Yes, you read that right. 𝑷𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒌𝒊𝒏. 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. This warming seasonal digestive is traditionally indicated for acute autumnal disorders including oversized sweaters, leggings, ankle boots, plaid scarves, and an uncontrollable urge to photograph leaves. A dropperful and suddenly it’s 58 degrees outside, you’re wearing excessive amount of flannel, and there’s a suspiciously large decorative gourd collection on the porch. Seriously, though, this is more of a culinary botanical extract than a traditional tincture. Its goodness draws on traditional food and herbal wisdom. Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg have long traditions as warming aromatic digestive herbs. Vanilla brings its wonderful aromatics, while pumpkin contributes its own plant compounds. This recipe is mostly about flavor, craft, preserving a little piece of the season—and having some fun with herbalism. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: I make this a little differently by separating it into two extractions. Cinnamon and clove extract so quickly and can easily overpower everything else. Separating them lets me control how much ends up in the finished extract. For the menstruum, I prefer rum rather than a neutral spirit because its subtle vanilla, oak, and warmth complement the pumpkin and baking spices. I also have an Everclear/vodka version if a neutral spirit is preferred. I start with a high-proof menstruum because fresh pumpkin contains a lot of water. As that water moves into the alcohol during extraction, the ABV drops substantially. The goal is a finished pumpkin spice extraction around 40% ABV, although that’s an estimate rather than a laboratory measurement. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 — 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟖 𝐨𝐳 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭: • 1 lb fresh raw pumpkin, cut into ½–¾” chunks • 1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise • 1 whole nutmeg, coarsely cracked • ½ oz cinnamon chips (Cinnamomum burmannii) • 1 Tbsp whole cloves • 18 oz Don Q 151-proof rum • 2 oz 80-proof vodka • 1 half-gallon wide-mouth Mason jar • 1 quart Mason jar • 1 half-pint Mason jar

Whoop! Whoop! This is @Sharon Banfield who is currently studying for her Clinical Aromatherapy Diploma. Here in the UK, it is a 2 year course and includes various physical therapies. This weekend Sharon added KaHuna Bodywork to her existing therapies which include Experiential Healing Coach, Advanced/Clinical Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner, Sport, Hot Stone, NLM, MLD and IHM massage. We had a lovely weekend, aided and abetted by @Katie and @Davina Salter who generously gave their time to be bodies for Sharon’s training. It’s always the same, bodies say “that’s been the best massage I’ve ever had.” “I never want any other massage again. “ As to students “this is the best massage to give, it’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.” Well done Sharon, you absolutely nailed it! I knew you would 🥰. As you learnt this weekend, it’s not just transformational for clients, it grants “freedom”, as you said, for the therapist to really bring change on every level to the client.

The list below is what is currently available completely FREE if you are a Premium member. HOWEVER, they will only be up until the end of August and then I will be removing some of them and replacing them with something new. If you are already a Premium member, have you been into the Classroom to redeem you "Freebies" yet? What do you get for FREE with Premium Membership at $15 a month....... But onlly until the end of August, and then it's all change with new "stuff"! You get: #1. 10 Essential Oil in depth profiles. #2. 5 EO recipes for your hands and feet. Total value $75 when purchased individually. #3. Series of 6 videos with your truly and a comprehensive 20 page handout. Total value $90 when purchased individually. #4. Series of 6 videos of chat's with fellow Maverick Aromatherapists. Total value $90 when purchased individually. Baring the 10 Essential Oil profiles which will automatically unlock as you achieve your next level, but are FREE with Premium membership, $15 is a pitance compared to a total of $255 for you to purchase for access. What's stopping you? I'd seriously like to know. ❤️

Be scared, be very scared! Oh my dear God! I'm a Clinical Aromatherapist, I have been for most of my adult life (35 years)....... this is terrifying! Yes, I get OI could detect infections and diseases. Heck, I used to smell my kids ears when they were small to see if they had an infection! But this is nefarious. Scent/odour/perfume is a huge manipulator of our responses to every day life. But it can also dig deeper into our psyche and trigger past traumas. Chemical components in odours can also trigger adverse reactions if there are underlying health conditions. Think epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, miscarriage etc. This whole OI takes me straight to the last chapter of Patrick Suskind's novel Perfume, The Story of a Murderer, which was later turned into a film in 2006. In the book, the main character and serial killer is finally caught and brought to public trial. In the last chapter he is of course found guilty and is about to face his own death. But he releases a tiny vial of scent which sends the whole community into an erotic rapture. He escapes as they are all distracted, shall we say. I remember going to the cinema with my friend and saying, "I wonder how they will depict the final scene." The book and film left an indelible mark on me as an aromatherapist as I already knew and respected the power of odour on our reactions and how it can manipulate us both for good.... and bad. heck, I even suggest to my students to read the book! OI brings Suskind's novel to life. OI will be manipulated into a bio-weapon mark my words! With the recent heatwaves here, I have been jokingly saying "well, if we have this drought, why don't they cloud seed for some rain, now they have admitted to doing it? Why don't they do it to put out all these fires all over the place?" However, as they have admitted to doing this, I'm wondering what they have moved on to? They have still been chemtrailing..... but no rain! So what have they been diffusing all over us? "How we invented scent teleportation" That's the front page title from a company called OSMO in 2024.

I have had some people message me about how they have tried out and enjoyed my two deodorant recipes listed here: https://www.skool.com/natural-living/anhydrous-cedarwood-lime-roll-on-deodorant?p=70ae1a34 I thought I would share my Temperature Stable SOLID deodorant recipe. What do I mean by Temperatrure stable. Often in Natural Deoforant formulations, raw coconut oil is used. The problem with using raw coconut oil is that it has a low melting point of just 24°C, causing natural deodorants that use it, to liquefy in the summer and freeze solid in the winter. Of course, depending on temperature, it may not become very liquidly but it could become too soft or too hard that it over-applies products or under-applies product To create a completely temperature-stable stick that stays the same texture year-round, you need a liquid oil that never solidifies, balanced by a stable botanical wax. This formulation combones three of my favorite fixed oils, castor oil (Ricinus communis), Jojoba (Simmondisa chinensis) and Meadowfoam seed oil (Limnanthes alba). A commercial trade secret is to get the texture of commercial natural deodorant solid sticks, the combination of castor oil and cendelilla wax is used. Castor oil is thick, stable, and highly substantive. Candelilla wax has a much higher melting point (70°C) than beeswax (63°C), meaning the stick will not melt even if left in a hot car whilst also making this product 100% vegan. Meadowfoam seed oil is incredibly stable, deeply hydrating, and highly resistant to rancidity, while castor oil adds a rich, protective barrier and a smooth glide. The addition of Vitamin E (Tocopherol) to this formulation will prevent the natural oils and shea butter from oxidizing (turning rancid) when exposed to air and heat, significantly extending your deodorant's shelf life.