Aromatherapy Chapter I by Deborah Dolen

Aromatherapy Chapter I

INTRODUCTION TO AROMATHERAPY by Deborah Dolen

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011  This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook.

 

Intro to Aromatherapy– The term 'aromatherapy' was first used in the 1920's by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé who accidentally discovered in laboratory that lavender oil relieves pain and assists in healing of superficial burns. Please full excerpt of Aromatherapy Basics by Deborah Dolen at Apothecary University.  

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Deborah Dolen is bestselling author of Aromatherapy Basics available on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble as well as Goodreads.

Deborah Dolen's Perfume Formula | Cashmere

Deborah Dolen's Cashmere Perfume Formula

Excerpt How to Make Perfume  Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

This is a seductive arrangement reminiscent of Chopard's Casmir. Chopard's Casmir embraces oriental vanilla, mango and subtle spices. You can craft this with essential oil or fragrance oils - just try to stay within the boundaries of the ratios below. Fruits generally do not come in essential oil mediums. This is why I listed them as just fragrance oil below. You can add a few of your own notes in, I think incense is awesome as a note (if you have captured any incense by infusion) and potentially sandalwood. You can anchor with a drop of Bergamot, I chose not too.

5 drops of Mango or Peach fragrance oil

5 drops of Jasmine fragrance oil
4 drops of Musk fragrance oil

4 drops Coconut fragrance oil

3 drops Lilly of the Valley fragrance oil

2 drops Patchouli essential oil

2 drops Amber essential oil

2 drops Oriental Vanilla essential oil [Tahitian]
1 drop Cinnamon essential oil [Cassia is fine]
1 drop Allspice essential oil
1 drop Clove essential oil
1 drop Nutmeg essential oil

Since all of the top, middle and base notes are perfected above - this formula tolerates the addition of florals and other spices very well. So, if you want to add more florals or spices or a variety of them-you will probably end up with another designer scent.

When you feel you have a perfume expression you love, you can then drop it into ethanol or perfumers alcohol to a dilution ratio you are happy with. This is the best way to convert an oil based recipe to a water based recipe. This formula is so special I do not use it for room spray. I use it for myself, in my bath, body lotions and so on. I discuss perfume dilutions here, in Perfume Crafting, and how to make solid perfume here. Savannah Botanical Perfume Formula is here.

COMMENTS are on another platform because BlogSpot has too many comment issues, including the fact my own comment ability is not working and has not been for months. http://petalscience.com/#COMMENTS

Excerpt How to Make Perfume Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

Twitter Deborah Dolen | Deborah Dolens 20 Twitter Favorites

Twitter Deborah Dolen @DeborahDolen on Twitter

I love Twitter so much because you can perform a focus search on just about anything you are interested in. If you are into DIY, you can read educational news and posts about anything in DIY, and if you feel like it-you can even participate in the conversation. The same is true for couponing, if you are into coupons, or even environmental postings you can select that area to learn how to "go green."

I think Twitter will play a huge role in the next Presidental election. Never before have so many people been able to post ideas, during their busy schedules, and share why they feel what about who and why. I wonder if we won't all get on line some day to simply click a button to elect our president. Beyond polictics, DIY, crafting, and coupons-you can even follow your favorite music artist, sports, or just stay current on the news. I follow sports, mainly NASCAR and horse racing. Other area's I follow are the perfume makers as they always have neat ideas.

Cooking up a storm? Probably the best recipes in the world are shared on Twitter. I have many friends on Twitter who are Chefs. I find their posts amusing and informative. Suggested people to follow? Here is my list of who I enjoy following on Twitter: [Join me on Facebook because most of these people are my Facebook friends also!]

http://twitter.com/#!/DeborahDolen

http://twitter.com/#!/SpreadingJoy

http://twitter.com/#!/RockingJude

http://twitter.com/#!/Banksey78

http://twitter.com/#!/wood_brothers21

http://twitter.com/#!/CesarMillan

http://twitter.com/#!/Amazon

http://twitter.com/#!/andersoncooper

http://twitter.com/#!/pcousteau

http://twitter.com/#!/TIME

http://twitter.com/#!/NewsWeek

http://twitter.com/#!/LittleBrown

http://twitter.com/#!/THEROCK

http://twitter.com/#!/C_Brinkley

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidBowie

http://twitter.com/#!/DAVIDARCHIE

http://twitter.com/#!/mittromney

http://twitter.com/#!/aliciakeys

http://twitter.com/#!/UN

http://twitter.com/#!/Paul_Hewson [Bono]

Happy Twittering - Twitter Deborah Dolen and my Dog Ringo too!

@DeborahDolen

@RingoDAWG

Deborah Dolen's Preakness Predictions

Deborah Dolen's Preakness Predictions 2011

The 136th Preakness on May 21,2011 is drawing a little comedy on Twitter. Twitter people want to see "Rapture" and "LeftBehind" in the running. I was thinking "ThereIsNoHeaven" should run in that litte trifecta-owner, naturally, Stephen Hawking, to make a shocker of an ending promised by major know nothing (no not Hawking) but the real master of doom Harold Camping. My take on that expiration date is more a Lucifer date-he knows his time is almost up-not to mention the small detail that Harold Camping signed business contracts that begin after May 21, 2011 .

Back to the real world, betting on the Preakness is always a lot easier than the Kentucky Derby because there are far less horses and those horses who performed well at the Derby usually perform better at the Preakness. The caveat to all of this is horses do not usually win on dirt and go back to win on synthetics. I know I said in my last article, Animal Kingdom had no dirt experience at all and I ruled him out, albiet his Jockey I ruled in. Animal Kingdom won the Derby anyway and I learned an exception to every rule. Animal Kingdom was my belated pick at the Derby because of the Jockey. That Jockey, John Velazquez, was supposed to ride Uncle Mo – who became ill with suspected gastric issues as the Derby approached.

Uncle Mo is still recovering at Winstar Farm where he has been since May 9th. Uncle Mo is doing better and has gained 30 pounds. He had lost at least 60 pounds during his perplexing illness. Speaking of rest, Nehro has been pleasantly excused from the Preakness. His owner, Ahmed Zayat did not feel compelled to enter Nehro in the Preakness and loves his horse enough to give him a break. For that reason alone, Nehro’s owner just won five Preaknesses in my book. This leads to my other point about Animal Kingdom, I think beyond going back to a synthetic track, and the fact he is probably tired – I am betting on him for show. That is third place. He has been run a lot the last year.

Midnight Interlude [7] had a jockey change since the Derby, to Martin Garcia and there is no doubt Garcia knows how to bring Interlude to his best racing potential. My best guesses Derby wise were the Jockey guesses. Since I am talking Jockeys, I need to mention Julien Leproux and “Dialed In” [12.]

Based on all of that, my picks are Mucho Macho Man [9], Dialed In [12], Animal Kingdom [11], and Midnight Interlude [7]. I will just probably trifecta box those four.

To see the Preakness line up click here.

Deborah Dolen on Kentucky Derby 2011

Deborah Dolen Saratoga NY Summer 2011

Now that I have passed a major bench mark in my life, I am getting back to writing. I am super excited to say some of my writing will take place this summer in Saratoga, NY. I will be in Saratoga for the the "Traverse," which is the oldest thoroughbred horse race in America. With any luck "Uncle Mo" will be there and I can visit with him. I grew up walking and grooming the most beautiful thoroughbreds on the planet, at Saratoga - and for the best Jockeys; Cordero, Shoemaker, and Belmonte to name a few.

As far as Saratoga in August, I am trying to fly in early because Train and Maroon 5 play at Saratoga Performing Arts on the 9th or so of August. I will be visiting a few wineries and a pefumery while I am in upstate NY. If I have it my way I will be right back up there for the change of trees and skiing in Vermont this year. Books I have planned are two - one about making perfume which is more of a DIY endeavor and one "fiction" about the BP oil spill because I really think there was more to that than ever met the eye.

I love making perfume, I think it is like "golf" is to many people - (and I do not like golf) but proponents of golf say it is a "challange" between your own self and a challange that can never really be won. So, they are attracted to a sport they can improve at, but never really "win" and that is very much like the past time of making perfume.

Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses by Deborah Dolen

There are many horses in this race, but just the same, many that have never ran on dirt or performed well on dirt - process of elimination is the best way to figure the outcome of the 2011 Kentucky Derby. The track is wet and expected to stay wet, and that will matter. I will get to the horses that only know or prefer grass or synthetic turf in a moment. If you are betting in the Derby try to pick your top six and stay flexible. A few contenders always get scratched at the last minute, so stay flexible. I tend to pick my top six-so last minute exits do not affect my positioning so much.

The favorites right now for the Kentucky Derby are Nehro [19], Twice the Appeal [3], Pants on Fire [7], in that order. Twice the Appeal normally would not be a huge contender, but the jockey, Calvin Borel, former three time Derby winner, (in the last 4 years) sure is. Mucho Macho Man [13] has also proven himself on dirt, and Dialed In [8] who is another favorite, because he is coupled with Jockey Julien Leparoux. Comma to the Top [6] is one I like and Archarcharch [1] - but he is on the inside and I do not think that is a good position for Archarcharch at all. A lot of people like Soldat [17] but I am not sure why because dirt tracks are not his bag. Brilliant Speed [2] is kind of a long shot favorite and I like him.

Picking by Jockeys

If we just picked this race by the Jockey it would be Midnight Interlude [15] with Victor Espinoza, Twice the Appeal [3] Calvin Borel, Animal Kingdom [16] John Velasquez and Dialed in [8] Jockey Julien Leparoux.

Uncle Mo, photo above, who has been a huge favorite simply is not in the running. Uncle Mo is my Secretariat. I had the good fortune to walk and groomed Secretariat when I was younger at Saratoga, then onto Belmont and then the Meadowlands. Uncle Mo has been having serious gastrointestinal issues, and after being looked at by three different vets - they agree he is in no shape to run. His owner is concerned at Uncle Mo's lack of responsiveness to his meds.

Master if Hounds [11] and Animal Kingdom [16] have never ran on dirt and it is supposed to be a wet track. Brilliant Speed [2] and Twin inspired [10] prefer turf or synthetic and never performed well on dirt.

I did not mention 4, 5, 9, 12, 14 and 20. Let's look at them: Stay Thirsty [4] Decisive Moment [5], Derby Kitten [9], Santiva [12] Shackelford [14] and Watch Me Go [20] because they are all long shots for verygood reasons.

Upsets could be Stay Thirsty [4] and Archarcharch [1] who is either going to make it or break it on the inside of the tough first gate.

My betting? I select a few ways and then box them, usually on a trifecta.

Performance: Nehro [19], Mucho Macho Man [13], Archarcharch [1], Pants on Fire [7].

Jockey's: Dialed In [8] Julien Leparoux, Twice the Appeal [3] Calvin Borel, Midnight Interlude [15] with Victor Espinoza, Animal Kingdom [16] John Velasquez.

Lucky Numbers: [3] Twice the Appeal, [4] Stay Thristy [6] Comma to the Top [19] Nehro

Like Names: Brilliant Speed [2,] Twice the Appeal [3], Comma to the Top [6,] Archarcharch [1]

Click here to see more about the horses http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

Post Derby Results: Animal Kingdom [16] just proved you can win the Kentucky Derby even if you have never ran on dirt. The beauty of Animal Kingdom was the Jockey was supposed to be Uncle Mo's Jockey. John Velasquez was tired of being scratched at previous Derby's and claimed the 2011 Run for the Roses as his own. My first two performance picks were on target and in order. So no more betting by lucky numbers or cool names for me!

Click here to see more about the horses http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

Deborah Dolen on Perfume Crafting with Exotic Oils Recipes and Formula's

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White



As summer approaches making your own perfume is a fun and easy project.

Making your own perfume or cologne is extremely easy if you have lots of time to just experiment with blending various scented oils. Almost all scents originate from the oil part of a botanical extraction. Even if a scent is not usually found in an oil form it is always best to try to find the oil version of the scent you like when trying to blend - if it is available in oil form. Vanilla would be a great example. Making vanilla extract is essentially making a perfume. Meaning the scent of vanilla is extracted by a form of alcohal. Vanilla is usually sold as water based (extract) but can be purchased as a much harder to find oil (essential oil)-however the oil based vanilla is going to last much longer in most professional applications. In a nutshell, I made my first perfume years ago by combining different precious oils, fragrance oils, flavor oils and essential oils I liked and had on hand. My formula was a mixture of vanilla, musk, neroli, vetivert, sweet spices, white florals (such as lilly of the valley, white rose), oppomax and incense. It took months to "build." I even soaked incense in oil for a few months, to capture the scent of the incense. (Naturally I strained it when I when I felt it was the most scent I could impart.) For about a year I just dabbed the oil I formulated on myself. It was not until I took that oil mixture I adored and dropped it into a very high proof alcohol (190 proof ethanol) - did it "bloom" and blow me away. I cannot recall why I did that - I think I was just bored or trying to make what I did have stretch to also share with a friend. Dispersing the oil in a high proof alcohol gave the scent so many new facets. Like my creation went from two dimensions to several. Most importantly it made it "throw" just like the Chanel #22 I was trying to copy. Chanel had ceased making that arrangement years back and I could not envision living without #22. Number 22 was known as the "wedding" perfume made with only white flowers. Knowing this was a major advantage to coming close to a copy I liked. There is a "perfumers alcohol" that is about 200 proof, but it is not easy to get. Mainly those who sell it, will elaborate on why you "must" use that. I use whatever I can get my hands on and that is generally "Everclear" or Mohawk, 190 proof.

Dilutions: What Makes Perfume Grade vs Toilet Water Grade?
I will call your final product a “compound” or “ester.” Once you have designed a great scent (compound) and given it a name it is going to be fantastic in any dilution! Your masterpiece “symphony” of oil based compounds will become more multifaceted with the addition of a high proof alcohol. A high proof alcohol such as Everclear 190 will “solve” your oils. Some states can only secure 150 proof and that is acceptable, but still not as good as 190. In fact, I really do not like 150 for much at all-so maybe forget that.

Real perfume is usually 10-20% of the master oils formulation and 80% a very high proof alcohol. Some perfumeries add 5% distilled water in exchange for part of the alcohol but I never have. Colognes are usually maxim 3-5% of the precious formula with 80% alcohal, and 10% distilled water. Toilet water is usually maximum 2% precious oils to 80% alcohol and 20% distilled water. Body splash is pretty much in the cologne dilution category. I do worry about oxidation of precious raw materials so I drop anti-oxidants such as dendritic salt and or vitamin E into my oil blends. ROE, Rosemary Oleoresin extract is also great and very powerful but can discolor the project.

Perfume = 10%-20% compound /5% distilled water/80% alcohol
Cologne 3-5% compound/10% distilled water/85% alcohol
Toilet Water=2% compound/18% distilled water/80% alcohol

Materials to make Perfume?
Beyond securing a high proof alcohol such as Everclear 190 and distilled water, you can draw raw materials to make your compound from many places. I know people who soak special woods in alcohal to extract a special scent. I find that so facinating. I did the same with orange blossoms that were always plenty on my property in Florida. When making your own perfume, you are going to want to buy some atomizers when you are on a roll with a great scent or two. Sephora makes some really neat ones I buy on line - probably half the price of all others ($10) and same peformance. Always keep careful notes. Your best creation could be what you felt your worst mistake. My readers generally have the same materials around the house that I have in my lab. They generally already have fragrance oils, flavor oils and/or essential oils. My Chanel #22 copy had about 50% fragrance oil, 20% flavor oil and 30% essential oil because I drew from what I had. I made careful notes about my sources of each scent because, for example, a vanilla fragrance oil is no where near as strong as vanilla essential oil. This means much less vanilla is needed in my formula if I ever replaced vanilla FO with vanilla EO.

Your Blend Can Go Into Lotion and Crème
Your compound can usually blend right into an already made lotion or crème without adding alcohol. Vanilla is my absolute favorite ingredient, and in almost all of my formulas, but the down side is browning. Vanilla seems to “bloom” into pink dots and over a month’s time make the entire lotion a pinkish brown. It looks just like women’s’ cosmetic foundation. Although the change always freaks me out, many of my friends liked that attribute and felt it was more natural. I am still on the fence about the “blooming” but I still loving my vanilla. Lately I just opt for a synthetic vanilla, that still is from a natural source. It is a tree resin. Meaning not all synthetics are dangerous chemicals. And some "natural" things that are "organic" are more dangerous that synthetics. Arsenic is a great example of a natural substance.

Other Ways to Garner Scent
Many people do not realize water is the most used solvent known to man. When we make a cup of coffee we are using water to “solve” the parts of the bean we are after. This is also known as solvent extraction. Now envision putting barks, petals, spices (in whole or freshly crushed form,) citrus peels and/or moss in the coffee filter. The end result would be a melange of scent.

Looking at scent compounding another way, think of vanilla extract. It is made over time by placing the vanilla bean in a high proof alcohol. To save money and perhaps reduce any residual alcohol smell, some distilled water is added to most extracts. As I said above, making vanilla extract is essentially like making perfume.

Just for Fun! Extraction Project
In 16 ounces of a high proof alcohol (2 cups) put lemon citrus rinds, cinnamon sticks, a vanilla bean (partially macerated- spliced- for maximum flavor,) crushed whole nutmeg or any other peel, rind, aromatic you can think of. Petals are OK but do brown. Allow to sit for a few months, shaking a few times a week. Filter through a coffee filter. For a stronger result do it a second time. I call this “folds,” such as “four fold” if I repeat the process 4 times. The end result should be a wonderful aromatic base you can spray around your home. Keep this away from heat because alcohol is very flammable.

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White



A very comprehensive list I created years ago is here:

Designer Perfume Notes Index
http://www.mabelwhite.com/Recipes/PerfumeFormulas.htm

Deborah Dolen on Perfume Crafting with Exotic Oils Recipes and Formula's
http://deborahdolen.blogspot.com/2010/07/deborah-dolen-on-perfume-crafting-with.html

Deborah Dolen on How to Make Perfume
http://deborahdolen.blogspot.com/2011/05/deborah-dolen-on-perfume-crafting-with.html

Introduction to Making Perfume and Most Important 66 notes to Have: Propensity Chart
http://petalscience.com/ by Deborah Dolen

COMMENTS are on another platform because BlogSpot has too many comment issues, including the fact my own comment ability is not working and has not been for months.http://petalscience.com/#COMMENTS

Deborah Dolen on London's Royal Wedding Bells

I took this photo when I was in London at 10 Downing Street. At the time it was the official residence of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The horses kept on Downing street are known as the Queen's life buoys. They are expected to be in full force Friday as the Royal Wedding makes it way to Westminister Abbey.

For more dish on the Royal wedding cake, royal flowers and more click my OpenSalon article or follow me on Twitter!

Click here for full article by Deborah Dolen

Royal Website

The official Royal wedding site very interactive and looks like a Disney production. You can see it by clicking here: http://bit.ly/eDoD6K and live stream can be seen here on Friday, http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

Visit Amazon.com's Deborah Dolen Page and shop for all Deborah Dolen books and other Deborah Dolen related products (DVD, CDs, Books, audiobooks). Visit Deborah Dolen on Twitter or join Deborah Dolen on Facebook. Sources: The London Apothecary by Deborah Dolen.

Deborah Dolen Amazon's Whispernet

I love Amazon's digital text platform so much I am posting all of my 27 books on it. Amazon DPT (digital text platform) is also known as Amazon Kindle Whispernet. To see my new author page Amazon designed for me, click Deborah Dolen Amazon. My first books on Amazon Whispernet are The Beekeeper's Digest and Kitchen Art's Collection which include my favorite spice and seasoning recipes, gifts in jars and the like. One basic recipe to make dip mix was posted last month in BlogSpot. Other recipes can be found at Deborah Dolen RSS Syndication and Mabel White RSS Syndication.

The next books headed over to Amazon's Kindle platform includes The London Apothecary and Gracechurch, a small apothecary observational I wrote while filming in London. Click here for my most popular books on Mabel White. In case you missed them here are a few how to and recipes from my books:

Easy Dry Dip Mix Recipe
Dry Wassail Recipe
How to Make the Best Vanilla Extract
Bit O Honey Recipe
Perfume Crafting
Making Edible Love Lotion

I want to thank Open Salon for doing so much public relations work for me.

Favorite Formula's from Beekeeper's Digest by Deborah Dolen

Excerpt The Beekeeper's Digest Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

Favorite Formula’s From Beekeeper’s Digest (Excerpt)
Copyright 2006 Deborah Dolen Photo of Deborah Dolen courtesy of World News
The bee is such a magical pest, among many other credits, we owe 30% or more of our food crops to pollination from bees. In 2007 many bees started dying as their immune systems seemed trashed. They were catching everything so it was hard to isolate the cause. Rumors from cell phone towers to pesticides were rampant. This was distressing news to me also. It took a few more years for me to understand Monsanto, a relationship to Monarch Butterflies dying just from being brushed with genetically modified corn pollen-that I began to understand my take on what may be responsible for dropping the immune systems of the bees. Cornell University conducted the Monarch Butterfly experiments. Cornell knew as early as 1999 there were serious environmental ramifications regarding altering DNA and then introducing it into our food chain.

About the same time we had bee issues in the states I was filming in London when I received an invite to be a teacher on a Mercy Ship. The specific area had to do with teaching beekeepers in Africa what finished products to make with their bee by-products and I would stay on a rather new ship. I actually found that to be a fascinating challenge, I had been wanting to learn beekeeping. If I had been able to attend I would have been with the best beekeeping master the world had to offer on that ship and on land. I also had waited ten years to be accepted into the Mercy program and the timing could not have been worse. I caught pneumonia in London and spent several week recovering in Florida. While in bed recovering I studied more about bees and bee by-products. I ended up writing a book as a permanent way of teaching products people can make with bee by-products in lieu of my absence. The beekeeper’s digest is a result of my passion for bees and my odd gift of industry.

In the book I discuss it is important, as just a consumer, to know your source of your honey. I buy bee by-products from the least polluted areas, even as high up as north Canada. What they are pollinating off of can also be medicinal, so I also buy from areas in Oregon that are plush with Eucalyptus and lavender fields. This is essentially how the Manuka honey zone became popular in New Zealand. So, I buy honey from everywhere as long as I know the pollination source and its attributes.

My favorite honey recipe is a medicinal type syrup. You can also do many variations of this basic syrup and they are discussed in the recipe below. Vegetable glycerin is not a must, and can be substituted with more honey in its place. But vegetable glycerin is a really good humectant for dry mucus membranes. It is not always easy to find locally though. I dubbed this recipe “United Kingdom” because I was in London at the time I wrote it and was with a bunch of herbalist at Napier’s. Their input helped me build this recipe and its variations.

Basic Honey Cough Syrup with Lemon and Glycerin: United Kingdom

Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2006-2011

Makes 8 ounces or 234 ml
2 lemons
4 Ounces Vegetable Glycerin (117 ml)
4 Ounce Honey (117 Ml)
The recipe is basically one part honey to one part vegetable glycerin. Heat the lemons by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. Cut in half and squeeze out the juice. Add the glycerin and honey. Take 1 tsp as needed. Cute if packaged in Boston Round type bottles.
Variations of Cough Honey and Glycerin Cough Syrup
You can get fancy and add any of the following to enhance your basic recipe. ¼ part to all Triple strength Horehound Tea, and/or a Teaspoon of whiskey (if for an adult.) ONE drop of Thyme essential oil. Thyme is VERY potent and could be hard on the liver. One or two drops is enough. A drop or two of Anise essential oil (tastes like licorice.) Menthol crystals can be added and would dissolve in the heat phase. ¼ teaspoon of menthol crystals if you have them.
In addition to Horehound's expectorant and demulcent qualities, as an antispasmodic it helps to relax the coughing spasms so common with bronchitis. The added sweetness of horehound candy/cough drops that are available commercially makes the very bitter herb more accessible. Or one can obtain Horehound's healing qualities with a tea, tincture, or syrup. Hyssop is similar in chemical makeup and function to horehound but is much less bitter. Both of these herbs mix well with peppermint. Some other herbs that can be helpful in treating coughs are: wild cherry bark, violets, osha, bee balm, slippery elm, nasturtium, red clover and plantain. Ginger, ground cloves and cinnamon can also be great variations. Cinnamon by nature is very strong. Like Thyme, be very prudent with it.

Gardeners Hand Crème Makes 6 Ounces or 170 Grams
Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2006-2011

2 Ounces Castor Oil (56 Grams)
2 Ounces of Olive Oil (56 Grams)
2 Ounces of Beeswax (56 Grams)
2 Tablespoons of Sterile Warm Water
1/2 Teaspoon White China Clay
½ Teaspoon of Borax

9 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
9 Drops of Orange, or Mandarin Essential Oil
Using a dependable heat proof glass measuring cup, melt the beeswax in the microwave for about 5 minutes—continually watching it. Remove with gloves and stir. Heat a few more minutes if the beeswax is not almost melted.
Remove again with mittens to avoid being burned. Slowly add the china clay in while using a hand held whipper or whisk and then add the water with the borax into it while still whipping. Add the essential oils last. Your creation should start looking “fluffy” and is ready to go into containers. Use a spatula to work it into you jars and avoid air pockets. If it is not binding, try to whip more and add another teaspoon of borax.

Honey-O-Bit Candy Almond Honey NougatBit of Honey/Almond Candy

Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2006-2011

No honey book would be complete without this!

1 Cup of Honey
1 Cup of Sugar
2 Cups of Dry Powdered Milk
2 Ounces of Almond Paste or Crushed Almonds

To Make:

Melt the honey, sugar and almonds until reaching 270 degrees F, stirring constantly as not to scorch. Let cool to 180 F and then stir in dried milk powder. Allow to cool to 110 degrees F and then roll onto a cutting board. Cut into rectangular chucks. Allow to harden. Wrap in wax paper to store. This makes about 6 dozen pieces.

A Variation of this high energy treat is known as Halva.

2 cups brown sesame seeds1/2 cup flax seeds4 T honey4 T sesame oil
Finely grind all dry ingredients together and then slowly add warm honey and sesame oil. You can roll these into balls and store in the refrigerator. We like to dip ours in “dipping chocolate” and at times add pistachios to the mix.

Excerpt The Beekeeper's Digest Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

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Deborah Dolen on Perfume Crafting with Exotic Oils Recipes and Formula's

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

Making your own perfume or cologne is extremely easy if you have lots of time to just experiment with blending various scented oils. Almost all scents originate from the oil part of a botanical extraction. Even if a scent is not usually found in an oil form it is always best to try to find the oil version of the scent you like when trying to blend. Vanilla would be a great example. Vanilla is usually sold as water based (extract) but can be purchased as a much harder to find oil (essential oil)-however the oil based vanilla is going to last much longer in most professional applications. In a nutshell, I made my first perfume years ago by combining different precious oils, fragrance oils, flavor oils and essential oils I liked and had on hand. My formula was a mixture of vanilla, musk, neroli, vetivert, sweet spices, white florals (such as lilly of the valley, white rose) and oppomax. It took months to "build." For about a year I just dabbed the oil I formulated on myself. It was not until I took that oil mixture I adored and dropped it into a very high proof alcohol - did it "bloom" and blow me away. I cannot recall why I did that - I think I was just bored or trying to make what I did have stretch to also share with a friend. Dispersing the oil in a high proof alcohol gave the scent so many new facets. Like my creation went from two dimensions to several. Most importantly it made it "throw" just like the Chanel #22 I was trying to copy. Chanel had ceased making that arrangement years back and I could not envision living without #22. Number 22 was known as the "wedding" perfume made with only white flowers. Knowing this was a major advantage to coming close to a copy I liked.

Dilutions: What Makes Perfume Grade vs Toilet Water Grade?

I will call your final product a “compound” or “ester.” Once you have designed a great scent (compound) and given it a name it is going to be fantastic in any dilution! Your masterpiece “symphony” of oil based compounds will become more multifaceted with the addition of a high proof alcohol. A high proof alcohol such as Everclear 190 will “solve” your oils. Some states can only secure 150 proof and that is acceptable, but still not as good as 190.

Real perfume is usually 10-20% of the master oils formulation and 80% a very high proof alcohol. Some perfumeries add 5% distilled water in exchange for part of the alcohol but I never have. Colognes are usually maxim 3-5% of the precious formula with 10% distilled water. Toilet water is usually maximum 2% precious oils to 80% alcohol and 20% distilled water. Body splash is pretty much in the cologne dilution category. I do worry about oxidation of precious raw materials so I drop anti-oxidants such as dendritic salt and or vitamin E into my oil blends. ROE, Rosemary Oleoresin extract is also great and very powerful but can discolor the project.

Perfume = 10%-20% compound /5% distilled water/80% alcohol
Cologne 3-5% compound/10% distilled water/85% alcohol
Toilet Water=2% compound/18% distilled water/80% alcohol

Materials to make Perfume?

Beyond securing a high proof alcohol such as Everclear 190 and distilled water, you can draw raw materials to make your compound from many places. You are going to want to buy some atomizers when you are on a roll with a great scent or two. Sephora makes some really neat ones I buy on line. Always keep careful notes. Your best creation could be what you felt your worst mistake. My readers generally have the same materials around the house that I have in my lab. They generally already have fragrance oils, flavor oils and/or essential oils. My Chanel #22 copy had about 50% fragrance oil, 20% flavor oil and 30% essential oil because I drew from what I had. I made careful notes about my sources of each scent because, for example, a vanilla fragrance oil is no where near as strong as vanilla essential oil. This means much less vanilla is needed in my formula if I ever replaced vanilla FO with vanilla EO.

Your Blend Can Go Into Lotion and Crème

Your compound can usually blend right into an already made lotion or crème without adding alcohol. Vanilla is my absolute favorite ingredient, and in almost all of my formulas, but the down side is browning. Vanilla seems to “bloom” into pink dots and over a month’s time make the entire lotion a pinkish brown. It looks just like women’s’ cosmetic foundation. Although the change always freaks me out, many of my friends liked that attribute and felt it was more natural. I am still on the fence about the “blooming” but I still loving my vanilla.

Other Ways to Garner Scent

Many people do not realize water is the most used solvent known to man. When we make a cup of coffee we are using water to “solve” the parts of the bean we are after. This is also known as solvent extraction. Now envision putting barks, petals, spices (in whole or freshly crushed form,) citrus peels and/or moss in the coffee filter. The end result would be a melange of scent.

Looking at scent compounding another way, think of vanilla extract. It is made over time by placing the vanilla bean in a high proof alcohol. To save money and perhaps reduce any residual alcohol smell, some distilled water is added to most extracts.

Just for Fun! Extraction Project

In 16 ounces of a high proof alcohol (2 cups) put lemon citrus rinds, cinnamon sticks, a vanilla bean (partially macerated- spliced- for maximum flavor,) crushed whole nutmeg or any other peel, rind, aromatic you can think of. Petals are OK but do brown. Allow to sit for a few months, shaking a few times a week. Filter through a coffee filter. For a stronger result do it a second time. I call this “folds,” such as “four fold” if I repeat the process 4 times. The end result should be a wonderful aromatic base you can spray around your home. Keep this away from heat because alcohol is very flammable.

A very comprehensive list I created years ago is here:Designer Perfume Notes Indexhttp://www.mabelwhite.com/Recipes/PerfumeFormulas.htmDeborah Dolen on Perfume Crafting with Exotic Oils Recipes and Formula'shttp://deborahdolen.blogspot.com/2010/07/deborah-dolen-on-perfume-crafting-with.htmlDeborah Dolen on How to Make Perfumehttp://deborahdolen.blogspot.com/2011/05/deborah-dolen-on-perfume-crafting-with.htmlIntroduction to Making Perfume and Most Important 66 notes to Have: Propensity Charthttp://petalscience.com/ by Deborah Dolen

Years before this I made a comprehensive list of top, middle and bottom notes of perfume favorites. Below is part of that list.

In alphabetical order:

Adoration
Floral

Top Notes: Freesia
Heart Notes: Apricot blossoms

Alexandra (Alexandra de Markoff)
Semi-Oriental

Top Notes: Italian Iris, South African marigold
Heart Notes: French Jasmine, Moroccan rose, French jonquil
Base Notes: Indian sandalwood, Singapore patchouli, Reunion island vetiver

Aliage (Estee Lauder)
Chypre-Green

Top Notes: Greens, peach, citrus
Heart Notes: Jasmine, rosewood, pine, thyme
Base Notes: Oakmoss, musk, vetiver, myrrh

Alchimie (Rochas)
Floral-Oriental

Top Notes: Blackcurrant, bergamot, grapefruit
Heart Notes: Acacia, jasmin, passiflora
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean

Amarige (Givenchy)
Floral-Fruity

Top Notes: Mandarin, neroli, violet leaves, rosewood
Heart Notes: Gardenia, red fruits, ylang-ylang, acacia farnesiana, mimosa
Base Notes: Musk, vanilla, tonka bean, woods, ambergris

Amazone (Hermes)
Floral-Fruity, this is a dry scent (not too sweet)

Top Notes: Mandarin, neroli, violet leaves, rosewood
Heart Notes: Daffodil, hyacinth, narcissus, black currant bud, iris, jasmine, raspberry, lily of the valley.
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, cedarwood, neroli, ylang-ylang, oakmoss

Amour Amour (Jean Patou)
Floral-Fresh

Top Notes: Bergamot, strawberry, lemon, neroli
Heart Notes: Jasmine, narcissus, rose, ylang-ylang, carnation, oregano, lily
Base Notes: Vetiver, honey, musk, civet, heliotrope

Anais Anais (Cacharel)
Floral-Fresh

Top Notes: White Madonna lily, black currant bud, hyacinth, lily of the valley, citrus
Heart Notes: Moroccan jasmine, Grasse rose, Florentine Iris, Madagascar ylang-ylang, orange blossom, Bourbon vetiver.
Base Notes: Russian leather, musk

Angel (Thierry Mugler)
Oriental, chocolate-vanilla

Top Notes: Fruits, dewberry, helonial, honey
Heart Notes: Chocolate, caramel, coumarin
Base Notes: Vanilla, patchouli

Animale (Suzanne de Lyon)
Chypre-Floral

Top Notes: Neroli, bergamot, hyacinth, coriander, greens
Heart Notes: Jasmine, rose, pimento berry, ylang-ylang
Base Notes: Patchouli, vetiver, musk, labdanum, oakmoss

Anne Klein
Floral

Top Notes: Greens, galbanum, hyacinth, neroli, cassie, bergamot, aldehydes
Heart Notes: Bulgarian rose, mandarin, lily of the valley, jasmine, orchid, rose
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, vanilla, amber, benzoin, musk, civet

Anne Klein II
Oriental-Ambery, vanilla

Top Notes: Peach, rosewood, greens, lemon
Heart Notes: Lily, jasmine, rose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, orris, carnation
Base Notes: Vanilla, amber, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, civet, benzoin

Antilope (Weil)
Floral-Aldehyde

Top Notes: Grasse neroli, bergamot, chamomile, sage, aldehydes
Heart Notes: Lily of the valley, jasmine
Base Notes: Patchouli, iris, ambergris, vetiver

Antonia's Flowers
Floral

Notes: Freesia, jasmine, lily of the valley, magnolia, fruits

Apres L'Ondee (Guerlain)
Floral-Ambery

Top Notes: Violet, bergamot, cassie, neroli
Heart Notes: Carnation, ylang-ylang, iris, rose, jasmine, mimosa, vetiver, sandalwood
Base Notes: Vanilla, musk, amber, heliotrope

Aromatics Elixir
Chypre-Floral

Top Notes: Chamomile, orange blossom, bergamot, coriander, rosewood, aldehydes, greens, palmarosa
Heart Notes: Jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, tuberose, orris, carnation
Base Notes: Sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, musk, cistus, civet

Arpege (Lanvin)
Floral-Aldehyde

Top Notes: Bergamot, neroli, aldehydes, peach
Heart Notes: Rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, vanilla, musk

Asja (Fendi)
Floral-Oriental

Top Notes: Fruits, citrus
Heart Notes: Bulgarian rose, Egyptian jasmine, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, nutmeg, mimosa
Base Notes: Sandalwood, musk, vanilla, amber

Azzaro
Chypre-Fruity

Top Notes: Fruits, gardenias, aldehydes
Heart Notes: Jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, orris
Base Notes: Moss, styrax, amber, vetiver, patchouli

Azzaro 9
Floral

Top Notes: Pineapple, aldehydes, mandarin, bergamot
Heart Notes: Jasmine, foxglove, tulip, wisteria, clematis, lily, mimosa, rose, orange blossom
Base Notes: Sandalwood, cedarwood, musk, moss, vanilla

Bal A Versailles
Oriental-Ambery Spicy

Top Notes: Grasse jasmine, Bulgarian rose, Anatolian rose, May rose, Farnesian cassie
Heart Notes: Sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver
Base Notes: Musk, ambergris, gums, resins, civet

Balahe (Leonard)
Floral-Ambery

Top Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, clary sage, coriander, pineapple, plum
Heart Notes: Rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, tuberose, orange blossom, orchid
Base Notes: Vanilla, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, civet

Bandit (Robert Piguet)
Chypre-Floral

Top Notes: Artemisia, bergamot, gardenia, aldehydes
Heart Notes: Jasmine, orris, rose, carnation
Base Notes: Moss, castoreum, patchouli, amber, vetiver, civet, myrrh

Basic Black (Bill Blass)
Floral-Fruity

Top Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, ylang-ylang, cardamon
Heart Notes: Rose, violet, coriander
Base Notes: Patchouli, oakmoss, sandalwood

Beautiful (Estee Lauder)
Floral

Top Notes: Bergamot, galbanum, lemon, cassie, fruits
Heart Notes: Rose, ylang-ylang, lilac, violet, lily of the valley, carnation, sage, geranium, rose violet, narcissus, orange blossom, mimosa, marigold, freesia, chamomile, tuberose, jasmine, neroli, jonquil, magnolia
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, musk, vanilla, cedarwood

Bellodgia (Caron)
Floral

Top Notes: Rose, jasmine, lily of the valley
Base Notes: Spicy carnation

Bijan
Floral-Oriental

Top Notes: Ylang-ylang, narcissus, orange blossom
Heart Notes: Persian jasmine, Bulgarian rose, lily of the valley
Base Notes: Moroccan oakmoss, sandalwood, patchouli

Bill Blass
Floral

Top Notes: Galbanum, hyacinth, pineapple, greens, bergamot, geranium
Heart Notes: Iris, tuberose, carnation, ylang-ylang, orris
Base Notes: Amber, sandalwood, benzoin, cedarwood, oakmoss

Blue Grass
Elizabeth Arden

Top Notes: Aldehydes, lavender, orange, neroli, bergamot
Heart Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, narcissus, rose, carnation
Base Notes: Sandalwood, musk, tonka bean, benzoin

Bois de Iles (Chanel)
Floral-Aldehyde

Top Notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, coriander, aldehydes
Heart Notes: Jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, iris
Base Notes: Vetiver, amber, sandalwood, tonka bean

Boucheron
Floral Semi-Oriental

Top Notes: Sicilian tangerine, Calabrian bitter orange, apricot, Persian galbanum, African tegetes, Spanish basilica
Heart Notes: Morrocan orange blossom, Grasse tuberose, Madagascar ylang-ylang, Moroccan jasmine, Auvergne narcissus, British broom
Base Notes: Mysore sandalwood, amber, Indian Ocean vanilla, South American tonka bean

Bvlgari
Floral

Top Notes: Italian bergamot, Spanish orange blossom, Ceylonese cardamom, Jamaican pepper, Russian coriander
Heart Notes: Bulgarian rose, Egyptian jasmine
Base Notes: Green tea, woods

Byblos
Floral-Fruity

Top Notes: Mandarin, grapefruit, cassie, marigold, bergamot, peach
Heart Notes: Honeysuckle, gardenia, mimosa, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, orchid, rose, heliotrope, violet, orris
Base Notes: Musk, vetiver, pepper, raspberry

Byzance (Rochas)
Floral Semi-Oriental

Top Notes: Citrus, cardamon, spices, greens, mandarin, aldehydes, basil
Heart Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, Turkish rose, lily of the valley, ylang-ylang


Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White


The full list is located here for the moment:
http://www.mabelwhite.com/Recipes/PerfumeFormulas.htm

Hands Across the Sand June 26th, 2010 by Deborah Dolen (RSS/API Dolen Images)

Hands Across the Sand June 26th, 2010 by Deborah Dolen (RSS/API Dolen Images) Click photos for full image!

Hands Across the Sand is a movement that started in Florida Saturday, February 13, 2010, and grew global exponentially within months. On the fateful February day thousands of Floridians representing 60 towns and cities and over 90 beaches joined hands to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislature and the US Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling in the near and off shores of Florida. Florida’s Hands Across The Sand event was the largest public gathering in the history of Florida.

Hand Across the Sand Mission is simple “To organize a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables.” Click here for the Hand Across the Sand main website. On June 26th, 2010 thousands of people on just about every beach across the globe got together around noon their respective times and held hands for five minutes (or so) to demonstrate their love and passion for our waters as well as stand up for the primary mission “stop the drilling.”

The Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had a huge impact on awareness of the health of our waters as well as escalated the membership and commitment of Hands Across the Sand members. If you live near a coastal area hands Across the Sand is a great way to meet people with mutual interests.

To date over one hundred million gallons of crude have entered the Gulf of Mexico. Another issue stemming from the BP Oil spill is the vast amount of Corexit being deliberately dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. BP Oil is doing this because it helps the “visual” aspect of less dead birds, but it submerses the oil and kills far more fish. The only good thing about the dispersant is BP Oil cannot get nearly as much of it as they would like to get! No amount of chemicals can match the millions of gallons of crude exiting the sea floor.

It is my opinion a good storm will pass through the BP Oil area and blow all of that oil out. In major storms the water turns out whatever is in it. So, anything BP Oil was trying to conceal will be very visual at the end of the day, or in this case by the end of the summer. All BP oil did was prolong the visual of the disaster for public relations purposes and are needlessly killing more fish to do so. Beyond the fact BP Oil should pay to have super tankers in our Gulf, and should have been asking for them since day one – the sun will naturally degrade some of the oil. Absent any involvement from humans, the sun can degrade the crude more naturally than anything BP Oil is trying to do. Dropping dispersants to “pretend the oil is not as much oil there” (as there really is) simply kills our fish and eventually that oil will come up anyway.

The Gulf of Mexico naturally seeps about 40 million gallons of oil a year. The differences are, it does not seep all in one place, at one time, or near a fragile coast line such as the Mississippi marsh lands. Nature does have a way of taking care of things and it is my hope the oil does turn out in a storm before the winter months arrive while the sun is still hot enough to help degrade the crude. If we have a winter like last year, with water temperatures dropping under 55 degrees Fahrenheit, we could have some semi solid gunk that will be worse to deal with, and much less help from the sun to degrade it.

Photo’s and videos I took are from Anna Maria Island June 26th, 2010.

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BP Oil Crises "Let The Dolphins Eat Cake" by Deborah Dolen (Dolen Syndicated RSS/API)

written by Deborah Dolen (Dolen Syndicated/RSS/ API) photo of Sarasota Bay by Brandon Clifford, Utah!

The live feed of BP's Top Kill attempt is here:I often wonder if BP Oil ever really desired a truly permanent oil pipeline shut off. I also wonder if some of the chaos is really “about them” trying temporary solutions when they could have already invoked a permanent one. True, BP Oil officials are upset, but are they upset about the same things we are? Doubtful.

It cost BP a billion dollars over nine years to build and maintain Deepwater Horizon. It is not an old rig at all. According to a victim of the Deepwater Horizon explosion the rig had hundreds of millions of barrels of oil underneath it. If true, that makes a value of the oil underneath over a trillion dollars. Under the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) BP Oil is only liable to pay a billion for each incident.

Whoever capped the corporate liability of a crises did the environment no favors and also never factored in inflation since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Was a cap necessary? No. Disasters are disasters because no one expects them. So, how could we ever know the true damage of any disaster before it happens? But thanks to the 2000 OPA plan BP Oil officials know their maximum risk is a billion and they have already reached it, technically. After you reach your maximum exposure do you care to do anything but save the golden goose?

BP Oil officials do not live on our gulf and they do not care. We are letting the fox guard the chickens and we must have other experts in there who are objective to stop the oil flow. My vote is to get all BP Oil interests out of that area. This may have always been the real problem. It does seem like the BP Oil’s position is “if the dolphins are hungry, let them eat cake” because dumping massive amounts of bitter-sweet Corexit is going to be accepted as cake.

"Corexit dispersant is propylene glycol is anti-freeze"

Corexit is propylene glycol which is known to us as anti-freeze kills countless animals a year who mistake the sweet potion for water. I hope the anti-freeze they are using to disperse the oil is considered another pollution incident because it is and could have been avoided and it is deliberate polluting of our waters. I had been sympathetic to BP Oil long after my colleagues were yelling ”Boycott BP Oil.” If BP Oil was paying the bill why would we want to choke their profits needed to pay the tab? Because they continue to poison our waters and I now “get it.” All of the money in the world is not going to fix the damage they deliberately still engage in.

Deborah Dolen is an author who lives on Sarasota Bay in Florida. Photo on the left is Deborah Dolen with her best friend Ringo, over looking the Gulf of Mexico. Ringo is a Golden Retriever she adopted from Katrina.

Read about Ringo a dog flown in from Katrina. Official Bio of his owner and short Bio. RSS Syndicated Feeds on the environment. How Twitter is best used. Deborah Dolen Books on Amazon. Review of her books on Open Library, Paperback Swap, Good Reads and ReviewScout. You can also read Google Profile. Deborah Dolen on MySpace Facebook, and Flickr. This is our favorite blogspot. See Deborah Dolen on YouTube and her last book written London Apothecary and book.

World in Motion: No Time for Rugged Individualists (Dolen Syndicated/RSS/API)

Photo by Dolen Images (Dolen Syndicated/RSS/ API)

We had a storm on Sarasota Bay for the first time in months. It was an odd comfort to see lightening hit the open bay like hitting a Teflon pan and illuminating the sky just before noon. It was also somewhat redeeming to hear last night BP may have been able to successfully attach a siphon to the rouge oil geyser. Even if BP did assuage the oil flow there is still a lot of work to be done for the fish and wildlife along many coast lines.

The entire incident underscores our complete fragile existence. No one would have thought a situation hundreds of miles away could have global economic impacts as well as marked physical destruction and mayhem down the gulf coast states and even up to the Eastern seaboard. If the oil were to make it to the gulf stream a good amount, about 1/4 would have been carried to the UK and the other 1/4 up the east coast of the United Stated. As far as other long distance catastrophes’ with far reaching local impacts, it was only year 2007 Georgia wild fires, several hundred miles away darkened SW Florida like a fog for days. I woke up early one May morning sure my neighbors were using their fireplaces. The smell of the smoke from so far away permeated the breeze.

And we are not even days away from Eyjafjallajökull, I have dubbed the Canadian “Ey” which is still not a happy volcano. Volcanic ash disrupting thousands of flight (and rugged individualist,) are still being disrupted. The fact the UK, Ireland and other select counties are still reveling from the volcanic ash is of most interest. The volcano eruption is another magnificent situation over there. And we have not seen anything yet. Katla, a bigger volcano near “Ey” has never been known to stay quiet if Ey is unhappy.

I feel the probably is great that if we ever suffer a world wide shut down, it will not be North Korea and Little Kim, or even Iran and Ahmadinejad. It will most likely be a volcanic disruption that can cover the globe in volcanic dust for years. Because of that and the ever present Hurricane threat to FL, I am storing food, with an emphasis on Vitamin C. A sunless period of years would make that vitamin a necessity. I have been through Bonnie, Frances, Charlie, and Wilma in FL and even Ike over in Houston where I was staying at the time. I have seen what a few weeks without electric can do.

My short term food supply [1 month] is all prepared meals and snacks because no one really wants to cook anyway when there is no air conditioning. Sam’s Club has a lot of neat selections for bulk items. Canned meats, fruits, snacks, nuts and even candy. Candy is simply interesting when there is nothing else to do! For long term food storage I pay attention to combinations we would really eat and expiration dates. True anything “Hormel” could last a decade of Armageddon. During our first experience without electric, we leaned we could get sick of Sweet Sue’s chicken and dumpling after ten days of having only that. Water purification systems are also really important. Although loss of electric is the main result of any event, bad water is usually the second. I keep the Brita brand jugs to purify and Clorox (8 drops a gallon) to disinfect if the water situation is really that bad and there is no electric. The Brita would also serve to take the Chlorine taste out. If money is tight just get charcoal sticks and charcoal in general. Japan uses them as water stirrers because they presently have a myriad of problems over there with their water supply.

It never hurts to be prepared and rotate your long term supplies. At worst someone else can potentially use them if crises does not strike you but close to home.

Deborah Dolen is an author who lives on the Gulf of Mexico near Long Boat Key. Deborah is shown in the photo with her Dog Ringo by her side over looking the Gulf of Mexico. Ringo was rescued from Katrina, and sent to Plantation, Florida where Wilma hit before Deborah Dolen could go get him. She flew a private plane to get Ringo and drop off supplies for 10 vet rescue centers. Together Deborah and Ringo got through hurricane IKE where they were staying near Galveston Bay in September of 2008. The two got to see the devastation of IKE first hand, as well as Hurricane Charlie when Deborah was staying on that side of the gulf. Deborah Dolen has been through Bonnie, Frances, Charlie, Ike, TS Gabrielle, and Ringo has been through Katrina, Wilma and Ike. They know what weeks without electric and other necessities is all about. You can join Deborah Dolen at MySpace http://www.myspace.com/deborah_dolen or see her RSS Feeds on Twitter http://twitter.com/DeborahDolen or check out her new site dedicated to oil and water environmental issues http://www.deborahdolen.org

Read about Ringo a dog flown in from Katrina. Official Bio of his owner and short Bio. RSS Syndicated Feeds on the environment. How Twitter is best used. Deborah Dolen Books on Amazon. Review of her books on Open Library, Paperback Swap, Good Reads and ReviewScout. You can also read Google Profile. Deborah Dolen on MySpace Facebook, and Flickr. This is our favorite blogspot. See Deborah Dolen on YouTube and her last book written London Apothecary and book.

Gulf Oil Spill Everybody's Involved :) by Deborah Dolen

For the first time in history everyone is getting involved before the brunt of a disaster strikes. To the oil spill effort 17,000 National Guardsmen have been activated, the Navy is donating some assets such as 66,000 feet of inflatable boom, several skimming systems, Air force, Army, and countless civilians will help with the oil spill from all different angles. Corporations such as SeaWorld are throwing in expertise, and coastal volunteers responding in droves. Universities such as USF, UF and FSU are also helping in a multitude of ways. Volunteers will also come from other states. On top of domestic efforts, other countries are pledging support. Amazingly, Iran is one of those countries. People will also come from other states to help as well as non-profit organizations such as churches. Eckerd College, my alma matter, is sending out search and rescue teams and have been patrolling Bay area waters.

Gulf Oil Spill Size of Rhode Island by May 5th, 2010 by Deborah Dolen (AFP/Getty Images)

Impact's of BP Gulf Oil Spill 2010 writer Deborah Dolen (AFP/Getty Images)

Whatever we learned from the Exxon oil spill will come in very handy as the colossal body of floating oil from the downed BP rig creeps towards the Louisiana, Alabama and Florida coast lines. By May 5th, 2010 the oil spill will be the size of Rhode Island. The oil spill is so large now that NASA can access satellite images of the oil spill from space. The latest currents are pushing the Gulf oil spill northward, toward a chain of barrier islands off Louisiana. Any change in currents over the next three days will be detrimental to Florida’s coast lines. At the moment the oil spill covers 450 square miles and growing. 42,000 gallons a day of oil have been gushing into the Gulf of Mexico since April 20th, 2010. Floridians’, already exasperated from arguing they do not need oil drilling off Florida’s coast, are now busy contemplating options for what seems to be an imminent threat to the coast line and its precious wild life.

(Photo courtesy of NASA - Day 6 of Spill Click photo to see oil slick marker)

Florida has already lost 400 manatees, (8% of the Manatee population) 200 sea turtles and millions of fish in the record breaking 2010 Florida freeze when gulf waters dropped below 55 degrees for prolonged periods. Not that anyone cares, but that same freeze cut SW Florida’s infamous python problem in half also, which is an estimate by Fish and Wildlife staff. [No one has gone out to the marshes to ask how they are doing, so it is just an estimate.]

Regarding the April 20th, 2010 BP rig explosion, Doug Suttles, the chief operating officer for exploration and production at BP, defended the company’s efforts, and said the cleanup was costing $6 million a day. He said engineers had not given up on engaging the valve and were exploring other possible fixes.

Why a certain emergency value that was supposed to work in situations like this, failed to work, will most likely be the subject of congressional queries for later. On other fronts the Coast Guard is trying to set the floating oil ablaze and hopefully reduce the threat. The oceanic agency issued a guide to the burn that advised as follows:

“Based on our limited experience, birds and mammals are more capable of handling the risk of a local fire and temporary smoke plume than of handling the risk posed by a spreading oil slick. Birds flying in the plume can become disoriented, and could suffer toxic effects. This risk, however, is minimal when compared to oil coating and ingestion.”

A burn does not get rid of the oil entirely. It leaves waxy residue that can either be skimmed from the surface or sink to the bottom of the ocean. As hurricane season approaches, Floridians may be praying the “opposite” prayer they normally pray: That a major storm comes in the gulf and blows the oil residue issue out.

As far as stopping the actual oil leak, skeptics are saying containment is almost impossible, and trying to assuage the oil leak will go on for some time. The same skeptics fear the oil will reach a certain main current known as “the loop” that will cause major damage to the entire Florida coast line all the way down to Key West. “At the present time, the loop current isn’t reaching quite as for north as where this spill occurred, but it often does,” one expert said and added “if oil gets into the loop current, it can very rapidly get into the Florida Keys and the southeast coast of Florida.” http://www.deborahdolen.net/about-author-Deborah-Dolen.htm

Deborah Dolen is an environmental writer who lives in SW Florida. Deborah is also Editor in Chief for Mabel White DIY. Join her on Twitter @deborahdolen @mabelwhitediy or at FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/deborah.dolen

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