October 22, 2016
Coconut Oil… In the Air!?
We all have a friend in the MLM (multi-level marketing game), right? Cookware, shakes, jewelry, make-up, and the oh-so-popular scented home fragrance/ wax melties business… We all have probably have a friend that can sell us almost any product our little heart desires!
I try, as often as possible, to support friend’s small business endeavors when they sell products I need, enjoy, or that aligns with my beliefs. This included, years ago, buying the “Starter Kit” from the popular fragrance company I mentioned: A plug-in wax warmer (like a tiny decorative hot plate for anyone unfamiliar) and bars upon bars upon bars of scented wax. I had scents for ALL SEASONS, y’all! Winter? Check- Sugar Cookie. Spring? Crisp Linen, coming up. Summer? My house smelled like a Pina Colada. Fall? Of course the only choice is Pumpkin Spice!
As I’ve gotten older and turned my thoughts more to the products I bring into our home, I started to wonder about these perfume-y smells I constantly had brewing in their warmer. What were we actually breathing? Was it safe? Was there a more natural alternative that would allow me to make our house smell cozy without worrying about potential health consequences?
To begin, I consulted the actual company website to find out just what was in my little wax melties. Directly from their website was a bit of a dead end with no readily available ingredient list. A friend who sold the products told me they are, “a paraffin wax block containing natural and synthetic oils…” So as with MOST friends who sell any MLM product with an ingredient list, they seemed in the dark about what exactly was on that list. A quick internet search on paraffin wax alone shows that it is a petroleum by-product that (could) release cancer- causing toxins as heated. I didn’t need to investigate the fragrance oils at all- the small write up on the wax was enough to convince me there had to be a better way…
ENTER: COCONUT OIL.
What isn’t it good for?!
2 generous tablespoons of coconut oil + 10-20 drops of organic essential oils of choice = enough clean, crisp, identifiable fragrance to keep my house smelling amazing and not make me fret about what we are breathing in. I buy Virgin/ Unrefined Coconut Oil and organic essential oils at my local “Bulk Barn” (if in Canada).
Some of my favorite fragrances in my home are…
- CLEAN: Coconut oil + Lemon oil, Rosemary, or Eucalyptus
- COZY: Coconut oil + Clove oil, lavender, or vanilla
Since making the swap from pre-made wax bars to a few scoops of coconut oil + some essential oils, my house has smelled just as yummy and my mind rests a little easier. This was a cheap and easy way to make our home a tiny bit healthier and I would encourage you to give it a try, too!
Blog Entry #2- 10/19/2016
