Scratch & Dent Salve
Ease the Burn Sunburn Spray
Good-Smellin Bug Stuff
Bite, Sting & Rash Salve

Pack them all up and you’re ready to go!

Aloe vera is a classic remedy for sunburn and other painful things that happen to your skin. So’s apple cider vinegar, or so I’ve recently discovered — to my great relief! It eases the pain and also helps prevent peeling and blistering. Witch hazel eases the pain, too, and as an astringent helps with the inflammation as well. Together the three make a powerful healing spray.

Not content with that, I’ve added a few more things. St. John’s Wort is an antiinflammatory and will help keep the burn from getting worse if applied immediately. Calendula helps soften and heal burned skin. Both are tinctured in the vinegar — that is to say, I’ve soaked the dried herbs in vinegar for a couple of weeks before straining them out.

And I’ve topped it off with lavender essential oil. This cools the burn as well, and aids in the healing process — and smells so, so good.

As always, I make my products by hand, using only essential oils and other natural ingredients. Each bottle contains two ounces of Ease the Burn Body Mist.

Ingredients: Water, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, aloe vera juice, calendula, St. John’s wort, lavender essential oil, vitamin e oil.

The sharp, cool scent of spearmint and peppermint essential oils blends with the peppery spice of tea tree for a wonderful, refreshing body mist. Spray on your feet to ease aching muscles, or spray all over for a blast of cool green energy.

You can even mist your sheets before you climb into bed on a hot evening (test in an inconspicuous area first) or mist your car if it’s been closed up a little too long. There is really no shortage of uses for this mist!

I make all of my products by hand, and use only essential oils and other natural ingredients. Each bottle holds two ounces of Minty Footy Body and Linen Mist. Shake well before using and enjoy!

Ingredients: Water, witch hazel, aloe vera juice, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil, spearmint essential oil, vitamin e oil.

Citronella’s an easy one, and cedarwood shouldn’t surprise you either. My grandmother had a chest made out of the stuff to hold her linens and boy, did it smell good. Keeps the moths out, too, she told me.

Eucalyptus isn’t just for koalas! It’s also a strong insect repellent and also happens to be good for sore muscles (a lovely side benefit!). Spearmint smells good and, surprise, chases off bugs too! And tea tree oil and vitamin E oil are just plain good for your skin.

They’re all in a base of water, witch hazel (an astringent), and aloe vera juice (helps with those little scratches and scrapes you’ll get running around outside trying to stay away from the bugs).

I make all of my products by hand, and use only essential oils and other natural ingredients. The spray bottle holds two ounces of bug stuff.

Ingredients: Water, witch hazel, aloe vera juice, citronella essential oil, tea tree essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, spearmint essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, geranium essential oil, vitamin e oil.

Good Smellin Bug Stuff to keep off the early-season insects — Ease the Burn Sunburn Spray for that inevitable first burn of spring — Scratch & Dent Salve to treat the little dings you’ll pick up mulching around the roses — and your choice of soap to clean up afterwards!

You can choose from any of my soaps but I recommend the good and scrubby ones to get out the dirt.

I make all of my products by hand, using only natural ingredients.