Day Twenty on the Advent Calendar,
Frankincense
and
Aromatic Herbal Milk Bath
20th December
2011
Window twenty is
Frankincense
Only one more day until the Winter Solstice ~ in the Northern Hemisphere it is celebrated on or near the 21st or 22nd of December; also known a Midwinter or Yule, as well as the shortest day, it marks the first day of the winter season and is a time to light candles and build bonfires to light up the longest night and banish the evil spirits. For me, it offers the opportunity to light all the candles around the house, make a big comforting bowl of stew and bring in the holly and mistletoe for the festive season. It’s also an ideal opportunity to have a long soak in the bath, with candles of course, and reflect on what has past and what is to come……
With this vision of luxury in mind, I am sharing a home-made bath remedy today, an aromatic and herbal milk bath that can be made as a gift or is perfect for a personal and indulgent candlelit soak…..to wile away at least one of the hours on the longest night. I am rushing away now as I am extremely busy and I’ve still got loads to do before the big day, as well as the twelve days of merriment that follow afterwards…….but, I will leave you with this herbal bath remedy recipe and I’ll see you all tomorrow.
Karen
Aromatic Herbal Milk Bath
A luxury bath soak made with milk, herbs and oatmeal ~ this wonderful aromatic milk bath mixture leaves your skin feeling silky and soft. Add a flannel, loofah or bath sponge with the jar if you are giving it as a gift. I have suggested dried lavender in this recipe, but dried rose petals, rosebuds or a selection of dried herbs would work just as well.
2 cups powdered milk
½ cup fine oatmeal
¼ cup ground almonds
½ cup cornflour
2 tablespoons dried lavender heads, or mixed dried herbs/flowers of your choice
Combine all the ingredients and store in a suitable size jar or container. Decorate and add a label to say:
“Add a scoop or two under running bath water. Store in a cool, dark place.”
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin obtained from the Boswellia tree. This essential oil gets much of its fame from the Biblical story in which the newborn baby Jesus receives gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the Magi. Because of these spiritual associations this precious oil is often burned at Christmas and lavishly used in religious rites.
Highly fragrant and very strong, it is very often used in soaps, oils, deodorant, scents and other products. It is considered to contain healing properties, and is often used to treat respiratory, skin, joint and muscular conditions, as well as being used for meditative and spiritual rituals.
The resin and oil has a woody, spicy and slightly sweet aroma and blends well with all citrus and spice oils. Like myrrh (another of the gifts presented by kings to the King of kings) it is a resin (dried tree sap), and has long been considered precious and valuable. The resin begins as a milky-white sticky liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when it’s injured. It is then is distilled by steam to extract its precious essential oil, which is then used in modern aromatherapy.
Often traded as a worthy commodity over the centuries, and still today considered something special among those who use it, frankincense has many benefits. On a religious note, it was also an ingredient in the sacred incense and holy anointing oil of the Israelites (Ex 30:34-38).
Oooh luxuriate in a hot bath is exactly what I need. Send me some of your divine bath milk pleeeeeease!
Beautifully presented as always Karen! Well done! xxoo
Now I know what to do with the leftover frankincense…
Thank you Karen!
What lovely photos..i want to wish you happy holidays..thank you for all you share..and I love your handwriting:)
I am sorry I am not here more..but there has to be a glitch w/ my internet server and your site..because many days it does not load and I don't know why..
My apologies..it's not for lack of wanting..it just takes forever to load.
wowee; can I have a little of that aromatic milk bath karen and sending across advance festive cheers !
Oh I could really do with some of this at the moment….a perfect gift which would see me get back into having a bath instead of the shower!
Karen, I think this may be the answer for a present I've been struggling to buy. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kate
Sometimes there is nothing better than a good soak! I've never made my own milk bath before–sounds lovely. I'm such a fan of frankincense, as well. I love those woody smells (sandalwood, myrrh, etc.).
One of my favourite places is my bathroom and when I need to relax I make for my 'watery world'. I love to soak in a bath and this post is ideal.
Love these Karen:)
Oh that bath sounds so good. You could put a couple of drops of frankincense into the mixture too to help relive those sore muscles. Another one of your fantastic gifts I'd love to have, except, I don't have a bath 🙁
Great post Karen. I knew about frankincense, but didn't know about bonfires and candles on the solstice which I suppose makes sense and why my friends were meant to have a bonfire party last night. In the end they had to cancel as their field was a mud bath (doesn't sound as good as your bath), but a select few of us got to sit in front of their sitting room fire with candles instead AND eat delicious food.
I've just broken up for the xmas hols – hooray, so am about to start getting frantic and second now! Hope you have a productive but fun day.