Simply Natural Nessa

Most coconut shell candles available are often quite expensive and contain paraffin wax, a petroleum-based wax that, when burned, can release toxins and chemicals like soot, toluene, or benzene into the air which have been found to be harmful to our health when inhaled. By making your own candles at home, you can ensure the wax you’re using is clean, fragrance-free, and non-GMO. RECIPE: 🌿 1 cup organic coconut wax, shredded (or more // depending on the size of your coconut shell) 🌿 2 cups organic soy wax flakes (or more // depending on the size of your coconut shell) 🌿 Metal pitcher or large glass jar 🌿 Cooking thermometer 🌿 Coconut shell 🌿 Wooden wick with a metal stopper 🌿 100 drops of essential oil of choice To Make: 1. Measure out the wax by taking your coconut shell half and fill it up with wax to around the 3/4 mark. From there, double that amount of wax and that is how much you’ll need. 2. Pour the coconut wax and soy wax into a metal pitcher and place the container in a large pot of water, filled just enough to cover the outside of the container. Bring the water to a boil. 3. Turn the heat down to medium heat and stir the wax occasionally until melted. 4. Remove the wax from heat and allow it to cool slightly before adding in the essential oil. Stir to combine. 5. Dip the metallic end of your candle wick into the melted wax, and, using the hot wax to stick the wick in place to the centre of your coconut shell. 6. Use a thermometer to test the temperature of the wax, and once it reaches 62 °C (145 °F), it’s ready to start pouring. It’s important to wait until it cools to prevent the heat from cracking the coconut shell. Pour around 75% of the candle wax into the coconut shell. 7. As the wax begins to harden, the top of your coconut shell candle may have a few cracks or marks on the waxy top. To help fix this, pour the remaining wax over the top. 8. Let the candle cool at room temperature for at least 24 hours before burning. Trim the wick to about 1 to 1 1/2cm above the level of the wax. 9. It is recommended to leave homemade candles to cure for a minimum of 3 days to develop a stronger scent when burning. #coconutcandle #coconutshellcandles

When paraffin wax candles are lit and burn, they can release harmful chemicals like benzene, acetone and toluene into the air, which are known carcinogens, along with other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Some wicks, especially in cheaper candles, may contain lead or other heavy metals. Beeswax candles, however, may help to purify and improve indoor air quality by releasing negative ions that bind to and neutralise positively charged airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, and other allergens. RECIPE: 🌿 1 lb 100% pure beeswax, either in pellets or as a block 🌿 1/2 cup coconut oil 🌿 25 tea light candle cups 🌿 25 1 1/4-inch pre-tabbed cotton wicks 🌿 Metal pitcher 🌿 Bamboo skewers or paddle pop sticks To Make: 1. Pour the beeswax into a metal pitcher and place the pitcher in a large pot of water – filled just enough to cover the outside of the pitcher. Bring the water to a boil. 2. Turn the heat down to medium heat and stir the wax occasionally until completely melted. 3. While the wax is melting, prepare the wicks by cutting pieces that are approximately 1 1/4 inch long. You may need to trim them at the end, so cut the wicks at a length that is slightly longer than what you’ll need. 4. Hold the wick using small tongs or old tweezers and lower it into the melted beeswax for about 10-15 seconds. This will allow the beeswax to soak into the cotton wick. Lift your wick out of the wax and immediately place it on some parchment paper to dry and harden. After a couple of seconds, you can gently straighten the wick. 5. Next, place the hardened wicks into the stainless steel wick tabs, and attach the wicks to the bottoms of the tea light candle cups. 6. Once the beeswax has melted, stir in the coconut oil with a bamboo skewer or a paddle pop stick, then remove the saucepan from heat. Keep the pitcher in the hot water to ensure the wax stays melted. 7. Carefully pour the melted wax into each tea light cup, filling the wax to the top. 8. Allow the wax to cool and harden completely before lighting, which may take around 1 to 2 hours, or overnight. 9. If needed, trim the candle wicks to approximately 1/4 inch before lighting. #tealightcandles

Some of the many uses for aloe vera gel include: 🌱 As a treatment for acne scars and craters. 🌱 Simply rub the aloe gel on affected areas two to three times a day. It’s a slow-acting treatment, so don’t expect to see much of a result right away. 🌱 Rubbed into the scalp to promote hair growth. 🌱 Blended into smoothies and juices for health-boosting benefits. 🌱 Applied as a face mask. 🌱 Used after the bath or shower as a moisturiser. 🌱 Used in makeup; homemade mascara, eyeliner, etc. How to Extract Aloe Vera Gel from the Leaf: 1. Choose Your Aloe Leaf. When picking the leaves opt for the outermost ones – choose the oldest and largest of the leaves to use. 2. Clean Away the Yellow Liquid. You may notice after cutting the leaf from the plant that there is a yellow liquid oozing from the cut. This is a sap called aloe latex and it’s not actually part of the aloe vera gel, which you’ll see is clear. Aloe latex contains laxative properties. To stop the liquid from oozing everywhere, point the leaf vertically with the cut facing down, and leave it sitting in a bowl to allow the liquid to drain. 3. Cut Away the Top Section of the Leaf. Towards the top end of the leaf, it starts to become much thinner. Rather than spending time fiddling with this tiny amount of gel, cut this portion off. 4. Cut Away the Spikes. Remove the spikey edges on either side of the leaf by carefully sliding the knife along the edge of the leaf. Cut as close to the spikes as possible to avoid losing some of the gel in the process. 5. Remove the Top and Bottom Leaf ‘Skin’ Layers. The leaves have a flat side, and a curved side. Begin with the flat side. Lay your leaf flat on a cutting board and carefully slice away the skin of the aloe vera leaf, pushing your knife down into the chopping board as you slide it along the bottom, while also pushing the top of the leaf down onto the knife to make it as flat as possible. Your knife should be in between the gel and the green skin. Repeat on other side. The aloe vera gel can be used as is, or it can be blended up to break down its fibrous structure. #aloe #aloevera #aloegel

Traditionally, Jamu is an Indonesian herbal tonic made from natural ingredients including roots, spices, seeds, flowers, leaves and fruits. There are many varieties of this healing juice. This recipe, most commonly found in Bali, is made with fresh turmeric root, ginger root, a little back pepper, a squeeze of lemon, and a dash of honey. RECIPE: 🍊 1/2 cup fresh turmeric, rinsed and roughly chopped 🍊 3/4 cup fresh ginger, rinsed and roughly chopped 🍊 4 cups filtered water (or coconut water) 🍊 1-2 tbsp raw honey (or other sweetener) 🍊 1 lemon, juiced (about 2 tablespoons) 🍊 1/8 tsp black cracked pepper To Make: 1. Slice the turmeric and ginger into thin disks, the skin can be left on or peeled if desired. 2. Add the turmeric, ginger, black pepper and water to a blender, then blend on high speed for about one minute or so, or until the mixture is smooth. 3. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes, then strain it out through a fine mesh sieve, nut milk bag, or muslin cloth into a large bowl. Add in the lemon juice and honey, then give the mixture a good stir to combine the ingredients. Pour the juice into a large glass bottle or jar and refrigerate. Enjoy this juice chilled or warm. 4. To serve warm, gently heat the juice on the stove-top until it just comes to a simmer, then serve it in a mug and enjoy. #jamu #juice #recipe #jamujuice #wellnessshot #juicecleanses

This body wash creates a rich, bubbly lather, and moisturises your skin while also cleansing it at the same time! Result: You smell like a flowery meadow. Depending on the choice of herbs you infuse your soap with will determine the beneficial properties that have been incorporated into the body wash. RECIPE: 🌱 1 cup dried chamomile flowers 🌱 1 cup dried calendula flowers 🌱 1 cup dried whole roses or rose petals 🌱 1 cup calendula-infused oil (optional) 🌱 3 1/2 cups unscented liquid castile soap 🌱 1 litre glass mason jar 🌱 Glass soap pump dispenser bottle To Make: 1. Fill the jar about one-third of the way full with the plant material you’ll be using. 2. Pour the liquid castile soap and herb-infused oil (if using) over the top until the dried herbs are completely covered by the liquid, leaving about one inch of room at the top (for the plant material to expand during infusion). 3. Stir the ingredients together gently to incorporate. 4. Store the jar in a warm, dark place. Cupboards above the oven or stove are wonderful for this. The warmth helps the soap break down the plant matter, helping to create a stronger infusion. 5. Let the herbal soap infuse for around four to six weeks. 6. Strain out the plant material using a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, then pour the herbal soap into the (preferably glass) bottle of the soap dispenser you’ll be using. Leave some room in the bottle to top it off with some water, then cap the lid on tightly and gently shake to combine. 7. Use this soap as you would a normal body wash. This wash will keep for up to three months at room temperature. Shake well before each use as the ingredients can separate. I use this homemade body wash with a natural sea sponge or loofah for easy use. #homemade #bodywash #recipe #herbalbodycare #naturalskincare