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Spring Cleansing

© Marie A. Miczak

Spring Cleansing

We all know about Spring Cleaning but how about Spring Cleansing? Welcome the new time of year in a big way at your home using the power of scent and essential oils. Fumigation was an important part of the past, especially for sickrooms or when a member of the family had fallen ill. The herb of choice in European areas was rosemary. Blends of special cleansing incense were also popular in many areas of the world, with the traditional ingredients used many times found to actually purify the air and kill germs and bacteria. These cleaning incenses are also very clearing to the mind, not to mention calming and fun to experiment with. The important thing is to try and amass all of the ingredients you need ahead of time, instead of getting midway through the recipe only to find a number of ingredients missing. The synergy may end up very lacking. When sandalwood and frankincense is involved however, you are afforded the lack of an ingredient here or there. They more than make up for it.

Spring Cleansing Incense Blend: - 1 charcoal disk, for use in incense burning or 1 part powder, self burning incense
- 1 part sandalwood powder (yellow seems best) or use sandalwood essential oil
- 1/2 part frankincense
- 1/2 part myrrh
- 1/2 part benzoin powder or gum
- 5 drops rose essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients (except for the charcoal disk if you are using one) well and store in a glass container of at least one week so it can mingle together. Any of the ingredients can either be used in essential oil form or in powder form. With essential oils, you can get away with using much less conspired to whole form. As an alternative you can add the mixture to an incense cutting solution, let it steep for a few weeks and apply it to sandalwood stick/blocks of incense punks... to create incense sticks.

Depending on the type of incense you have made and using a safe incense burning device, allow the scented smoke to waft throughout your entire house, moving it room to room. If it is warm enough outside you can open your windows to allow further fresh air to enter and aid in the cleansing process. This can be done one day or each day for a week to fully permeate your house with its wonderful smell.

-MAM