Believe it or not, your sense of smell is the most primal sense and has an extremely important influence over your thoughts, emotions, moods, memories and behaviors. If you love cookies and SMELL them baking, chances are it gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. At least it does for me. ;)
Other sensations (like sound and visual images) are delivered straight to your thalamus (which is basically a HUGE Switchboard in your head.)
But your smell doesn’t take that route…. it takes a different route FIRST!
BEFORE they travel to the thalamus, they travel through your brain to the different areas that control memory and emotion.
Whether or not you believe it, scents can greatly impact the way you feel, behave, and think.
This is why Essential Oils are such an important part of your well being – because they are highly concentrated compounds that can provide therapeutic benefits in TINY amounts, they can work wonders for your well-being.
But before you say “Sprouts has Essential Oils for just a few dollars!” — I am NOT talking about the SYNTHETIC Essential Oils that are sold on store shelves (because that is what they are…) – nor am I talking about the low quality perfumes and fake fragrances. We are referencing the Therapeutic Essential Oils that are derived from Plants (with NO added chemical synthetics). These are not typically found on store shelves, and usually run more in cost (as they should, they are the highest quality!)
No matter how you are feeling, or what you are experiencing, there is an Essential Oil that works to help you.
With this said, having a diffuser necklace or bracelet is an EASY way to have those scents WITH you so that you can experience the benefits all the time.
This activity above is a GREAT one to involve your older children in – it’s relatively easy, and they can wear their diffuser necklace to school (or even decorate it with their choice of stamp!) My daughter wears hers every day, it helps keep her focused in class and … it’s cute (as a bonus!)
What you Need
- Rubber Stamp with Writing {Optional}
- Beads – use these here {Optional}
- Oven Baked Clay – Terra Cotta (or Buy at Michael’s with a coupon – it’s originally $10)
- Lid or Cap the size you want the pendant to be (I used a bottle cap)
- Cording or Leather Laces (can buy at Michael’s)
- Essential Oils
How to Make
They are really very simple ~ take the clay out of the box, and break off a few chunks. Roll in between your palms to get them really nice and smooth … then lay them on a sheet of waxed paper atop a cookie sheet.
- Roll them out, no more than 1/4 inch thick.
- Then use your cutters to cut out a few circles – I used bottle caps because it saved me from buying cutters.
- Leave them ON the tray, and then stamp them … you can use a rubber stamp with writing, or, if you shop at Michael’s, we got a pack of 24 little cubed stamps for $4.99. My daughter was infatuated with them…
- Use a straw (cheap, plastic one!) to poke a hole in each one – not too close to the edge, but not in the “center” either.
- Then bake for 10 minutes at 275 degrees ~ remove, and let cool.
- Then you can use your leather laces or cording to loop through and make a necklace – add beads as needed.
To Use
Terra Cotta clay is DRY and porous – it’s the perfect way to carry oils with you, because the clay absorbs the oils and carries them in those little pockets and releases them naturally into the air.
You will want to lay the pendant flat, and apply ONE drop of your favorite oil onto the front- allow it to dry, then wear your necklace. You can re-apply another drop when the scent of that oil has dissipated (1-2 days).
My daughter loves Rosemary (which is a great choice for keeping you alert & attentive) — but here are just a few ideas that you could incorporate onto your necklace.
We love our Essential Oils – if you want to find out more about them, and how you can take care of your own health, read more HERE or Sign up to be a Young Living Wholesale Member & you can save 24%!
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