Geranium is known as "the poor man's rose," but, as a self professed "rose expert" and Shakespeare fan, I can honestly say that which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.

Used by the perfume industry for centuries, (and used by women since ancient Egypt) it is easy to find sweet smelling Geranium oil in lots of natural (and not so natural) stores. But it's important to know that the quality and purity of all of doTERRA's oil supersedes anything you may find in a store. (https://doterra.com/US/en/brochures-magazines-doterra-living-spring-2014-testing-for-quality) There is nothing in this little bottle but pure geranium essence. And when an oil is this pure, it's uses multiply exponentially.

Geranium oil is my go-to oil for all things skin care related. I add a couple drops to some coconut oil every morning and night, and apply over my face and heart. My skin glows and is so soft to the touch. And Geranium is such a gentle oil, one of the safest to use on the sensitive skin of babies, that breakouts and clogged pores are never an issue. You won't find a more cost-effective facial moisturizer.

Bonus...Geranium is the oil of love and trust. It can help restore confidence in the goodness of others and bring about forgiveness and restore trust that's been lost. Inhaling the sweet scent of Geranium can help heal a broken heart, soften anger and release grief, and how could you not want that in your facial moisturizer? Geranium leads us away from the logical, thinking mind and into the warmth of the nurturing heart. Does your fancy skin care do that?

Plus, it diffuses very well with the herbal or citrus oil families to release stress and bring a sense of peace and hope.

And when added to massage oil (doTERRA AromaTouch anyone?) Geranium oil can make for a sweet aphrodisiac for you and your lover. You can also add it to your natural deodorant routine because nothing kills the romance like BO.

The scent is strong, and at first, with my imagination clouded with promises of roses, I wasn't crazy about the smell. It was like roses, but not. But I knew Geranium did wonders for the skin (and hair when added to your shampoo) so I pressed on. And I am so glad I did. I've grown to love the smell, mostly because I feel instantly happy after using it, but also because I came to appreciate the difference between Geranium and rose. It doesn't smell "kind of like roses," it smells like geraniums, and geraniums are delightful.

And while these little flowers can no doubt grow most anywhere, doTERRA has found the ideal harvest location for their Geranium oil on the island of Mauritius. Now I'll admit I had to look that up, only to discover that this tiny island nation off the coast of Madagascar is my idea of island heaven, so I will be spending my next vacation in Mauritius, with my Geranium oil of course.

(If you're interested in my claimed rose expertise, check out my line of rose petal bead malas and rosaries: The Rose and the Lotus www.etsy.com/shop/theroseandthelotus)

Coming from the majesty of the Pacific Northwest, doTERRA Peppermint is like no other peppermint I've tried before.

The perfect blend of bite and delight, it's no wonder Peppermint is the oil of buoyant and joyful heart. One whiff and the world is yours. You are focused, invigorated, and freed from fear and doubts. Super helpful during any sort of challenge or exam, and a big help on long drives across country!

I literally use Peppermint oil everyday. It's almost always mixed with my lemon water in the morning, (remember, one drop Peppermint to 3 drops Lemon, Peppermint can get intense quick!)
And my doTERRA Peppermint beadlets go with me EVERYWHERE!
(https://doterra.com/US/en/p/peppermint-beadlet)
I won't leave home without them. I pop one the instant I feel a headache or tummy trouble coming on, or of course for a quick breath freshener. (again, 1 is enough!)

And diffused with Lemon and Lavender during the worst of the mid-Atlantic's allergy season? Literal sanity saver. (same blend works dabbed behind the ears too, and smells delightful)

I'm looking forward to making a mister for the summer months - Peppermint mixed with Lavender, Frankincense and distilled water - and attempting a natural bug spray - mixed with Lemongrass. And adding a couple drops to my shampoo for an invigorating scalp massage? Yes please!

Mamas, good to know - while Peppermint is great for congestion and respiratory troubles, the high menthol levels make it unadviseable for littles under 6. At least as respiratory support, as it can slow breathing. I DO use it on my little one as a fever reducer. One drop diluted with coconut oil and rubbed on the soles of her hot little feet instantly cools the body. Good for sunburns too, just always dilute with a carrier oil, and one drop at a time. Even for all you mint lovers out there!

Grown in the scenic, dreamscape groves of Sicily, the doTERRA Lemon oil is definitely one of my most used daily oils.

So the juicy stuff first: Lemon is the oil of focus. It nourishes the mind and helps you stay mentally present in the moment. It dispels confusion and brings clarity, and can be helpful with learning difficulties, as it calms fears and insecurities and inspires curiosity and playfulness. Lemon oil can bring a buoyancy to the heart and it infuses the soul with energy and light. Plus, it never fails to make me smile, and has become an important part of my daily self care rituals.

Every morning, before I leave the house, I fill a mason jar with water and add 3 drops of Lemon oil. It wakes me up, lifts my spirits and jump starts my metabolism. And it's so refreshing. Sometimes I'll add Peppermint or DigestZen to start my ever cranky tummy off on an extra positive path.

And every evening, I mix one drop Lemon with a drop of Frankincense and some coconut oil and gently (and carefully) dab under my eyes in an attempt to brighten the dark brown circles under my eyes. *As Lemon oil can make the skin photosensitive, I only do this at night.*
(Side note: It's definitely an experiment at the moment. Lemon oil is known to have skin brightening properties, and Frankincense can help rejuvenate the skin. After two months, I have seen some lightening, or maybe the skin is just healthier now. Either way, I have noticed I am willing to go with little to no makeup much more frequently these days.)

Some great other uses I'm pumped to try:
Mixed with coconut or olive oil, it can be used on scratched wood floors.
Added to a wet wash cloth and tossed into the dryer with a forgotten load of laundry.
I'm not "pumped" to use it to get gum out of hair, but real glad to know that it's a great anti-sticking agent.

"It is probable that the lemon is the most valuable of all fruit for preserving health."
​~ Maud Grieve, noted herbalist