#galactic bombs

[professorpalmarosa]

A couple of weeks ago, I excitedly took a series of videos to show how to make the Night Sky Nihilist (Cyrus of Team Galactic) bath bomb. Unfortunately, I have no video editing software and most of these clips were too large to upload to Tumblr. You’ll have to watch this video of it expanding in the water instead. My apologies.

The smell...words don’t properly convey how beautiful this bath bomb smells. It’s like a cold, dark night in the woods. It’s a heavenly matrimony of menthol, camphor, and pine. It’s pristine and quite possibly my favorite blend of out any synergy I’ve ever created for a character.

The instructions are below, as well as notes on the benefits and potential contraindications of the essential oils used in this blend.

Bill of Materials (Ingredients and Items)

300g Baking Soda

150g Citric Acid

2g Eucalyptus Dives Essential Oil

1.5g Peppermint Essential Oil

1g Scots Pine Essential Oil

0.5g Rosemary 1,8 Cineole Essential Oil

10g Colorant (this was a blue blooming dye from Mad Micas)

5g Sweet Almond Oil

15g Cream of Tartar

10g SLSA

5g Kaolin Clay

Digital Weight Scale

Mixing Bowl (Large)

Tupperware Containers

Bath Bomb Mold (Metal or Silicon)

Procedure

Measure out your baking soda.

Take a separate small container and blend wet ingredients (colorant, sweet almond oil, and essential oils) together until they’re thoroughly mixed.

Pour wet ingredients into the baking soda and stir/kneed until everything is a consistent shade of blue. Due to the cooling properties of these oils, your skin may feel colder even if you’re wearing gloves.  You’ll be doing this because baking soda will absorb some of the moisture and most of the color.

Measure and mix kaolin clay, SLSA, and Cream of Tartar together. Once measured out, add this mixture to the bath bomb blend already mixed. Mix thoroughly until the color and ingredients are blended uniformly.

Measure and add the citric acid. You will want add this ingredient last, as the citric acid will react immediately to the moisture. If your blend has too much liquid in it, you will hear a faint hissing sound come from your blend. If this is the case, add more baking soda.

Blend until your bath bomb mix is the consistency of wet sand and does not hiss. You should be able to pack it together and lightly tap it without it falling apart.

Place in your molds and leave to cure. Your bath bombs should be ready within 12 to 48 hours.

Now it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of these oils from a safety perspective…

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pretty smells and scented bath water. Essential oils are in such a high concentration that even absorbing them through your skin can leave you with the therapeutic (and potentially toxic) benefits.

If you are allergic to a plant, you are 100% without question going to be super allergic to the essential oil.

There’s also such a thing as contraindications: where some oils may affect you in weird ways if you have a certain medical condition or take certain medications.

The information below is for your safety if you want to attempt to make this blend at home (as a bath bomb, a body spray, or even scented bath salts). And do be sure to wear gloves. Some of these oils have recommended dilution rates as small as 0.4%. You don’t want that to slide on bare skin!

Eucalyptus Dives

There are at least four types of Eucalyptus Essential Oil you can purchase online. Each has its own ups and downs. Eucalyptus Radiata is safest for asthmatics. Eucalyptus Globulus is the queen mother of expectorants. Lemon Eucalyptus has a more fruity smell and is used in a lot of cleaners.

Eucalyptus Dives (which is in this blend) is sometimes referred to as “Australian Peppermint Eucalyptus” and has a higher menthol content than the others. It isn’t as overpowering as Eucalyptus Globulus, but has a lot of the same expectorant properties. It’s native to Australia and Tasmania, where it is regularly mixed in toothpastes, inhalants, and cough syrups.

The oil has fever-reducing properties, is non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing. It’s a wonderful decongestant, tones the skin, reduces blemishes, and revitalizes the senses. There’s something about putting it in your diffuser that makes your mind feel more alert and awake.

I sometimes add it to my bath water after a workout, since it’s great for tired feet. It mixes beautifully with Rhododendron for that.

Safety Notes: Never ingest essential oils, and absolutely never ingest a eucalyptus essential oil. You will also want to avoid this oil if you have high blood pressure or a history of seizures.

Scots Pine

Pine is one of the cleanest, neatest smells on the planet. Just taking a strong whiff of its aroma brings to mind forests, woodsy areas, and a long overdue bout of peace and quiet.

Pros:

Unless you’re asthmatic, pine is a wonderful essential oil to diffuse during flu season. It combats hoarseness, stuffy nose, cough, common cold, fevers, and weak immune systems. I always stock up on it as soon as the weather starts turning cold.

Some people apply pine neat for muscle pain and nerve pain. I haven’t seen much results with this personally. I tend to use it more for the respiratory benefits.

Pine Essential Oil has some antimicrobial properties and can kill some types of bacteria.

 Cons:

Due to its high pinene content, this is not a cat-safe essential oil.

If you are allergic to pine pollen, then you will want to avoid this essential oil.

Exercise caution in diffusing this essential oil if you suffer from asthma.

There is not enough reliable information to determine whether Pine is safe for pregnant persons and infants. If you are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or have an infant, you may want to ere on the side of caution and avoid use.

Peppermint

Pros:

Peppermint Essential Oil is used for lots of mouth, nose, and throat issues (common cold, cough, inflammation of the mouth/throat, sinus infections, and respiratory infections). People also use it for a series of digestive problems (heartburn, nausea, morning sickness, cramps, upset stomach, gas, and diarrhea).

Peppermint reduces inflammation, so some folks will use it for liver, gallbladder, and menstrual problems. It’s a useful painkiller and can be inhaled to reduce the effects of a bad cough or cold.

It’s also a great “wake-up” scent and studies have shown that smelling Peppermint Essential Oil can make it easier to concentrate on tasks. Try diffusing it while you study or during a test!

Cons:

The most comment side effects of Peppermint Essential Oil may include heartburn and allergic reactions such as flushing, headache, and mouth sores.

Although Peppermint Essential Oil can be purchased as a dietary supplement, please keep in mind that “dietary supplements” in the U.S. can slap virtually anything on the label and get away with it. The FDA isn’t as picky about “supplements”. It is the general opinion of aromatherapists that you shouldn’t ingest essential oils of any sort without first discussing it with your doctor.

Peppermint is not a cat-safe essential oil (due to its menthol content) and is one of the most dangerous ones to use around your kitty. Use with kitty-cat caution!

Rosemary 1,8 Cineole

Out of all the ingredients in this blend, the Rosemary was used the least. However, it’s so strong that I can assure you: if you know it’s there, you’ll smell it. It’s got a warming, refreshing, stimulating effect. When blended with peppermint, you’ve got a perfect concentration blend to keep you focused at work.

Pros:

Rosemary can be used to stimulate the scalp, reduce dandruff, and strengthen your hair. Some people also apply it to prevent or treat thinning hair.

Rosemary can be used to stimulate a period if your time of the month is a little slow.

Rosemary can be applied with a carrier oil to the skin to help with circulation problems, eczema, joint and muscle pain, sciatica, myalgia disorders (like fibromyalgia), and blemishes

Rosemary’s a great insect repellent. Mix with citronella and peppermint for a roach-killing synergy!

Due to its spicy nature, rosemary can also assist with digestive issues such as heartburn, gas, and loss of appetite.

Most excitedly, rosemary can be blended with peppermint to create an amazing concentration and focus blend. I diffuse that combo at work on the regular. It keeps me good and alert, but also improves my cognition.

Cons:

Taking large amounts of rosemary can cause vomiting, uterine bleeding, kidney irritation, increased sun sensitivity, skin redness, and allergic reactions. However, just using the bath bomb won’t be enough to do this.

Rosemary has emmenagogue properties, meaning it can stimulate menstruation. As a result, do not use this bath bomb if you are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.

If you suffer from hemophilia or other bleeding disorders, avoid rosemary essential oil as it may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising.

Rosemary Essential Oil contains salicylate, a chemical similar to aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin, you may have an allergy to Rosemary.

Rosemary Essential Oil may worsen seizure disorders. Do not use this bath bomb if you suffer from seizures.

[professorpalmarosa]

Watching play-throughs of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as well as teasers that a Sinnoh remake may be in the works left me pulling out a bunch of manga I haven’t had a chance to give a proper reread in half a decade.

I’ve pulled out my dog-eared volumes of Diamond Pearl Adventure and am giving the full Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum run of Pokemon Adventures a full re-read. I’m in fanfiction hell.

Please breathe some life back into Team Galactic, guys. They were some of the most interesting antagonists the franchise ever gave us.

The above “Galactic Bombs” were modeled after Cyrus and all four Commanders, each with their own very distinct scent, a remarkable presentation in the water, and therapeutic benefits.

I’ll post them individually (complete with potential contraindication warnings), but this should give you a preview of what one of these little darlings looks like once activated in your great lake (bathtub):

And just like my other bath bombs, these leave no stain on your bathtub OR you.

[professorpalmarosa]

Commander Saturn (Saturnalia)

There is no consistent personality for Saturn. He’s going to be completely different wherever you find him.

His game version (and therefore the Generations version) was organized, dependable, and somebody Cyrus apparently trusted enough to leave the organization to in case things went wrong. When I wrote Koyaanisqatsi, I tried to channel that version, along with his disillusioned comments in the Platinum end-game about how “extremism never solves anything.”

His anime version showed some of these traits, but we saw so little of him.

If you use his Special/Adventures version, he’s an agoraphobic man-child who loves to play video games and remotely torment people with his gadgets. The fact he puts tape on the floor and gets peeved each time Mars encroaches on it makes me laugh every time.

In Diamond Pearl Adventure, he’s fiercely loyal to Cyrus: even to the point of begging for a chance to redeem himself when he loses to Hareta. He’s a capable battler (more so than any Commander other than Mitsumi), and also clever enough to play a double agent role during Charon’s takeover so he can rescue Cyrus.

Although Saturn’s personality is all over the place, that loyalty and desire to support Team Galactic rang true in all his iterations. I decided to focus on that when designing his fragrance. It wasn’t so much about how the oils smell in Saturn’s case, but what the oils do. And hoo boy, do they do a LOT...

Saturn’s synergy (Saturnalia) promotes a relaxing, calming effect and soothes tired muscles after a stressful, frustrating day. Many of the oils inside the blend are good for alleviating physical pain, but two of the oils in this synergy are also fantastic for anxiety and insomnia.

The main note in Saturnalia is Roman Chamomile. There are two types of chamomile you can purchase in essential oil form: German and Roman. They both smell like a cup of chamomile tea by themselves, but the Roman is a little stronger and has more of a sedative effect. That and my cat loves the Roman Chamomile, so I keep buying it.

But since I wanted to give his more dimensions than just a tea dupe, I took a look in my inventory to see if I had any other cool, calming oils that would blend well with the chamomile, give me the results I wanted, and—I did!

The next oil I added to the blend was Sweet Marjoram, which has given me really good results with my back problems in the past. The problem then was that poor Saturn’s blend now smelled like delicious Greek food rather than something anyone would want to wear as a cologne. I wasn’t anywhere remotely near done!

So in went the Juniper Berry (the key ingredient in gin) for a cooling effect, paired with woodsy Blue Cypress and medicinally floral Blue Tansy.

The end result was a “hot cup of tea on a cold rainy day” sensation for my muscles and nose. I could feel the oils soaking in through my skin and the water turned a dramatic sapphire blue.

I got the support I needed from this blend. My back (my biggest pain area) felt spry and healthy the following morning. My dreams were pleasant. I didn’t wake up seven to eight times in the night due to pain or bad dreams. It was a soothing, calming experience from start to finish.

Now it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of these oils from a safety perspective…

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pretty smells and scented bath water. Essential oils are in such a high concentration that even absorbing them through your skin can leave you with the therapeutic (and potentially toxic) benefits.

If you are allergic to a plant, you are 100% without question going to be super allergic to the essential oil.

There’s also such a thing as contraindications: where some oils may affect you in weird ways if you have a certain medical condition or take certain medications.

The information below is for your safety if you want to attempt to make this blend at home (as a bath bomb, a body spray, or even scented bath salts). And do be sure to wear gloves. Some of these oils have recommended dilution rates as small as 0.4%. You don’t want that to slide on bare skin!

Roman Chamomile

There are actually two true chamomile Essential Oils on the market: German and Roman. Roman is the more potent of the two, so I mixed it into this blend. It worked. That bath bomb had me in bed by 8:00 PM because I was so sleepy afterwards!

Pros:

It’s one of the safest Essential Oils to diffuse around your kitty! While no Essential Oil is truly safe for a cat and you should always leave the door open so your kitty can escape if you’re using Essential Oils, Roman and German Chamomile are two of the least harmful for your feline friend. My kitty Gaius loves the smell, so I’m saving up to get it in Hydrosol form.

Fight off insomnia! If you’ve ever had a good calming cup of Chamomile or Sleepytime tea (Celestial Seasonings), then you are already familiar with the relaxing properties of Roman Chamomile. This Essential Oil (especially when mixed with other soothing scents like Lavender or Lily of the Valley) promotes a calm, peaceful atmosphere which makes it so much easier to sleep. It works for me, and I’m sure it’ll work for you!

Feeling nauseous due to stress? Fix it with Roman Chamomile! Roman Chamomile can be used for various stress-induced digestive disorders including indigestion, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloating from gas.

Chamomile can be a girl’s best friend! A lot of women use Roman Chamomile (especially in tea form) for morning sickness and really painful menstrual cramps. It’s considered to be a “blood purifier” and general female tonic, reducing menstrual pain and better regulating periods.

Relieve pain and swelling! Roman Chamomile is great for reducing pain and swelling of the mucus membranes, sinuses, and joints. It can also be mixed into lotion and applied to the skin for swollen, inflamed areas. It can also be used on wounds, burns, eczema, frostbite, bedsores, hemorrhoids, and diaper rash.

Diffuse it to help your sinuses! Roman Chamomile can be diffused and inhaled for sinus inflammation, hay fever, sore throat (something I’m battling right now), and ear inflammations.

Cons:

Since Roman Chamomile can stimulate a period, pregnant women should avoid this oil to reduce their chances of a miscarriage.

Since Roman Chamomile’s effects on newborns has not been studied, it is best to consider it unsafe for nursing mothers to use.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil has powerful sedative properties and should not be applied or diffused if you plan to drive, operate machinery, or perform a task that requires your full, complete concentration.

Although Roman Chamomile is good for relieving nausea, too much of it will actually make you more nauseous.

If you have an allergy to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, or similar plants, avoid Roman Chamomile and German Chamomile.

Sweet Marjoram

Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil (much like its cousin, Oregano Essential Oil) has a calming effect on your body, and the smell is lovely...just kind of “foody” by itself.

If you’ve eaten Mediterranean cuisine before or ever taken a good whiff of a gyro, Marjoram is one of the main spices you’ll smell. It has a very strong “seasoning” scent, but pairs well with a lot of gentler fragrances.

Pros:

It’s good for your circulatory system! Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil can increase your blood flow and lower blood pressure.

It’s good for aches and pains, especially on overused and exhausted muscles. This is my go-to massage oil after a workout. It’s also great for flu and fibromyalgia pain, sore muscle strain, and a queasy stomach. I originally bought it for menstrual cramps, but it’s worked best on my overexerted muscles.

Cons:

If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, don’t use Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil and stick to only using marjoram in food amounts. This is also true for young children, as Marjoram Essential Oil isn’t a kid-friendly oil. Do not use this bath bomb for anyone under the age of 10.

If you have any of the below health concerns, I recommend talking to your doctor before using Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil in any capacity:

Bleeding disorders

Diabetes

Gastrointestinal or urinary tract obstructions

Lung conditions such as asthma

Ulcers

Slow heart rate or low blood pressure

Seizures or epilepsy

Juniper Berry

If you’re a weirdo like me and love the way a gin and tonic smells, you’ll fall in love with Juniper Berry Essential Oil the first time you sniff it. It’s got that cool, crisp, biting aroma along with a slight medicinal after-scent...all in a good way.

I love blending it with Grapefruit, Balsam Fir, Pine, Cedarwood, Camphor, or anything in the mint family. But Saturnalia is a special blend: truly therapeutic and relaxing. I can’t think of what could possibly be more relaxing than a Gin and Tonic...aside from a Basil Flower Gimlet--which also has gin!

Pros:

It’s a helpful digestive aid! Diffuse Juniper Berry for half an hour to an hour. The antispasmodic, tonic, and stomachic properties of this oil can help put that fussy tummy back into working order. Your twisted guts will unravel, you’ll build up more gastric juices, and be able to push whatever made you feel miserable out a little bit faster. Some people even use this oil to get some relief from constipation.

Carrying some extra water weight? Maybe Juniper Berry can help! I’m not gonna lie. I use it for this exact same reason, though I pair it with my Cardamom oil for a workout. I tend to bloat when I eat salty foods or my time of the month arrives. This flushes all that excess water right out! Juniper Berry makes your body sweat more, but also stimulates your kidneys. Just be sure to drink a lot of water if you use it for this purpose!

It’s good for arthritis, spasms, and cramps! Try a 1-3% dilution of Juniper Berry Essential Oil with a carrier (like jojoba, coconut, or sweet almond oil) and rub it into the sore area. It works quickly and should leave you feeling at least a little better in a few minutes.

It’s good for your skin and promotes a pretty complexion! Some people will use a 1-3% dilution ratio to treat eczema and psoriasis trouble spots. Try mixing it with jojoba oil (a carrier) for maximum effect. I’ll a drop of this (and Palmarosa Essential Oil) to my nightly astringent. I only get a zit or two during my cycle and that’s it.

Calm down, get a good night’s sleep, and banish all those stressful thoughts! Dilute the oil and apply it to the back of your neck or chest right before going to bed. I like to add a drop to my lotion and massage my temples after work, especially if it’s one of those days where I’m stuck in back to back development meetings and I think my head’s going to explode. Even a few drops in your bathtub should do the trick!

Cons:

Never apply this essential oil neat (undiluted) on the skin. Some people have reported irritation, redness, swelling, and a burning sensation when applied neat.

Prolonged use of this essential oil may result in kidney problems, seizures, and other severe side effects. Occasional use should be fine.

Juniper Berry is not an oil you should use if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Juniper is a known abortifacent and can interfere with a uterus’s fertility.

If you are diabetic, you  may want to avoid Juniper Berry Essential Oil. There have been reports of this oil lowering people’s blood sugar to unsafe levels.

Never take this oil internally, as it may irritate your gastrointestinal tract.

If you are on any blood pressure medications, contact your physician before using this essential oil in any large capacity, as Juniper Berry Essential Oil may make blood pressure harder to control.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil may make it more difficult to control your blood sugar before and after surgery. If you’re scheduled for surgery, ere on the side of caution and don’t use this essential oil (and therefore the Saturnalia bath bomb) at least 2 weeks before the scheduled surgery.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil is not a kid-safe oil. Don’t use this oil (or bath bomb) with any kid under the age of 10.

Blue Tansy

Ah…one of my favorite Essential Oils!

Blue Tansy comes from (believe it or not) a yellow flower. It gets its name because its oil is a dark navy blue. It’s a seasonal plant and one of my more expensive oils (about $60 USD for a 10ml bottle), but definitely one I plan to replenish once I run out.

The smell is reminiscent of German Chamomile, but so much stronger. I call it “Chamomile on Steroids” and is a very useful, versatile oil. It’s a cousin to the daisy flower.

Pros:

Treat fungal infections on your scalp, hair, nail, and skin! Blue Tansy has an antimicrobial and antifungal property. While you can apply it to bruised skin (safely diluted with a carrier oil), it’s never a good idea to put an essential oil neat (undiluted) on a cut, scrape, or wound. Still, if you’re prone to fungal infections, Blue Tansy may be your new best friend!

Treat seasonal allergies (without the grogginess)! Blue Tansy can be diffused to reduce seasonal or other allergies, as it is an asthma-safe oil. It has natural antihistamine properties, but isn’t a sedative. It’s cleared me right up and I’ve had wonderful results with this oil.

Fight aches and pains! Blue Tansy can be massaged into the muscles with a carrier oil to fight tired muscles after a strenuous workout or even the effects of rheumatism or gout. This oil has remarkable anti-inflammatory properties and can dramatically reduce swelling. I’ve even been able to kill a headache with this super-oil before.

Calm your jittery nerves! While Blue Tansy isn’t a sedative oil (like Roman Chamomile), it does have several calming properties. It promotes peace of mind, relaxation, and a more easygoing atmosphere.

Alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort! When applied (with a carrier oil) to the abdomen, Blue Tansy can help you with stomachaches, constipation, abdominal gas, and even menstrual cramps.

Get the perfect skin you always wanted! So long as it’s diluted first, Blue Tansy can be applied to the skin to moisturize the skin as well as kill many of the bacteria and fungi responsible for acne outbreaks.

Cons:

If you plan to purchase this oil, be sure you’re buying Blue Tansy Essential Oil, as opposed to Tansy Essential Oil. Tansy (not Blue Tansy) has a high concentration of the chemical thujone in it. Thujone is a dangerous neurotoxin and will really, really, REALLY mess you up.

Due to Blue Tansy Essential Oil’s high camphor content, people with Parkinson’s or epilepsy should avoid this oil. This also means it is absolutely NOT safe to diffuse around a cat or dog.

There are a whole slew of fake Blue Tansy Essential Oils on the market, so be sure you buy this one from a reputable source. I recommend Plant Therapy.

If you are allergic to daisies, avoid this essential oil.

Blue Tansy Essential Oil should not be used neat (undiluted on the skin) or ingested. Never ingest essential oils without first contacting your physician.

While Blue Tansy Essential Oil is considered safe for use during pregnancy, consult your doctor beforehand just to be on the safe side.

Exercise caution if you are using certain medications (antibiotics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and antidepressants), as Blue Tansy Essential Oil may interfere with these medications.

Blue Cypress

There are multiple Cypress Essential Oils on the market (I have 3 in my collection), but Blue Cypress is my favorite. Alone, it is faintly woodsy and you have to use a lot of it to get its smell, but it makes up for its delicate smell by providing a whole slew of therapeutic benefits.

Pros:

Quickly heal cuts and scrapes! If you’ve scratched yourself, popped a pimple, or damaged your skin in any other capacity, you may want to consider adding a drop of Blue Cypress Essential Oil to your lotion or astringent. For some people, it’s been known to speed up the healing process. The oil contains an antimicrobial chemical (camphene) that helps keep some strains of bacteria and fungi from infecting a wound.

Cramping up or have a pulled muscle? Blue Cypress can help! This essential oil has antispasmodic properties, meaning it can help your muscles relax and ease up, even when all they want to do is seize tightly and make your life difficult. I’m not a physician, nor do I claim to be one, but studies have been conducted to determine Blue Cypress’s effectiveness on conditions like Restless Leg Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel. The results look promising.

Soothe aches and pains. Most aches and pains are caused by a buildup of lactic acid. Due to Blue Cypress’s diuretic properties, it can help your body flush that acid out faster, leaving you feeling better much, much sooner. Some people claim the diuretic effects of this oil can also help flush out several toxins.

This is an asthma-safe oil and can soothe a sore respiratory tract. You can breathe easy with a little Blue Cypress in your diffuser!

This oil promotes blood clotting. Another reason people like to use Blue Cypress on scratches and cuts is because it speeds up the clotting process. Blood vessels contract, blood flows more easily, and tissues can tighten up.

It’s a natural deodorizer! Although Blue Cypress doesn’t have a strong smell, it’s really good at neutralizing other odors. Try adding a few drops to your laundry detergent!

Had a stressful day? Calm down with Blue Cypress! Blue Cypress has sedative properties, which can make it easier for you to fall asleep after a long and trying day. As little as 5 drops in your bathtub can make all the difference.

Cons:

Due to the sedative properties of this oil, do not diffuse or apply this oil if you intend to drive or operate heavy machinery. It’s also ill-advised to diffuse this oil at work if your job requires your full concentration and alertness.

Since Blue Cypress promotes blood clotting, exercise caution if you are using a blood thinner or a clotting medication, as contraindications may occur.

Do not use this oil if you have an allergy to cypress or peaches. If you are allergic to a plant, I can guarantee you that you’ll be allergic to its essential oil.

Prolonged use of this essential oil may result in some kidney irritation.

There is not enough information available online to determine whether or not this oil is safe for breastfeeding or pregnant persons. Ere on the side of caution if you are nursing, pregnant, or intend to become pregnant.

[professorpalmarosa]

Commander Charon (Frugal Ferryman)

Charon’s one of those characters you either really love or really loathe. I personally love him and was way too excited when I found his journal in the Silph Co. building in HGSS! Honestly, he may be my favorite in the entire franchise...

He’s also the only Team Galactic Commander who (for the most part) is relatively consistent with his personality. His anime version had that delightful laugh and mildly sarcastic attitude I enjoyed in the game. His Special/Adventures and DPA counterparts just cranked that snark up to 11 and went over the top with it. He was a melodramatic ham, yes, but a recognizable melodramatic ham.

He makes me smile. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel a little less weird about my steadily increasing Rotom collection. And, naturally, I have to have him play a major role in my Platinum prequel fan-fiction Pokemon Dawn & Dusk!

Going into this, I knew there were two things I wanted to do when creating Charon’s blend (Frugal Ferryman):

It needed to smell like old people (but in a good way)

It needed to use at least one of the most ridiculously expensive oils in my collection (because Charon thinks he’s worth it).

And yet somehow, the main oil in this synergy ended up being neither of those things. It ended up being my December Oil of the Month from Plant Therapy: something so obscure and rare that I can only order it from them over the phone!

It’s Cubeb Essential Oil: a mildly peppery scent that promotes pain relief, respiratory health, and digestive health. By itself, it kind of smells like soy sauce. I was stumped on how I could use it, but then I did some research to see what it paired with…

…bingo!

To get that “old person” smell, I added CO2 Supercritical Bulgarian Lavender (which made the blend smell just like these half-fossilized bath cubes my grandmother’s hoarded in her bathroom since the late 1980s) and Ylang Ylang III.

To give you some idea, Ylang Ylang is known as “king of the flowers” and has the obnoxiously high price tag to match. It’s great for hair care, is lauded as a powerful aphrodisiac, but typically only succeeds in making me sleepy due to its strong sedative properties.

Earlier, I made note that one of these bath bombs knocked me out in the tub and I woke up a couple of hours later. It was this one. This bomb means business and isn’t for the faint (or weak) of heart.

Together, the blend starts out with an “old lady’s powder room” type of floral…but then the peppery notes of the Cubeb come back to give it a more masculine bite. I really like the way this one smells…but the way it looks is even more dramatic. There’s so much purple in this one that you can’t even see your body in the water!

Now it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of these oils from a safety perspective…

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pretty smells and scented bath water. Essential oils are in such a high concentration that even absorbing them through your skin can leave you with the therapeutic (and potentially toxic) benefits.

If you are allergic to a plant, you are 100% without question going to be super allergic to the essential oil.

There’s also such a thing as contraindications: where some oils may affect you in weird ways if you have a certain medical condition or take certain medications.

The information below is for your safety if you want to attempt to make this blend at home (as a bath bomb, a body spray, or even scented bath salts). And do be sure to wear gloves. Some of these oils have recommended dilution rates as small as 0.4%. You don’t want that to slide on bare skin!

Cubeb

The Javanese Cubeb plant (Piper cubeba) is known by many names, but is cultivated mostly for its fruit and essential oil. The smell is very aromatic (kind of peppery, really pungent, slightly bitter, and it lingers). The aromatherapists say it smells like a cross between Allspice and Black Pepper (both of which you can get as essential oils), but I’m calling bullshit.

It smells like soy sauce. It pairs well with clove, rosemary, and most wood oils.

I’d never heard of this oil until I got it as Plant Therapy’s December Oil of the Month, nor did I have any idea how to use it. A quick Google search told me this is one of the oldest essential oils used by mankind, dating as far back as the 4th Century BC!

Cubeb was used by ancient Greek pharmakons, along with medieval alchemists. Even some modern witchcraft rituals use this fantastic plant--and I’d never freaking heard of it.

Pros

:

It’s an aphrodisiac! There’s nothing quite like a superconcentrated dried pepper to put you in the mood, I guess. People used to use this thing to treat infertility, impotence, ED, gonorrhea, and other STDs. And apparently, the two things I mixed with the Cubeb for Charon’s blend also have this aphrodisiac property. Ladies~

Feeling bloated? Cubeb’s here to help! Sometimes you really have to fart and it won’t come out. So you bloat, feeling all that painful air trap inside you with no way out. Cubeb Essential Oil has a carminative (gas-relieving) property to help you break wind discretely and safely. However, if chronic flatulence becomes a regular thing for you, contact your healthcare provider.

Feeling a little blocked up? Can’t breathe well? Cubeb’s fantastic for breaking up phlegm, calming down asthma, relieving congestion, and helping you ward off that nasty cough once and for all! For even faster results, pair it with Cajeput Essential Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil, or Camphor Essential Oil.

Flush out toxins! Cubeb has diuretic properties. It stimulates your kidneys to excrete more liquid, which in turn flushes out any toxins in your body. This can include stuff like uric acid, salt, cholesterol, and fat.

Tired joints? Maybe Cubeb can be of assistance! Some Ayurvedic medicine practitioners use Cubeb Essential Oil to alleviate aches and pains from joint and bone problems.

Cons

:

By itself, it smells like freaking soy sauce. I cannot reiterate that enough. If you diffuse this at work (true story), people are going to assume you have something delicious at your cubicle and won’t stop hounding you for it. That’s really frustrating when you’re trying to run a QA test!

Due to its high sequiterpene content, this is not a cat-safe oil.

Cubeb Essential Oil (when overused) runs the risk of increasing the sensitivity of your stomach and intestines. Don’t use this oil if you’re taking antacids, have acid reflux disease, or take medications to decrease stomach acid.

Some people have reported irritated skin after prolonged use of Cubeb.

Avoid using this oil if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are nursing.

This is not a child-safe oil. Avoid this essential oil (and bath bomb) for any children under the age of 12.

Never apply this oil neat (undiluted) on your skin or ingest.

Due to Cubeb’s strong diuretic properties, avoid usage if you are suffering from kidney disease.

Lavender

Pros: Lavender is one of your best friends when it comes to restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It’s also great for loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, gas, and a fussy stomach. It’s also remarkable for pain relief in cases where you’re troubled by migraines, toothaches, sprains, nerve pain, and joint pain.

Some folks even apply Lavender Essential Oil to the skin for hair loss and pain. It’s also safe to apply this one neat (on your skin) for most people.

Cons:

Lavender has also been shown to slow down the central nervous system when used on the regular. If you plan to go under for surgery or anything else with anesthesia, please avoid using Lavender Essential Oil two weeks ahead of the scheduled procedure.

Lavender should not be used by prepubescent and pubescent boys, as it can warp certain hormonal reactions and greatly increase risk for gynecomastia (male breast growth).

If you are taking a sedative, adding Lavender Essential Oil to the mix may create too much drowsiness. Exercise caution!

Ylang Ylang III

Pros:

Fight insomnia! Ylang Ylang is a natural sleep aid and very effective. However, its sedative properties are so strong that you might want to avoid using Ylang Ylang in the morning or if you intend to drive or operate heavy machinery. Pull this oil out right before bed or at least once you’re in for the night. It’s worked for me!

Repel head lice! Ylang Ylang can be used in a combination spray to repel and even kill head lice. Developing evidence suggests that a homeopathic blend of coconut oil, anise oil, and ylang ylang oil had a 92% effectiveness rate on killing those unwanted creepy crawlies in children’s hair.

Lower high blood pressure!

Increase your sex drive! Ylang Ylang is a natural aphrodisiac and has been used for millennia for that exact purpose. There’s a reason this flower is also known as the King of the Flowers.

Cons:

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is considered to be universally safe for general use. However, it is not safe to diffuse around a cat.

When I said this thing is a sedative, I freaking meant it. I am a relatively healthy 28-year-old woman and this bath bomb knocked me out in 20 minutes. I stayed asleep for a solid 2 hours. If you plan to use Charon’s bath bomb, make sure you have absolutely no other plans for the rest of the day and leave the bathroom door unlocked. There’s a good chance you’ll pass out in the tub.

[professorpalmarosa]

In case anyone wanted to see what the Galactic Grunt powder looks like in the water. Audio’s terrible because I didn’t want to drop my phone in the water, but it’s a remix of the Galactic Grunt battle theme.

This is what the water looked like afterward in all its fruity, minty glory!

[professorpalmarosa]

Galactic Grunt Aromatherapy Bath Powder (Easy DIY)

While I still have every intention of doing a tutorial on a full bath bomb recipe this weekend, I wanted to make something a bit easier for first-timers. This blend was modeled after the Team Galactic Grunts and the end result will leave you with a powder roughly the same color as their hair. It’s a clean, happy smell that is equal parts minty and fruity.

I’ve made this blend in the past and dubbed it the “Bergamojito” on account of what’s inside it. This combination of oils never fails to put a smile on my face. So, in short, here’s what you’ll need to create it:

1 cup Baking Soda

½ cup Citric Acid

¼ cup Epsom Salt (fine grain, unscented)

¼ cup Corn Starch

Gel Food Coloring (I used Leaf Green since it turns the powder the same color as a Galactic Grunt’s hair)

Lime Essential Oil

Bergamot Mint Essential Oil (this may also be called Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, or Monarda depending on the vendor)

Spearmint Essential Oil

1 large mixing bowl

1 small Tupperware container (with lid)

Ziploc Bags or Mason Jars (for storage)

Measuring cups and spoons

Instructions and safety precautions are listed below!

Dry Ingredients

Pour your dry ingredients together into your mixing bowl and stir aggressively. You want to make sure all wads of baking soda, citric acid, and epsom salt are broken up, otherwise you’ll have discoloration and uneven coloring in your final product.

Once it’s good and mixed together, pour everything into your Tupperware container, seal the lid, and shake it like it’s personally wronged you.

Wet Ingredients

Pour a total of 1 tbsp essential oil blend into the spoon. The ratios for the Galactic Grunt blend are as follows:

50% Lime

30% Bergamot Mint

20% Spearmint

The easiest way to make sure you do the ratios properly is to count how many drops (I do intervals of 10) it takes to fill half the spoon with Lime Essential Oil. From there, estimate half of that and go 15 drops beyond it with the Bergamot Mint. The rest will be Spearmint.

You can also do these ratios to turn this into a body spray...which I can do in another tutorial later, if you want!

Once your wet ingredients are together, dump them into a container with a huge squirt of the gel food coloring. Stir aggressively until the scents and colorant blend.

Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients

Once the wet ingredients are properly mixed, dump the dry ingredients on top and be sure to act quickly. Citric acid is incredibly absorbent and will start to react almost immediately. If you hear it fizzing, stir as fast as you can!

For the love of Palkia, Dialga, and all you hold dear...keep stirring! You’ll know your aromatherapy powder is properly blended when:

It has the consistency of slightly damp sand

It has no trouble clumping when you pinch it, but will fall apart if you poke it a little too hard

You don’t hear any fizzing

You’ve stirred and stirred (and stirred) until the color is consistent and can’t possibly get any more vibrant

Your Galactic Grunt bath powder is now ready! Pour it into a mini mason jar for single-serving sizes, a large jar if you want to only use a spoonful or two per bath, or stick it in Ziploc bags. It’s your prerogative!

Now for the health and safety notes on the essential oils within the blend, as well as their aromatherapeutic properties:

Lime Essential Oil (50% of Galactic Grunt blend)

Pros: Lime can be used to help with gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. Other people apply it neat (directly to the skin) as a stimulant or to treat nausea. The very smell of Lime can boost your appetite and promotes extra saliva in your mouth. More than this, lime can give your immune system a boost: warding off common colds and winter bugs before they even hit you!

It’s also great for keeping a youthful complexion and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and varicose veins.

Cons:

Lime Essential Oil increases your photosensitivity, which increases your risk for sunburn. Please avoid being in the sun for too long if you’ve applied Lime Essential Oil to your skin in the past 12 to 36 hours.

Some liver medications may take longer for the liver to break down if Lime Essential Oil is being used:

Lovastatin (Mevacor)

Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

Fexofenadine (Allegra)

Triazolam (Halcion)

Some medications that react to sunlight may increase your photosensitivity while Lime Essential Oil is being used. Please use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective garments if outdoors if you’re using these medications and use Lime on the regular:

Amitriptyline (Elavil)

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Norfloxacin (Noroxin)

Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)

Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

Sparfloxacin (Zagam)

Gatifloxacin (Tequin)

Moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Septra)

Tetracycline

Methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen)

Trioxsalen (Trisoralen)

Bergamot Mint Essential Oil (30% of Galactic Grunt blend)

This plant goes by many names: Wild Bergamot, Bergamot Mint, Monarda, Bee Balm--just to name a few. It smells reminiscent of the bergamot citrus fruit (which is what gives Earl Grey tea its distinct flavor and smell)

Pros:

It’s a liquid happy pill! Bergamot Mint (like one of my other favorite essential oils: Ho Wood) has an insanely high linalool content. When inhaled, linalool can boost your mood and put you into a happier mindset. It’s a quick, near-immediate pick-me-up. And what makes Bergamot Mint so awesome is that (unlike Ho Wood, Basil, and other linalool rich oils) it doesn’t have a sedative effect. You get the joy without any lethargy! This oil is a must for people who are under chronic stress, have bouts with depression, or suffer from anxiety.

It’s a strong deodorizer! Everything about this scent is clean, clean, clean. You can diffuse it in your room to cover up a stinky lingering smell, or just spritz it around the bathroom to put a bit more pep into your step.

It’s an effective antiviral/antifungal/antimicrobial agent. Paired with a carrier oil, you can use this oil on cuts, scrapes, or bruises. Not only does it clean the wound, but its anti-inflammatory properties make it a 1-2 for minor injuries. The chemical in this oil responsible for this is thymol.

It’s great for your skin! Bergamot Mint can reduce the frequency of pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads because it fights bacteria hiding in your face.

Detoxify your body! Bergamot Mint is a mild diuretic, meaning it can stimulate your kidneys to flush out excess urea, salt, fat, water, and uric acid from your body.

Cons:

If you are allergic to menthol, methyl salicylate, wintergreen, or anything in the aspirin family, you will not want to make this blend or use this oil. Talk to your pharmacist for more details about potential allergenic hazards.

If you have asthma, are prone to nasal polyps, or very sensitive skin, you will not want to make this blend or use this oil.

This oil should not be used if you are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

This oil should not be used on children under the age of 5, and never undiluted.

Other than the above precautions, Bergamot Mint is considered to be universally safe.

Spearmint Essential Oil (20% of Galactic Grunt blend)

Spearmint brings to mind Wrigley’s chewing gum (particularly the DoubleMint variety), those little white-and-green discs you get instead of peppermint, and Altoids. It’s a slightly sweeter smell than Peppermint Essential Oil, but carries a bit more bite and blends with some really fascinating things that Peppermint typically won’t.

Pros:

Reduce healing time for scrapes and cuts! Spearmint is a good antiseptic. The myrcene, caryophyllene, and menthol help reduce the risk of a wound becoming infected, which (in turn) speeds up the healing process. The Ancient Greeks used it to treat all kinds of crazy things (like scabies, dermatitis, and many infectious diseases).

Relieve aches and spasms! Menthol (one component of Spearmint) has a cooling effect on the body and relaxes overactive nerves and muscles. Contractions loosen up, overexerted muscles ease up, and it’s a wonder for cramps.

Help your digestive tract! Spearmint's properties can do good things for your digestive tract when inhaled. Gas can slip out more easily. Queasiness, indigestion, and stomachache ease up.

Regulate your monthly cycle! Spearmint has emmenagogue properties, meaning it can stimulate your period. If you suffer from early menopause or irregular periods, Spearmint Essential Oil may help. Sometimes I use it with Clary Sage and Juniper Berry to speed mine up just before a convention so I won’t have to pack pads. Spearmint promotes the secretion of many female hormones, like estrogen.

Ward off pesky bugs! Bugs hate menthol. If you have a bug problem in your room, consider diffusing Spearmint or Peppermint to keep those creepy crawlies away.

Reduce your stress levels! Spearmint has a calming, cooling effect on the brain. It makes it easier to concentrate and focus. I’ll use it on hangover days to get rid of my headache.

Cons:

Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may cause damage to the uterine lining. It’s probably a good idea not to use this oil while pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may increase your risk for kidney damage. If you already have a kidney disorder or your family has a history of kidney disorders, you might not want to use this oil (and, as a result, attempt to make this blend).

Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may increase your risk for liver damage. If you already have a liver disorder or your family has a history of liver disorders, you might not want to use this oil (and, as a result, attempt to make this blend).

[professorpalmarosa]

Yesterday, I released teaser photos of my “Galactic Bomb” bath set. You can find the original post here. I’ve never seen one of my posts get that many notes so quickly, nor have any of my creations (be it my writing, my art, my sewing projects, or my aromatherapy hobby) received such positive feedback.

I wanted to take a quick moment to thank all of you again for your enthusiasm. I haven’t posted anything Pokémon related since spring 2013 (I used to be @ladybeastsird-blog and Galactic Grunt M31 at PokéTumblr), but I’m glad you’re as happy looking at these bombs as I am smelling (and using) them!

I will be posting each Galactic Bomb individually, giving you a list of which essential oils (none of these have artificial fragrance) are inside…but not necessarily the ratio of how to duplicate the scent yourself. If you’d like me to do a tutorial later on how to craft the scent at home, talk to me and let me know! This will just give you some idea of what’s inside. Your imagination can fill in the olfactory blanks.

But herein lies the question: which order should I post these?

Initially, I planned to post in increasing order of my satisfaction with the end product (scent, presentation, etc.)…but that doesn’t seem quite fair. It shows my bias and your nose might not agree with mine. I can’t stand chocolate and mint together, for instance, but you might love it.

Then I thought about chronological order—but that varies, depending on which version you read, played, or watched!

I have decided to show off the bombs in the chronological order of when I made them. That should work…

We’ll be seeing Mars first. Then Saturn. Then Jupiter, Charon, and (finally) Cyrus.