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Thank you for visiting I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Louise, I am full time mum of two fabulous children, part time research assistant and playgroup leader. With the support of my wonderful husband, Rob, I have spent my children’s early years at home and at university where I have satisfied my thirst for scientific knowledge studying Cognitive Neuroscience and Environmental Health Science at graduate level. If you were to ask anyone who knows me well, I am always looking for the healthiest, most environmentally friendly options for our family, and I’m always looking for the research data to support my decision making. Balancing out my scientific side I am also quite a spiritual person and enjoy yoga and ayurvedic practices.
I recently became interested in essential oils and after the first gleeful rush to buy all the lovely scents available I stopped, took a step back and started developing my knowledge further. I have been busy reading research papers, taking online courses and developing a knowledge of the action of essential oils on our bodies. It was at this point that I recognised the mismatch between the oils I was buying and the principles I live by.
Firstly, the food we eat is organic for a number of reasons, including avoiding pesticides but also to support sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. After reading the research I decided that I would not have non-organic citrus oils in my house for safety sake, as they are cold pressed and therefore retain many pesticides which are largely eliminated in steam distilled oils, and would prefer where possible to only stock organic oils as even small traces can build up over time in our bodies.
Secondly, it is important to me to not support practices which are potentially unsafe, such as; the ingestion of essential oils while not under the care of a fully qualified aromatherapist, the use of undiluted essential oils, which can lead to sensitisation and the use of certain essential oils with children which are unsafe. Therefore I needed to find companies whose philosophies were aligned with my own.
After much research I have chosen to stock oils from two companies. As the main supplier of individual oils I have chosen to go directly to a distiller in the south of France, Florihana, who has a large range of beautiful organic essential oils which are popular with aromatherapists and aromatherapy colleges throughout the world. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) reports are available for every batch ensuring complete transparency. Florihana’s mission statement is:
"At the foundation of our commitment to create the Florihana distillery were two main aims: respect for nature and development of highly therapeutic certified organic products for aromatherapists.
In order to meet the need for a supplier of organic synergies and other organic essential oils Plant Therapy from Idaho in the United States was chosen. Lets face it, sometimes it nice to have the experts do the work of blending our synergies for us. Also Plant Therapy’s standards of quality are some of the strictest in the industry. Before they sell an essential oil they do everything possible to establish that it is 100% pure, natural, AND of the highest quality, making it appropriate for use in aromatherapy. To ensure that each oil meets these strict standards, Plant Therapy works directly with world renowned essential oil expert, Robert Tisserand, and several analytical laboratories. The most exciting discovery for me was the KidSafe labelling, so that I can be sure the oils I’m using are suitable for children.
This is what Plant Therapy has to say about KidSafe:
Why is there a Kidsafe label?
If there is ANY extra caution with an oil, it simply will not make our KidSafe® list. That doesn’t mean the oil isn’t safe, it simply means it might not be the safest for a child!
If there is ANY extra caution with an oil, it simply will not make our KidSafe® list. That doesn’t mean the oil isn’t safe, it simply means it might not be the safest for a child!
Kidsafe essential oils are gentle and don’t come with the risks or cautions associated with other essential oils. The “safeness” makes these KidSafe® products a fabulous choice for beginners. We provide a lot of education right on the website AND the label, so you can use with confidence.
•Can all oils be diffused around children?•
No! Some can cause breathing problems and should not be diffused around children.
No! Some can cause breathing problems and should not be diffused around children.
•What makes an oil unsafe for children?•
There are many reasons why some essential oils are not recommended to be used on or around children. Some of these reasons are toxicity concerns, adverse skin reactions, and breathing problems. Children are more at risk because they are smaller and therefore more susceptible to toxic substances. Their metabolism is less effective than adults, their skin is thinner and not as mature, and they are more susceptible to respiratory issues.
There are many reasons why some essential oils are not recommended to be used on or around children. Some of these reasons are toxicity concerns, adverse skin reactions, and breathing problems. Children are more at risk because they are smaller and therefore more susceptible to toxic substances. Their metabolism is less effective than adults, their skin is thinner and not as mature, and they are more susceptible to respiratory issues.
•Are Kidsafe oils effective for adults?•
Kidsafe synergies and oils are just as effective for adults but contain oils safe enough for use with children
Kidsafe synergies and oils are just as effective for adults but contain oils safe enough for use with children
•How old before my little one can graduate from Kidsafe?•
Once a child has reached age 10, unless they’ve shown a sensitivity or other reaction, nearly all oils are safe for use. Birch and Wintergreen should be avoided completely up to age 12 due to the risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome.
Once a child has reached age 10, unless they’ve shown a sensitivity or other reaction, nearly all oils are safe for use. Birch and Wintergreen should be avoided completely up to age 12 due to the risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome.
Lastly, I would like to mention affordability. While I never compromise on quality and safety, it was a wonderful surprise to discover that there are top quality 100% pure essential oils available on the market at a price which is much more affordable that I could have imagined. Also, that these essential oils have been used in therapeutic practice for many years before essential oils became the latest craze. So I do hope you choose to try the oils I am stocking and I’m sure you will find that combination of quality, affordability, purity, sustainability and safety they offer are second to none.
