How to Make Aromatherapy Gift Baskets

Gift baskets; give a lot in a little package.

Who wouldn't want to receive a gift basket that could uplift your mood and soothe your nerves? Imagine surrounding yourself with wonderful scents; they invade your mind and relax your body and spirit. Aromatherapy provides a natural way to de-stress, and a basket containing essential oils, diffusers and other goodies is sure to please. While there are many places on the Internet to order aromatherapy gift baskets, it is pretty easy, and usually a lot more economical, to make your own.

Things You'll Need

• Basket
• 4 to 6 bottles of 4 ml essential oils (suggested scents: Eucalyptus Globulus, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary, Tea tree or Ylang ylang)
• 1 to 2 bottles of 2 oz. carrier oils (suggested scents: Apricot Kernal, Sweet Almond or Sunflower)
• 1 tea-light diffuser
• 1 or 2 sachets
• 1 eye pillow
• 1 2 oz. or 4 oz. bottle of unscented body spray
• Decoder or book with recipes for mixing essential oils
• Ribbon
• Tissue paper
• Cellophane or Tulle netting (approx. 2 yards)
• 1 long twist tie
• Tape
• Gift tag

Instructions

1. Line the bottom of the basket with tissue paper. Bunch up the tissue paper to create a cushion for the products.

2. Arrange the products in the basket, putting taller and heavier items in the center, medium-sized items around the edges and smaller items nestled in-between the other items. You may need to wrap breakable items with tissue paper.

3. Cut your cellophane or tulle netting large enough so that it will cover the whole basket and leave enough at the top to tie the ribbon around.

4. Place the basket in the middle of the cellophane or tulle netting, then gather up the wrapping material on all sides and secure it at the top with a long twist tie. Look for obvious gaps in the wrapping and secure with tape.

5. Cut a length of ribbon and tie it around the twist tie. Leave long strands of the ribbon and curl them using your scissors.

6. Attach the name tag. Put one or two drops of one of the essential oils on the card so the recipient can start enjoying their aromatherapy gift before she even opens it.

Tips & Warnings

• You want to make sure that you are using pure essential oils and not ones with perfume or artificial ingredients added. According to Aromaweb.com, "Perfume oils do not offer the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. Even if you only intend on using aromatherapy in your lifestyle for the sheer enjoyment of the aroma, essential oils that are breathed in can offer therapeutic benefits. These benefits do not occur with the use of perfume oils." There is a vast array of scents available and many unscented products that you can add essential oils to for a custom-made product. Feel free to add different products to your gift basket, including soaps, massage oils, scent balls or electric diffusers. Aromatherapy baskets make great gifts for both men and women. Choose a darker wood basket for a more masculine appearance and lighter tones for a feminine touch.

• Do not apply essential oils directly to the skin. Mix them with carrier oils. Never use certain essential oils in aromatherapy. For a list of some of these oils, please see the Hazardous Essential Oils article in the Resources section.

References

• Aromaweb.com
• BirchHillHappenings.com

Resources

• Hazardous Essential Oils
• Vast assortment of aromatherapy products
• Therapeutic Grade Wholesale Essential Oils