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OPTIMISING YOUR HOME REED DIFFUSER

17/12/2015

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​Reed diffuser is a beautiful way to fragrance your home and fill the air with natural aromatic goodness. But the nature of reed diffuser is not as straightforward as one thinks. The rattan sticks soak up the essential oil blend and disperse fragrance into the air. It generally lasts until all the fragrance components have evaporated.
 
Being at the forefront of building awareness of natural fragrances, we would like to help all our existing customers and new customers who will soon receive an En.Vie Christmas gift to enhance their experiences with the home reed diffusers we offer.
 
Using a reed diffuser is all about expectations and management. Firstly, think of a natural diffuser as a bouquet of flowers. The fragrance lingers in the air, you will smell the fragrance on-and-off or as you walk by, but the scent may not always be there or fill the entire space.


HOW TO START YOUR DIFFUSER
 
1. Place your diffuser at a spot where there is good air circulation, but away from the air conditioner, corners and window. An ideal location is just near the door so you pick up the scent as you enter the room. Another great spot is just inside the room near the door so you pick up the scent as you enter the room. 
 
2. Place the rattan sticks that came with your diffuser set into the glass bottle to start dispersing of fragrance. In a small space such as the bedroom, we find that 6 (out of 10 in a bunch) rattan ticks work well. If you are using the diffuser in a bigger space such as open concept living room, you may use all 10 sticks at a time.
 
2. Immediately "flip" the sticks so that the saturated ends are now in the air.
 
3. Let the reed diffuser start working. Repeat step 2. at least twice in the first day that you have begun to use it.
 
4. For best result and to refresh the fragrance, flip the reed sticks once every 2-3 days and give the bottle a little swirl to intensify the fragrance too.

ADDITIONAL TIPS
 
(i) Do remember to wipe any oil drip off the surface because essential oil can leave marks and stains.
 
(ii) Reed sticks generally get dusty and clogged over time, so fragrance will stop dispersing. If you can't detect any fragrance after 6-8 weeks, it may be time to replace the reed sticks. Not all reed sticks and diffusing liquid are the same. Every brand selects the sticks that will optimise the result of their diffusing oil, so it is best to use the reed sticks from the same brand instead of mixing them up.
 
(iii) Our reed diffusers are made to last for 2-3 months though there have been individual cases where fragrance continues to emit for another 4-6 weeks! It is normal to find a layer of liquid at the bottom of the glass bottle but there is no longer any scent. Simply toss out the remaining liquid, clean your bottle thoroughly and get a refill should you prefer.
 
So there you go... and sure, natural reed diffuser may require extra maintenance but unless you are seeking heavily perfumed air, natural fragrance blends in with the environment without triggering allergies or being overly intrusive. We do not create fancy fragrances. We create therapeutic scents with pure essential oils to make you feel good. 

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REVITALISE YOUR SENSES WITH LEMONGRASS

9/12/2015

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When we smell lemongrass, we reminisce our last Thai holiday and that piping, hot bowl of Tom Yum Soup or lemongrass tea.  While lemongrass has long been used in Asian cooking, little is known about the therapeutic effects on human senses.
​
Lemongrass is a perennial plant, indigenous to India, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and also commonly found in Central America, China, Madagascar and Zambia. There are more than 50 varieties of lemongrass but did you know that they are not all are suitable for use?

The main chemical component found in lemongrass is citral, an aromatic compound. Citral is often used in perfume because of its lemon scent. It is also the presence of citral which accounts for the lemon-rich scent. This scent is anti-microbial and effective in destroying or inhibiting micro-organisms.

​Citral also contains anti-fungal properties. This chemical is pheromonal, which is why it is commonly used in insect repellant, insecticides and flavouring agents.

The scent of lemongrass has a positive effect on our body's ability to use vitamin A. It is this presence of Vitamin A in lemongrass that makes it beneficial for pain relief, skin acne and controlling excessive perspiration. 

So the next time when you consider buying a home diffuser or aromatic candle, why not skip the fancy fragrances and consider pure lemongrass? The common lemongrass used for healing are C
ymbopogon Citratrus and Cymbopagon Flexuosus. Studies have shown that inhalation of lemongrass helps improve blood circulation, respiratory conditions and is extremely beneficial for anxiety and stress related symptoms. 

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SOAPY MATTER

4/12/2015

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For those who don't make or use soap, what I am about to share may be confusing. After all, isn't soap drying, doesn't all soap contain glycerin and aren't they all supposed to be natural? 

There are 2 answers. Technically speaking, all "real" soap is glycerin since it's a by-product of saponification. But what most people know as glycerin soap, often decorated in fancy styles, colours and confetti is not as natural or moisturising as one is led to believe. A sugar-alcohol solution is added to the saponified mixture along with extra glycerin. The alcohol solution helps maintain transparency and the extra glycerin balances the drying nature of the alcohol. 
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Photo: http://library.rusticescentuals.com/projects

1. Melt and Pour / Glycerin soap - a simple method of soap making, even though professional soap makers refuse to call them soap. They come in big blocks of soap bases made from detergents, cleaning cosmetic base, alcohol and yes, glycerin (add on). You simply melt the base soap and remold it into different shapes and colours. It is a very popular soap making technique as it is foolproof and allow one
to show off a creative side with multi-coloured layers, fancy swirls, glitters, fragrances, dried flowers or herbs and exfoliant etc. Great for children art and crafts but I don't see why you should use them unless affordability is a concern. 

"Real" soap does not melt down easily and contains only oils + H2O + NaOH. You can't for example,
buy a few pieces of our soap, toss them into a pot and expect them to turn liquid after 10 minutes.
​Still confused? Let me quickly explain how "real" soap are made.
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Photo: Our honey and oatmeal soap last Christmas.
 2. Cold Process soap  is gaining increasing interest in Asia currently, and is believed to be of American origins (Pssst... French toast is really not French and Chocolate Bavaria is not German). A mixture of oils are chosen, warmed up and whisked till "trace". Oil and water don't mix, but at this stage they integrate. Fragrance and additives are added into the soap mixture and blended further. Cold Process soap rely entirely on the heat produced by this mixture to complete the process of saponification. It will take a further 4-6 weeks to cure the soap before they can be used.
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Photo: Making soap paste
3. Hot Process soap is not dissimilar to Cold Process, but the soap mixture is heated to a considerable temperature to accelerate saponification. The resulting soap paste once cooked has no trace of lye left.
​It will be molded and cured for at least 1-2 weeks before use.
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    This blog is intended to provide wholesome information on natural fragrance, sustainable skincare and eco-living. All reasonable care has been taken in the content provided. Please use all guidance and recommendation with care and not as a guide to self-diagnosis and treatment. We disclaim all responsibility for any liability, personal risk and damage incurred directly or indirectly as a consequence of the use/application of any of the products and content listed.

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