#smellbound

Screencaps for the upcoming season finale of Bob's Burgers, "Smellbound", premieres Sunday, May 17.

Plot Synopsis:

And to finish up the “Bathman Beyond” set, I present a bath bomb inspired by Dr. Ira Billings, AKA Spellbinder!

A little sick and tired of your reality? Want to throw yourself into a new one, or at least be too zonked out to care about much of anything? Throw one of these highly potent darlings in your bath water, soak in its orange-grove aroma, and watch your cares (and wakefulness) quickly slip away.

I made the mistake of doing a test drive with this bath bomb after a really long day at work. I fell asleep in the tub and probably would have remained in there all night if my sister hadn’t yelled out that dinner was ready.

Laurel Leaf Essential Oil

Laurel Leaf has a slightly woody, and very herbal smell. This plant grows across the Black Sea and Mediterranean climates and has been used for both medicine and cooking for millennia.

The really neat thing about this essential oil is that your Laurel Leaf Essential Oil will vary slightly depending on where it comes from. North African Laurel Leaf will have a bit more of a eucalyptus-like scent, while French and Italian Laurel Leaf will smell more like the herb used in cooking.

And for you mythology buffs out there, this the type of tree the nymph Daphne became when she ran away from the god Apollo!

Pros:

Treat aches and pains! Laurel Leaf Essential Oil (when diluted to 3% with a carrier oil) can assist in reducing muscle and joint pain from arthritis, sprains, scraped skin, or a staunch workout.

Add vibrancy to your hair! A drop or two of Laurel Leaf Essential Oil can reduce dandruff, stimulate hair growth, and add some shine. It’s a little ironic that it promotes hair growth, though, as it’s a common ingredient in men’s aftershave!

Fight off that cough! Mix Laurel Leaf Essential Oil with Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Radiata or Globulus) to fight a stubborn cough or bronchitis.

Not hungry? Laurel Leaf can fix that! Diffuse Laurel Leaf Essential Oil to boost your appetite. It stimulates the digestive system, liver, and kidneys.

Reduce gas, bloat, and abdominal pains! Laurel Leaf Essential Oil makes it easier to pass gas: one of the key contributors to bloat and abdominal cramps.

Cons:

In high dosages, Laurel Leaf Essential Oil can have a narcotic effect. Exercise caution and don’t use this essential oil neat (undiluted) on your skin.

Laurel Leaf Essential Oil is a potential skin irritant, so you will want to do a patch test prior to use to make sure you don’t have an allergy to the plant.

You should never ingest essential oils internally without first consulting and getting approval from a certified aromatherapist and physician.

This oil should not be used by pregnant women, women hoping to become pregnant, breastfeeding women, or children under the age of 10.

Neroli Essential Oil

Neroli is in my top three favorite Essential Oils of all time, tied with Bergamot and Rhododendron. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive essential oils you can purchase. A tiny 10 ml bottle set me back nearly $90.

However, Neroli has a slew of benefits and is certainly worth the investment.

Neroli is the flower of the Seville bitter orange tree, and has a floral, bitter smell that’s truly unforgettable.

Pros:

Boost your mood and fight depression! Neroli has a beautiful aroma and can improve a person’s mood just by smelling the oil. The scent promotes feelings of joy and fulfillment.

It’s an aphrodisiac! Neroli boosts libido and arousal, as well as helps fight off erectile dysfunctions.

Clean a small cut or wound! Neroli has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It can protect wounds from some infections and treat rashes and skin infections.

Make scars vanish! Neroli is a cicatrisant, meaning it has anti-scarring properties. It’s best for acnes scars, stretch marks, and other imperfections. I use it on old acne scars on my back from my high school years. They’re already starting to fade! Neroli’s cytophylactic properties also promote the growth of new, healthy skin cells and keep your skin looking young, elastic, and beautiful.

Relieve muscle pains and soothe twitchy muscles! Neroli is an antispasmodic, meaning it is perfect for relaxing muscles. It’s your best friend after a workout or if unpleasant cramps hit your system.

Fight insomnia and get a good night’s sleep! Neroli is actually best known for its sedative properties! Its calming and relaxing properties sedate the body and work wonders when paired with other sedative oils, such as Chamomile, Petitgrain, Lavender, or Ylang Ylang.

Cons:

Neroli is considered to be universally safe, but pregnant women (and women hoping to become pregnant) may want to ere on the side of caution.

That said, Neroli is a very powerful sedative oil. You should really only diffuse or apply this (when diluted) at the end of the day when you have no plans to drive or operate heavy machinery. The effects may become even stronger if you drink or pair this oil with other sedative oils.

Petitgrain Essential Oil

Petitgrain Essential Oil is made from the stems and branches of the Seville Bitter Orange tree (the same tree that produces Neroli flower: my favorite Essential Oil of all time). It has a nice outdoorsy smell reminiscent of a freshly mowed lawn. Green and young oranges (which are roughly the size of peas) are mixed in there traditionally, hence the name.

Pros:

Kill Germs! Petitgrain can be used to fight off bacteria that pose a risk of sepsis in people. It inhibits bacterial growth and can be safely applied externally with a carrier oil.

Reduce Spasms! Sometimes we cough, cramp up, or twitch for no reason. Petitgrain can help with that. This oil relaxes the body and soothes those twitchy, nervous muscles.

Reduce Anxiety! Petitgrain Essential Oil can be diffused or added to the bathtub to fight depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and fear. It can also be added to an anti-insomnia blend to promote peaceful sleep.

Use it as a deodorant! Most orange-related Essential Oils can be used to deodorize a room or a person, but Petitgrain’s a powerhouse for this. It also curbs the growth of bacteria that feed off sweat and warm body parts.

Cons:

If you take any of the below medications, do not use Petitgrain Essential Oil:

Medications for Depression (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.

Midazolam (Versed)

If you take any of the below medications, exercise caution with Petitgrain Essential Oil:

Caffeine (Excedrin, Anacin, Vivarin, etc.)

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, etc.)

Felodipine (Plendil)

Indinavir (Crixivan)

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) such as Lovastatin (Mevacor), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Triazolam (Halcion), etc.

Medications that can cause an irregular heartbeat (QT interval-prolonging drugs) such as Amiodarone (Cordarone), Disopyramide (Norpace), Dofetilide (Tikosyn), Ibutilide (Corvert), Procainamide (Pronestyl), Quinidine, Sotalol (Betapace), Thioridazine (Mellaril), etc.

Simulants such as Diethylpropion (Tenuate), Epinephrine, Phentermine (Ionamin), Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), etc.

Mandarin Essential Oil

Mandarin is a type of orange and is one of the most popular essential oils to use with children. You know its scent: it smells just like a ripe Mandarin orange and makes your mouth water almost immediately!

Pros:

Early research suggests that eating tangerines and diffusing its oil on the regular is linked to a lower risk of a cancer called nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This type of cancer affects the nasal passageway connected to the throat.

Mandarin is an asthma-safe essential oil and is commonly used to safely deodorize and clean the air. The oil’s even generally safe for patients with lung cancer!

The smell of Mandarin causes the mouth to produce extra saliva and convinces your body that you’re hungry. It can ease indigestion and improve your appetite.

One of the other nice things about Mandarin (and its cousin oil, Tangerine) is that you can use it to calm down a child’s temper tantrums!

Cons: Like most other citrus oils, Mandarin Essential Oil increases your photosensitivity and the likelihood of developing sunburn when exposed to prolonged sunlight. Limit going outdoors or in direct sunlight if you’ve used this bath bomb over the last 12-24 hours.