Latest news with #essentialoils
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The 20p kitchen staple that mosquito-proofs your body & stops you getting bitten
A MOSQUITO expert has revealed a 20p hack to ensure the pesky critters stay away from you this summer. Now that summer is finally upon us, and with temperatures set to ramp up again next week, many of us are likely making plans for camping trips or visits to countryside cottages. But there's nothing worse than sitting outside on a warm summer 's night, only to be attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. Although thankfully, mosquitoes in the UK do not carry malaria, they are still prone to biting humans, which can be itchy and cause swelling. Shop-bought repellants can be an effective method of keeping mozzies at bay, but these contain harsh chemicals, and can be expensive. Thankfully, Shannon Harlow-Ellis of Mosquito Joe has revealed that you can banish the beasts with the help of a 20p kitchen staple. The mosquito-busting expert revealed that a simple trick is to use vinegar mixed with essential oils. Vinegar is something most of us will have lying in the back of the cupboard, but if you don't have any you can pick it up from the supermarket for as little as 20p. The expert recommends mixing your vinegar with essential oils such as lavender or cinnamon. These are also a budget-friendly buy, and can be picked up from Amazon for just £3.95. To try out the hack, all you need to do is mix the two ingredients together in a spray bottle and then spritz your body before going outside. And if you're worried about smelling like a fish and chip shop, don't worry, as the essential oils will mask the vinegar's scent. 'These miracle bags should be in every home,' says mum who created a cheap hack to prevent flies from entering your home The purse-friendly hack works by masking your natural odour, which mosquitoes look for when hunting. "These essential oils are found to be a mask for the odours that female mosquitoes are attuned to when searching for a blood meal," Shannon told Martha Stewart. "Sweat, body odor, CO2, and sometimes even your blood type can emit smells that attract these bloodsuckers." Mosquitos also hate the smell of vinegar, so will be sure to keep well away if they get a whiff of the kitchen essential. Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. The pesky insects are most active in the early morning and at night, so make sure to be vigilant with spraying yourself at these times of day. They tend to stay away in the middle of the day, as warmer weather can dehydrate them. Make sure to regularly reapply to avoid being bitten, as once the fragrance is gone, the repellent won't work anymore. It is also a good idea to avoid wearing bright coloured clothing as this can attract mosquitoes. Many pest control experts also claim that coffee grounds are the key to keeping them away. Experts at WW Gardening recommend drying the coffee grounds out and then placing them on a fire-resistant container like a metal tray. You can then light the grounds with a match like you would incense to keep the pests at bay.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi launches new NEOM and White Company candle dupes for up to £55 cheaper – exact date they're hitting stores
ALDI is launching a luxurious selection of home fragrances this week - including versions of NEOM and White Company candles, for a fraction of the price. Life can be incredibly stressful at times, so it's important to take some time to yourself to relax and unwind. 5 Wellness has become a growing trend in recent years, with influencers and celebrities making large amounts of cash for flogging candles and incense. Many wellness products can have hefty price tags, so for those who want to feel good without breaking the bank, Aldi has the perfect solution. Landing in stores on June 5th, the budget supermarket is launching a selection of "wellbeing inspired" fragrances, with prices starting at as little as £3.99. The collection includes premium candles, reed diffusers and essential oils, "with each scent crafted to help boost well-being". The three scents are 'Joyful', a combination of Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon, 'Peace', which features notes of lavender and jasmine, and 'Balance', which features a blend of rose, lime and black pepper. Aldi's Spa Candle is priced at £3.99, and has been compared to NEOM's Happiness Candle, which is priced at £38, making the budget offering £34 cheaper. The supermarket is also selling a pack of three essential oils for £3.39, a fraction of the price of NEOM's Happiness Essential Oil Blend, which is priced at £23. The bargain retailer is also selling a more premium selection of home fragrances, including a Premium Glass Candle for £9.99. This invigorating candle has been compared to The White Company Tuscan Grove Large Candle, which is priced at £65, making the Aldi candle £55 cheaper. The premium Aldi candles come in either Bergamot and Vanilla, Lemon & Neroli or Mint & White Tea. A closer look at Aldi's new Hotel Collection candles and diffusers The luxurious candles are part of Aldi's Specialbuys range, and can be found in the middle aisle of stores. Aldi launches new Specialbuys every Thursday and Sunday, and feature everything from beauty dupes to garden bargains. However, you'll have to be quick if you want to snap the lavish candles up, since as with all Specialbuys, once they're gone, they're gone. More Aldi Specialbuys And the candles aren't the only bargains landing at the German discounter this week. When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible Aldi has revealed 36 garden essential products, including Crocs dupes. Prices start at just £1.99 and go up to £19.99, with several top-shelf items for a fraction of the cost you'd pay at big-name stores. That includes Mini Pruning Shears, scanning at Aldi for just £3.99 — a whopping 65 per cent cheaper than Tesco's price. Shoppers can also snap up more luxurious items from the bargain chain, like Solar Marrakesh Crook Lanterns for £12.99 — around £17 less than similar ones at Scotts of Stow. Garden lovers after comfy outdoor footwear might find Aldi's Crocs dupe the perfect fit. The discount supermarket's Summer Clogs will be flying off the shelves for a mere £3.99.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Pestly Is a Better Essential Oil Bug Repellent (But We Still Don't Recommend It)
There is no question that Pestly represents a significant step forward for essential oil repellents. But does it go far enough to replace a picaridin- or DEET-based spray? We asked repellency researcher Laurence Zwiebel, a professor of biological science and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, and he told us that, even with Pestly's advancements in mind, essential oil repellents 'to me, have not shown the level of robust, prolonged, durable repellency, full stop.' Another significant difference holding this newcomer back: Although Pestly has shown decent repellency against mosquitoes, it makes no claims against ticks. Considering the prevalence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, we believe that this is a serious issue, and one we can't ignore. Both picaridin and DEET have proven repellency against those harmful little bugs. 'What I tell people is, if you want to go for a walk in the woods, you should bring some serious stuff,' Zwiebel told us when we asked him to share his general advice on using repellents. 'If you wanna just sit on your back deck, I would not put anything on and just stick a big-ass fan on the deck to blow at you, and you'll be more comfortable, and you won't have any insects bothering you.' If you don't like the idea of spraying picaridin or DEET on your skin, he suggests spraying it just on your clothing. He also likes permethrin-treated clothing: 'A barrier is always a better thing than a chemical, and a barrier treated with a chemical is the best,' he explained. When you talk to an expert like Zwiebel, or the many other researchers we've spoken to over our several years of reporting on this topic, you get the impression that taking any unnecessary risk, while knowing what is at stake, doesn't make sense. That's especially true considering that more effective repellents, like those containing picaridin and DEET, are so readily available. So although we appreciate what Pestly is doing and admire its willingness to set a new standard for essential oil repellents, we stand by our recommendation to use a repellent with a 20% concentration of picaridin or a 25% concentration of DEET. It will provide all-day protection against mosquitoes and ticks. But still, Pestly has provided a glimmer of hope for folks seeking an alternative, and it represents a solid step forward toward a repellent that we might someday recommend for general use. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Harry Sawyers. We don't recommend using any essential-oil bug repellents. There's no way to know what kind of protection you're getting (if any) or how long it will last. Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us. Bug zappers kill the wrong bugs—to control bugs without a spray repellent, use a spatial repellent or a fan instead. These products create a bug-free barrier, and the best ones are long-lasting, effective, and easy to refill or recharge.
Vogue
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Bella Hadid's Sensible Summer Loafers Are A Forever Classic
Bella Hadid spent the past weekend introducing the concept of Orebella–a line of essential oil-based perfumes with scents inspired by the model's relationship with her horses and such—to people in London. The several activations began with drinks at the Sessions Arts Club, followed by a meet-and-greet at Shreeji Newsagents the following morning and the launch of an official pop-up store at Selfridges. Hadid cycled through Jimmy Choo pumps, Tom Ford-era YSL heels, McQueen pirate boots, and Maje Fayna slingbacks almost as quickly as the selfies she (willingly) took with fans. Bella Hadid arriving at the Sessions Arts Club in a John Galliano fall 1997 chainmail dress. Ricky Vigil M Bella Hadid leaving the Sessions Arts Club in a Khy X Poster Girl corset and skirt with a Sportmax trench. Ricky Vigil M But now that Orebella is, well, launched, the supermodel seems to have come back to earth, or at least returned a little closer to ground level. Yesterday afternoon, Hadid was photographed leaving The Connaught Hotel in nothing ritzier than a second-hand turtleneck–purchased for just $35 from Avias Vintage on Depop a couple years ago—with a pair of selvedge denim Levi's 501s and sockless Gucci horsebit Jordaan loafers: a more recent iteration of the house's horsebit-embellished flats that were first launched in 1953. In other words, a shoe not just for this particular season's tastes, but for the ages.
Medscape
20-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Are Your COPD Patients Using Eucalyptus Oil? Know the Risks
There's been renewed interest in recent years for concentrated essential oils to replace or complement pharmaceutical treatments. This is especially concerning among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who might be eager to turn to alternatives but are unaware that COPD increases sensitivity to lung irritants like essential oils. Eucalyptus oil might be at or near the top of the essential oils list for these patients, given its storied history in both ancient and modern medicine for treating colds and respiratory illnesses. Its inclusion in the United States and European pharmacopoeias has also reinforced its legitimacy. And, today, patients are at risk of confusing the primary active ingredient in eucalyptus — the monoterpene 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol, which has been shown to reduce COPD exacerbations when used adjunctively) — with concentrated essential oils that can be purchased online and in stores here in the United States. Ni-Chen Liang, MD 'The more potent active ingredient, eucalyptol (in capsule form), is approved in Germany — not the essential oil of eucalyptus, which contains other compounds. I recommend against using any sort of inhaled essential oils for patients with chronic respiratory illnesses, mainly because they are unregulated and unstandardized,' explained Ni-Chen Liang, MD, an integrative pulmonologist affiliated with Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas in Encinitas, California. 'The substances that come out when you create eucalyptus oil are a 'gamash' of all sorts of chemicals — some benign, some which taste good, and some that may be irritating or even dangerous,' said Neil Schachter, MD, pulmonologist and professor of medicine (pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City. 'They can also produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) related to their formulas, which contain fillers and other constituents,' Liang said. Hidden Dangers Eucalyptus oil was first used by Aboriginal Australians, who crushed the leaves for their antiseptic properties or steamed them for their expectorant activity. Today, eucalyptus oil can be found in mouthwash and soap, used topically to relieve pain or repel insects, or added to cleaning products due to its disinfectant properties. However, inhalation via diffusers or directly from the bottle can trigger different respiratory reactions, including cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, as well as respiratory distress. 'The vapors contain oil, ie, fatty products that can be irritating in and of themselves,' said Schachter. 'There are cases where people have inhaled these oils and developed lipid pneumonia, which is very hard to treat,' he said. Juan Rojas, MD Anything inhaled into the lungs is a risk, said Juan Rojas, MD, assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Rojas compared inhaling essential oils to e-cigarettes, which, in addition to tobacco, contain a variety of chemicals and additives that cause a lung reaction in the short term and create inflammatory patterns in the medium and long term. 'Another problem is that when ingested, eucalyptus oil can be distressing to the gastrointestinal tract. In larger doses, it can actually have some neurological impact as well, including seizures,' said Kalilah L. Gates, MD, associate professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical care) and assistant dean of medical education at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Clinical trial data have also shown a significant association between long-term exposure to essential oils and cardiopulmonary effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure and a decline in percentage predicted peak expiratory flow rate in healthy volunteers. In the study of 200 participants (who were homemakers), long-term exposure referred to daily hours (> 4/d) and the study period, which was 10 years. About Eucalyptol Eucalyptol is rapidly absorbed and quickly distributed throughout the bloodstream, which allows it to reach the bronchial system, where it is expelled by the lungs. It's been shown in various preclinical studies to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, mucolytic, and bronchodilatory activity, as well as antimicrobial effects. For the past decade, enteric-coated eucalyptol capsules containing 100 mg or 200 mg of 1,8-cineole have been available in Germany for adjunctive treatment of inflammatory respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD. Due to its limited bioactivity, frequent administration is required. Clinical evidence of eucalyptol's effectiveness is somewhat limited. Findings from a 2009 double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study also demonstrated that when used along with beta-agonists, anticholinergics, corticosteroids, or combinations in patients with stable COPD, severity and duration of exacerbations over 6 months were significantly decreased compared with placebo. However, Liang was quick to point out that studies of oral eucalyptol preparations in pulmonary patients have not been robust enough. 'I haven't been able to find anything written by a multitude of different authors, which, to me, is a red flag. We want naturally occurring substances to be well tested in multicenter studies across a variety of different patient populations outside of Germany to ensure that results are reproducible,' she said. Rojas concurred. 'Even with the data in Europe, I would say that the studies have been underpowered to support large-scale adoption or suggest that the active ingredient for patients with moderate or severe COPD could be considered an adjunctive therapy with traditional medications,' he said. 'It would be difficult for me to make a recommendation without knowing the full impact,' said Rojas. Open Dialogue Like many chronic diseases, it's important to meet patients where they are, including their use of unapproved or unwise treatment strategies. 'More times than not, they've already figured out their triggers for worsening respiratory symptoms, what does and doesn't work for them, and what predicts a good vs a bad day from a respiratory standpoint,' said Liang. 'There's a lot of popularity and claims related to essential oil use, and ultimately, we need to partner to find healing modalities (which may or may not include essential oils) that are ultimately helpful and minimize harm,' she said. Kalilah L. Gates, MD Gates suggested that when it comes to eucalyptus essential oil vs eucalyptol, education of both patients and doctors is key. 'The issue is that we had a study showing that a particular component — the active ingredient of eucalyptus oil was isolated and put into the capsule form and showed benefit. And then we extrapolated and said, 'well, let's just take (or inhale) eucalyptus oil. It's not the same thing,' she said. 'I feel that it's my responsibility to make sure that patients have the information they need to make informed decisions. It's about being willing to communicate and have open conversations about what they may be taking in addition to medications that I prescribe,' said Gates. Liang, Schachter, Rojas, and Gates reported no relevant financial relationships.
