A 2-minute (really!) aromatherapy DIY for nurses

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Smell is one of our most powerful senses—a fact that can be both a blessing and a curse for nurses. On one hand, detecting and analyzing bodily odors can help you do your job. On the other hand, getting up close and personal as often as you do with those same odors is enough to make any nurse curse his or her nose.

In fact, nurses are so often catching whiffs of the offensive, the unusual and even the unknown that it’s easy to forget how a wonderful aroma can offer a welcome distraction from the daily nurse grind—smells and stress alike.

Assuming that you haven’t made much of a routine out of popping into Bath & Body Works on your way to and from the hospital, we thought you and your nursey nose might appreciate these easy-to-make, easy-to-indulge-in DIY aromatherapy satchels.

Did we mention that some of these all-natural ingredients can help alleviate a whole laundry list of common beauty complaints? Think: oily hair, dry skin, acne….

Just drop one into a warm tub at the end of a long shift. Or, if an early morning wake-up call has you feeling off your game, dangle a bag from the shower faucet while the hot water is running to stimulate the senses and get geared up for the day. You can make ’em in bundles so they’re ready to roll, even when you’re not.

Here’s how to make them: 

When we said “easy,” we meant it. Just drop a combination of everyday kitchen staples (sea salt, honey, dried herbs, etc.) into a pouch made of cheesecloth, tightly securing the top with a rubber band. Done!

Here are a few “recipes” you can try:

• Combine ¼ cup lavender and ½ cup Epsom salts
• Combine ½ cup oatmeal and ¼ cup lavender
• Combine ¼ cup powdered milk, ¼ cup oatmeal, ¼ cup lavender and ¼ cup honey
• Combine ¼ cup oatmeal, ¼ cup rosemary and ¼ cup chamomile (store-bought tea works!)
• Combine ¼ cup each of thyme, sage, lavender, mint, bay leaves and rosemary
• Combine ¼ cup rosemary, ¼ cup basil and ½ cup oatmeal

And finally, a list of ultra-beneficial ingredients you can play around with: 

• Powdered milk (soothes and softens dry skin)
• Herbs (fresh or dried)
• Tea
• Corn flour (helps reduce redness, boosts hydration and evens skin tone )
• Sea salt
• Baking soda (a real wonder-worker when it comes to damaged hair, skin and nails)
• Essential oils
• Citrus peels/zest (for an all-natural “wake me up” for those odd hours)

In need of a quick ‘n’ easy gift for your nurse buddies this holiday season? We think a small sampling of these satchels are the perfect solution—just don’t forget to share your favorite combination of ingredients in the comments section below!