Morning Shower Gel with Rosemary & Aloe
Wake up and smile with this lively DIY shower gel!
I love using this DIY natural shower gel recipe in the morning.
It's full of stimulating essential oils that help get my circulation going and sharpen my mental awareness. Even if you're not a morning person, this recipe can pep up a slow, drowsy morning routine!
That's largely thanks to Rosemary essential oil.
Rosemary has been used throughout history to enhance mental performance—including cognition, memory, and attention span. It also inspires self-confidence.
Author Gabriel Mojay put it beautifully when he wrote, "Rosemary warms the spirit and makes it bold."
Why is Rosemary a traditional plant for a sharp mind?
Because it helps circulate energy through
your head (or wherever you apply it topically).
I'll explain the science behind Rosemary (and the other essential oils in this recipe) below.
First let's get to the recipe!
Rosemary Morning Shower Gel
1 oz (30 ml) Castile soap
1 oz (30 ml) Aloe vera gel
12 drops Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis ct. camphor or ct. 1,8-cineole/Salvia rosmarinus)
8 drops Hemlock essential oil (Tsuga canadensis)
6 drops Wild Carrot essential oil (Daucus carota)
5 drops Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
Make this natural shower gel recipe in a 2 oz (60 ml) PET plastic flip-top bottle.
Plastic is great for the shower, because you don't have to worry about glass breaking if you drop the bottle. And PET is a safe, non-leaching plastic. Use the flip-top cap to get just a little out, or unscrew the cap and get as much as you want on your loofah or wash cloth.
Combine your aloe vera gel and castile soap in the 2 oz bottle.
Then add your drops of essential oils.
Shake this blend well after you make it and before each use. The essential oils do disperse through the castile soap, but the castile soap and aloe may separate. Just give the bottle a good shake to mix them up again.
Make this blend along with me!
Let's take a closer look at the essential oils in this DIY natural shower gel recipe.
Rosemary essential oil
Rosmarinus officinalis ct. camphor or ct. 1,8-cineole/Salvia rosmarinus
Studies in 2003, 2009, and 2012 found that Rosemary—with its fresh, herbal scent—had a stimulating effect on the mind, enhancing cognitive performance and inspiring an energized, positive mood.
This is largely due to the high amounts of camphor or 1,8-cineole in Rosemary oil.
These components have helped make Rosemary a go-to for mental clarity throughout history.
You can even use Rosemary for memory!
Hemlock essential oil
Tsuga canadensis
Don't be concerned—Hemlock essential oil doesn't come from a poisonous plant!
This fresh, piney oil is distilled from a conifer tree. The toxic form of Hemlock comes from a small plant in the parsley family.
Hemlock contains the component bornyl acetate.
In small amounts, oils rich in bornyl acetate can help lift feelings of tiredness due to stress. (Larger amounts might have the opposite effect though, making you feel sleepier!) Our natural shower gel recipe has less than 1% of Hemlock oil per ounce, so it's nice and stimulating!
Wild Carrot essential oil
Daucus carota
Thanks to its component geranyl acetate, Wild Carrot oil has the ability to help your body through its natural detox process—great for helping you feel cleansed inside and out!
This sweet, woody, earthy oil can also support open breathing, so you can take deep, invigorating breaths during your shower.
Cardamom essential oil
Elettaria cardamomum
A 2012 study identified one of the main components in Cardamom oil, 1,8-cineole, as enhancing cognitive performance.
This constituent helps to circulate your energy and deepen your breath.
That's part of why this spicy-sweet oil is known as a "cephalic" oil—an oil that boosts alertness and mental responsiveness.
These 4 oils have MORE benefits for your DIY natural shower gel recipe!
In addition to helping you feel clear, sharp, and motivated, the oils can all help reduce the presence of germs.
The castile soap does most of the work in cleansing your skin, and the enzymes in the aloe vera gel help soothe irritation.
But the addition of the essential oils takes the germ-busting benefits of this shower gel to the next level.
