Bergamot

Bergamot -- sort of a clumsy sounding name. But if you say "Bergamotto" in Italian, I'm sure it sounds much more stylish. It's a bitter orange grown in the Calabria region of Italy. It's the taste and fragrance that makes Earl Grey tea distinctive. The essential oil is described as warm and -- take your pick -- a little citrusy, a little floral, a little green, and/or a little spicy. I read that it's used in one-third of all men's perfumes and one-half of all women's. It's like the fragrance can mix in anywhere and bring out subtleties. I find it clean and bright and...good!

citronella bug repellent candle

I get asked for this recipe alot...

Melt 1/2 lb wax (old candles are fine); add 15ml (1T) citronella essential oil. Place a wick in an empty can and pour in melted wax. Let solidify (freezer works) and burn to help repel mosquitoes.

Lemongrass and Litsea -- what's the difference?

First off, Litsea Cubeba is also known as May Chang which sounds much more exotic than "lemon" and "grass".  But per their fragrance, they're both pretty much lemony in their scent.  Lemongrass is described as lemony with green, vegetative notes while Litsea is described as lemony with fruit and spice -- a sweeter smell.  Litsea essential oil straight almost smells like a fake synthetic lemon scent but holds up well in perfume mixes -- adds a smoothness where lemon itself can almost be too sharp.  Lemongrass holds up great in soap; lemon essential oil fades very quickly and you're left with just a subtle reminder that there was once a lemon involved.  But lemongrass soap retains that clean, citrusy scent that makes the shower at 6:00am almost seem worth it.  Almost.