy but there are very few companies out there that have pure soy wax. Most soy waxes are a blend of paraffin or some other chemical, so it is still highly toxic. Even if you find candles made of pure soy, they release a toxin called acrolien when you burn them. Soy is also the most GMO product in the world, so it is not really eco-friendly.
Next we looked at beeswax. If you get it from a local apiary, then sometimes the bees will be collecting from non pesticide crops, and sometimes from non GMO crops, but you never really know.
I wanted our wax to be indisputably eco-friendly and non-toxic. So I started with a shrub called Candelilla, that grows wild in the Texas and New Mexico area. It is one of the few plants that actually has a natural wax. Most other waxes start as an oil and go through a whole hydrolyzation process and they make them into a wax. It creates a certain amount of toxicity right in that process.
Candelilla doesn’t go through that process, it is just all natural. Candelilla is boiled in water and the wax comes to the surface. It is scooped off the surface of the water, and that is candelilla wax.
Candelilla is very hard, and because of this nobody else really uses it. I found this special form of organic coconut oil that would blend with it properly and do everything that a candle is supposed to do. Not only is it completely non-toxic in ingredients, it also burns without toxins. It doesn’t release the same kind of soot and chemicals that virtually all of the other candles out there do.
Those are the reasons that we chose to go with candelilla and coconut oil for our natural candles and wax melts.
Non-Toxic Candles, Wax Melts and Home Fragrance Goods
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You are going to LOVE this episode! It's all about Emotions, Aromatherapy & How You Can Make Your Home Non-Toxic. I interview Brett, from Natural Zen. Brett and Carmel, a wonderful husband and wife duo who from a personal experience and desire to regain health, founded this company based on nature's wisdom and truly non-toxic living.
In this episode, we dive into how to make your home a healing sanctuary, how to unlock the power of scent + upgrade your emotions, the powerful products that Natural Zen has made, and the ways that WE as consumers and business owners can drive positive change.
You can learn more about Natural Zen here: https://www.naturalzen.ca/
Follow them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/naturalzens...
Follow them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/naturalzen.ca/
Follow Selin and the Luscious Living Podcast here: https://youtu.be/T22L4vWqdOA
Enjoy - and remember to shop local! xoxo