PFK Blog
But......what are essential oils really?
In the run up to Christmas we spent a great deal of time meeting new customers at various festive events, and one question came up over and over again ….but what are essential oils, really? The shelves in our high street stores are full of aroma based products and to the untrained eye it can be confusing. Labelling is not always clear about the ingredients in the products and why they are used. So we thought it was important to share our understanding with you all. Essential oils are not artificial fragrances or chemical scents – they are one of nature’s finest creations and are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. Naturally safe, they are powerfully concentrated and have few undesirable side effects. You will have no doubt experienced essential oils without even knowing it…. Perhaps you’ve enjoyed the scent of a rose or the lovely aroma when brushing past a lavender bush. Derived naturally from plant sources, essential oils are most often characterised by their strong pleasant aromas, and are made up of compounds extracted from seeds, bank, stems, roots, flowers or other parts of the plant. These compounds are what give a plant its distinctive smell but they can also protect and heal the plant, benefits which can be harnessed when we utilise essential oils ourselves. There are many varieties of compounds, each with individual and unique characteristics, and it is the mix of these within an essential oil that determines its aroma and its specific benefits. The nature of an essential oil will vary from plant to plant and species to species. The oils can also vary depending on how they are processed, so it’s important to know about the origins of the oil to ensure its purity. Harvesting time, country of origin, weather and even the year grown can impact the oil, similar to a fine wine. Method of production is also significant, with most plant material beings steam distilled and the process of cold pressing being used for citrus oils. At PFK, we are very aware of how purity can be impacted and how contaminants and other changes can affect the aroma or benefits of an oil. In the past, we have received impure oils from less than reputable suppliers, which is why we now work with a variety of suppliers and always test new batches of oils to ensure our customers get the high quality PFK aroma they have come to love. Because of the huge demand for essential oils, and their finite supply, many products you’ll see on the high street are impure or even synthetic, whilst still using the phrase ‘essential’ or ‘oil’ to mislead the consumer. It is therefore important to ensure you check the ingredients in the products you purchase, if you wish to take advantage of the natural aroma and wellbeing benefits of essential oils. We personally believe in the power of pure essential oils and their wellbeing benefits, which is why we only use high quality oils in all our products. We never use artificial fragrances, as they contain chemicals and don’t have the aromatherapy benefits of pure essential oils. But there is so much more to know about essential oils, so over the coming weeks we will be sharing our knowledge about the benefits of each of the individual oils we use. Just watch this space and find out more about these wonder oils.
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It’s a Joyful time of year……………..
Have you ever wondered where candle and fragrance companies get their ideas for their new products and aromas? Well, when it comes to PFK they come directly from our founder Paula….from the initial idea to the expert mixing of the oils, Paula is our guru when it comes to our blends. And it’s a lengthy process from the initial idea to the product getting on the shelf. The lightbulb moment for our new Christmas blend No.12 happened in Canada. After a walk through a frosty pine forest, Paula was welcomed back to the hotel with a cosy and relaxing roaring fire. On feeling that moment of joy herself, she decided she wanted to share it with others. She set about looking at the oils which would not only give the aroma she was looking for but also give the wellbeing benefits she wanted to generate from the candle. With the frosty forest memory in mind, Fir Needle and Pine essential oils were chosen for their relaxing properties. These heavenly oils help to refresh the soul, relieve fatigue and improve focus….. similar benefits to a refreshing walk in the woods. Red mandarin and Clove essential oils were then added to bring a delicious spicy, fruity aroma and to generate the feelings of happiness and strength Paula felt at the cosy hotel. Finally two of PFK’s favourite essential oils were added - rosemary and eucalyptus. They are found in many of our blends due to their wonderful wellbeing benefits. Rosemary is a refreshing and uplifting scent and Eucalyptus helps to soothe away tension and stress – just what we all need in the busy festive period. By blending these oils, the finished aroma is a fresh, spicy and sparkling scent which Paula hoped would instantly bring the Joy of Christmas to mind. After testing with some of our lovely customers, we couldn’t have wished for a more positive response. When it came to packaging, we wanted to give the candle a festive edge, so a bespoke box and label was designed using copper foil and a copper candle lid was also added, fitting with the current interior trend for copper products. Finally, came the naming. In this case, there was no other option for it…. It just had to be the feeling Paula had in that moment in Canada… Joy. When recently discussing the candle Paula said ‘We’re hoping customers will agree that PFK No 12 is the perfect candle to bring joy and happiness to their home during the festive period and we wish them a wonderful time in the run up to the holiday season’
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Essential oils for your growing family
With the arrival of a number of famous babies this week, including a royal Prince, it’s not surprising that the world has gone a little bit baby crazy. And it got us thinking, how safe are the products we use in our home for our new arrivals? We all know highly fragranced, toxic and chemical based products are not good to use around little ones, but what about natural ones? Given our PFK products use 100% pure essential oils, we wanted to share our findings on the use of essential oils with babies. Generally speaking, essential oils are safe if used in the correct way around children. However, there are some key points to consider. Firstly, experts advise you not to use essential oils on a baby’s skin until they are at least three months (or older for babies who were premature). After this age you can start to use the gentler oils, such as lavender and chamomile, in small amounts with a carrier oil - perhaps massaged in to baby’s feet or back. It is important that they are highly diluted and they shouldn’t be used daily, as baby’s skin is still very delicate. If in doubt, less is better. Testing on a small area to look for a reaction is always a good idea. Appropriate gentle essential oils can also be diffused in a diffuser or a water based spritzer, but care should be taken to ensure the diffused oil never sprays directly at the child. Babies and children should never ingest essential oils. When your baby reaches toddler age, their skin becomes more developed and you are able to use oils more freely, but it’s crucial they are still highly diluted. As well as using the oils in the correct way, it is important to confirm you are using pure authentic essential oils. Some oils are pre-mixed with other elements, such as alcohol, which can be irritating to children’s skin. Other products may look like essential oils but can be artificial fragrances, which are completely different and don’t carry the same benefits. It’s vital to do your research. The type of oil is also key, as each essential oil is different. Lavender oil is gentle and can help to relax a baby and has been linked with relieving the symptoms of colic. Chamomile, similarly, has a natural soothing effect and can help with sleep or uplift an unsettled baby. However, other oils, such as eucalyptus and rosemary should be avoided in children under 10 years old. Although often seen as magic natural remedies for coughs and colds, they can cause respiratory issues. Essential oils can be very beneficial to your growing family and massaging your growing baby is a lovely way to bond, just make sure you do your research first, to keep your bundle of joy gurgling with contentment. We wonder whether the little royal Prince will be enjoying an essential oil massage in the coming months?
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Why we want to breathe clean…
Scented candles have become extremely popular over recent years and you would struggle to find a home without at least one on a shelf or in the bathroom. We all love their ambient lighting and their luxurious fragrant aromas. But did you know that they can be bad for our health? In the UK, the majority of candles sold are made from paraffin wax and studies have shown that when burnt, paraffin max releases harmful amounts of chemicals in to the air. The impact is often exacerbated as candles tend to be burnt in enclosed spaces. However, it’s not just the paraffin wax that can be bad for your health. Some wicks are known to give off particles of metal and many manufacturers also add additives and artificial fragrances to their candles - even when they refer to themselves as ‘natural’. Synthetic fragrances and dyes can give off harmful particles when they are heated and Asthma UK found that scented candles caused an increase in symptoms in a quarter of cases studied. We personally prefer to breathe clean and that is why we have developed our range of candles. All PFK candles are made with 100% soy wax and only pure essential oils – no chemicals, no parabens and absolutely no artificial fragrances! Even our wicks are 100% cotton. So our advice? There’s no need to lose your love affair with the candle – just choose wisely. Make sure what you’re burning is really 100% natural….and enjoy breathing clean
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Follow your dreams…
s I write this blog, it is with a mixture of amazement, trepidation and excitement. After years of training and dreaming, development and even some tears, this day is here…… my website and online shop are about to go live. It seems a lifetime ago when I started my own wellbeing journey and I spotted all the problems chemicals were causing my family. Fast forward to today and my life is so different. This has only happened with the support of everyone around me… to my friends and family, you truly are my inspiration, my strength, my world. Your dreams are a poetic reflection of your soul’s wishes. Be courageous enough to follow them. Dr Steve Maraboli I am so proud of what we have developed at PFK and hope we will become part of your wellbeing journey – whether through our products, a yoga class or even a visit to our retreat. It would be wonderful if my story inspires others to follow their dreams too – they really can come true. I hope you will to continue to follow us to find out more about wellbeing, to see where we go next at PFK and maybe, to even inspire you to find your own happy place.
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