When I was pregnant with the witchling, I read lots of stuff about the use of aromatherapy in labour, and during pregnancy in general, and, as I have quite a stash of oils from my time working in Star Child and for the Inner Pyramid, I ended up using a couple of the suggested blends regularly. I don’t know quite how it happened, but somehow, my collection of oils extends to three drawers, and warranted A – Z organisation about three years ago. It’s quite shifty-making, and would be more-so if it weren’t for the fact that I got enormous employee/friend discount on the prices, making valerian oil quite doable, really. Anyway, one blend has really stayed with me, and I now use it as scent most days. The irony is, of course, that during my labour, I got as far as having some oilburners going, with clary sage and another pregnancy blend, but the visions I had of relaxing massages helping me through the early-stage contractions? Total bollocks. I couldn’t have cared less about massage – I was more interested in breathing and lusting after cheese sandwiches. Anyway, I just thought I’d post the recipe I used, in part so that, when my current bottle runs out (though some days I wonder if it ever will, given that I’ve been using the same batch since February of last year), I can make some more up and thus avoid the witchling thinking I’ve been changed for Another Mama Who Looks Similar But Is Not Her One (I encountered this suspicion from her the last time I wore a different scent; hopefully it’s not permanent!).

Everyday Blend

About 200ml of base oil (I used sweet almond)
15 drops of geranium
10 drops of rose
3 drops of neroli
5 drops of vanilla
5 of lemon
3 of clary sage
3 of lavender
1 of nutmeg

Stick the lot in a bottle, preferably a dark one, and shake to blend them all together. I wear it on my wrists and neck most days, and it lasts and lasts, quite unlike ‘normal’ scent. (I reckon you’d get a very similar effect with just lavender, rose and geranium, incidentally, if you’re capable of more restraint than I am.)