Ginger is a flowering plant of the Zingiberaceae family. The essential oil from ginger is from the fresh or dried root. It has a sweet, spicy warm and slightly woody scent. It's therapeutic benefit comes from it's chemical component gingerol that is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is known to relieve nausea and stomach upset, aid respiratory problems, relieve anxiety and strengthen heart health. Recent studies are focusing on ginger's effect on suppressing the oxidation of cancer cells and it's ability to reduce tumor growth.

Some tips on using Ginger Essential Oil:
For muscle pain, add 2-3 drops into a tablespoon of massage oil and rub onto needed area twice a day
To boost mood or for nausea, add 10-20 drops into a diffuser
To aid digestion, add 5-7 drops into warm bath water and soak for 10-15 minutes. This is also another great way to boost your mood and relieve anxiety

What inspires you? Each morning when we wake up we should feel inspired. I'm inspired by people, nature and animals. Isn't amazing how creative people are? Just look at Pinterest! I'm inspired every day when I see how clever people are with their Pins!! 

When I look outside and see the colors of the morning sky, that inspires me. I see my puppy snuggled up under the covers and she peeks out to see why I'm up so early. She's unconditional love. How can you not be inspired. 

I want to breathe in those things each morning. Breathe in inspiration!

Anyone can walk up to the counter of a department store and buy a fancy bottle of perfume but there are many reasons why you should try an indie fragrance.

Uniqueness- My friends and family know my unique, delicious fragrance. I love to hear, "You smell so good! What perfume is that?" I would not love to hear, "Oh I like that scent, my sister, my neighbor and my co-worker wear that too". 

Affordability- Many indie brands, like Indie Blends are oils which are more concentrated and really go a long way. The aren't diluted with water or alcohol. Their price also doesn't need to support huge marketing campaigns with huge billboards, magazine ads or commercials. 

Community-Supporting small businesses is huge for me! Doing so really gives back to the community and allows so many talented people to share their gifts.

 

Fragrances are often described with "Notes". It may sound complicated but it's actually pretty interesting to see how your favorite fragrance develops while on your skin.

Top Notes are your first impression of a fragrance. These are the volatile notes which means they evaporate the quickest. These are the notes that first burst onto your skin when you first apply. These first notes are so volatile that disappear within 10-15 minutes after the fragrance is applied. These are the scents that lure you in but will transition to the middle or heart Notes. Citrus, fruits and herbs are common Top Notes. 

Middle or Heart Notes are left behind after the top notes disappear. These notes are not as intense and form the core of the fragrance. They are the dominant theme of the fragrance. Common middle notes are rose, neroli, lavender and yang yang.

Base or Soul Notes are the anchor of the fragrance. These notes bring all the other ingredients together. They are the scent that lingers on the skin and last for hours after applying the fragrance. Common base notes are musk, oakmoss, amber, vanilla, sandalwood and cedarwood.

The perfect combination of the three levels of notes should create a balanced appealing and lingering scent experience.

 

Why does smell trigger such strong emotion? Let's see how smell works. Smells get routed through your olfactory bulb, which is the smell-analyzing part of your brain. It is closely connected the the parts of the brain that handle memory and emotion, the amygdala and hippocampus. Smell is the only sense that runs through these parts of the brain. Your sight, sound and touch do not pass through these parts of the brain which could be why our sense of smell is so vividly successful in triggering memories and emotions.