#bulk rose essential oil

[luckysingh1999]

5 Questions to Ask Your Rose Oil Manufacturer Before You Buy

Rose oil, also known as rose essential oil, is a highly prized and luxurious ingredient used in perfumes, skincare, and aromatherapy. 

Its value and effectiveness depend heavily on the quality of the manufacturing process. If you're planning to purchase rose oil, whether in bulk for your business or for personal use, choosing the right manufacturer is crucial. 

Here are five essential questions to ask your rose oil manufacturer before making a purchase.

1. What is the Source of Your Roses?

The quality of rose oil begins with the roses themselves. Different regions produce roses with distinct aromatic profiles and oil yields. 

For example, Bulgaria and Turkey are renowned for their high-quality Rosa Damascena, while Morocco is famous for its Rosa Centifolia.

Ask the manufacturer:

Where do you source your roses?

Are the roses organically grown or conventionally farmed?

Can you provide details about the soil and climate conditions?

Knowing the origin of the roses helps ensure that the raw materials are of premium quality and cultivated in an environmentally sustainable way.

2. What Extraction Method Do You Use?

The extraction method directly affects the purity, potency, and therapeutic value of rose oil. The two most common methods are steam distillation and solvent extraction:

Steam distillation produces pure essential oil and is the preferred method for aromatherapy purposes.

Solvent extraction creates rose absolute, which is often used in perfumery but contains trace amounts of solvents.

Questions to ask:

Which extraction method do you use?

Can you explain the steps involved in your process?

How do you ensure the oil retains its natural properties?

Transparency about the extraction method gives you confidence in the product's quality and suitability for your intended use.

3. Do You Provide Certificates of Analysis (CoA)?

A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is a document that provides detailed information about the chemical composition of the rose oil. 

It ensures the product meets industry standards and is free from harmful contaminants.

Ask the manufacturer:

Do you provide CoAs for your rose oil batches?

What specific tests do you conduct (e.g., GC-MS analysis)?

How do you ensure quality consistency across batches?

Reviewing a CoA helps verify that the rose oil is pure, unadulterated, and of high quality.

4. Is Your Manufacturing Process Environmentally Friendly?

Sustainability is becoming a critical factor in choosing suppliers. 

Rose oil production can be resource-intensive, with thousands of rose petals needed to produce just one ounce of oil. Ethical manufacturers implement eco-friendly practices to minimize their environmental impact.

Questions to consider:

Do you use sustainable farming and harvesting methods?

How do you manage water and energy consumption during extraction?

Are you certified by any environmental or fair-trade organizations?

Choosing a manufacturer with sustainable practices aligns your purchase with environmentally conscious values and supports ethical production.

5. What Packaging and Storage Solutions Do You Offer?

Proper packaging and storage are essential for maintaining the quality and longevity of rose oil. 

Essential oils are sensitive to light, heat, and air, so manufacturers should use appropriate containers.

Ask the manufacturer:

What type of packaging do you use for rose oil?

How do you ensure the oil remains stable during transport and storage?

Do you offer customization options for bulk orders?

A reputable manufacturer will use dark glass bottles or other UV-resistant materials to protect the oil from degradation.

Final Thoughts

Asking these five questions will help you evaluate rose oil manufacturers and ensure you invest in a high-quality product. 

A trustworthy manufacturer will not only provide detailed answers but also demonstrate a commitment to transparency, quality, and sustainability.

By doing your due diligence, you can confidently choose a rose oil supplier that meets your needs and upholds the standards you expect, whether you’re creating luxury perfumes, and skincare products, or simply enjoying the benefits of pure rose oil.

If you're in the market for premium rose oil, take the time to research potential manufacturers thoroughly. The quality of rose oil is worth the effort, as it can make all the difference in the final product or experience.

[breelandwalker]

Magical Oil Recipes - Glamour Edition

For anyone looking to brew up some magic related to glamours, confidence, physical appearance, or eloquence, here are some recipes I’ve created that you might find useful.

To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.

Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.

(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)

*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested. **- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.

Belle of the Ball Beauty Oil For beauty glamours.

Orange Peel

Magnolia Petal

Maidenhair Fern

Primrose Blossoms**

Brand New Me Transformation Oil For self-improvement, physical changes, or personal growth.

Fennel

Lady's Mantle**

Pine Needles

Geranium Essential Oil Note: If your personal journey includes adjusting to a change in gender or sexuality, add a few Persimmon seeds to the mix.

Honeytongue Eloquence Oil For verbal persuasion and effective speech.

Honeysuckle

Orris Root

Licorice Root

Marshmallow Root** Note: Do not consume.

Increase the Thing Empowerment Oil For self-empowerment and glamours pertaining thereto.

Petunia Petals

Bergamot

Lemon Verbena

Sunflower Petals

It Wasn't Me Diversion Oil For diverting suspicion from yourself or your actions.

Dogbane (Black Hemp)

Cherry Bark

Blueberry Leaves

Marshmallow Root**

Lionheart Courage Oil For bravery and confidence spells.

Black Tea Leaves

Bay Leaf

Cedar Tips

Thyme Sprigs

Own the Runway Confidence Oil For supreme confidence.

Yarrow**

Sumac Berries

Ginger Root, Fresh

Pass Unseen Stealth Oil For perceived invisibility glamours.

Cherry Bark or Blossoms

Poppy Seeds**

Devil's Shoestring**

Dogwood Blossoms (if available)

Tearoom Forbearance Oil For when you need to keep your temper…no matter what.

Tea Leaves

Meadowsweet**

Echinacea**

Fir Balsam Essential Oil

Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:

Penn Herb Company

Starwest Botanicals

Bulk Apothecary

Mountain Rose Herbs

Specialty Bottle

Photo Credit - VeraPetruk

All recipes are © 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.

[p5x-theories]

Kayo’s Confidant

(last updated 12/11/24!)

This post documents the fully filled-in information on Kayo Tomiyama gained through progressing her Confidant! It contains things that could be considered spoilers for her Confidant, as part of the information is a summary of its story.

Tomoko is available in the evenings most days, when it isn’t rainy. Her Confidant is tied to the Charm social stat, and level 17 Charm is required to fully complete it.

Favorite Presents

(An asterisk (*) marks the special presents added with (and unlocked through) Miyu Sahara’s Confidant, which are liked by all Confidants currently in the game.)

Simple Cosmetics Bag A portable cosmetics bag with exquisite style and amazing capacity.

Gossip News Weekly A magazine that reports on various entertainment and celebrity gossip. Its circulation is irregular, but it's very popular.

Designer Perfume Softly-scented designer perfume.

Deep Red Lipstick This colorful limited edition lipstick is said to make the wearer look very mature.

Latest Facial Beauty Device The latest beauty device on the market, with a streamlined design to perfectly fit the contours of the face.

Rose Bath Gift Box This charming rose-scented bath gift box helps relax and nourish the skin all over your body.

Fashion Magazine This magazine, which has frequently set circulation records, focuses on the most cutting-edge fashion news and information.

Dress-Up Doll Beautifully packaged ball-jointed dress-up doll that can be freely outfitted with clothing.

Universal Vitamin Tablets A multivitamin complex nutritional tablet that provides all the body's daily needs in a single tablet.

Premium Fragrance Combination A classic home fragrance set with a soft scent.

Limited-Edition Keychain* This keychain has a unique shape, and is well-made, but there weren’t many of it produced. It has a certain collector’s value.

Bulk Snacks Value Pack* A combo pack containing a variety of traditional snacks that will remind people of the taste of childhood.

Advanced Essential Oil Combination* A value-for-money set of essential oils, with multiple functions to help you relax your mind and body.

Chestnut Cake* Fragrant chestnut cake with mild sweetness to suit most people’s tastes.

Musical Snow Globe* A snow globe that plays music, and can be shaken gently to make snow fall inside.

Desktop Incense Machine* A household incense machine that is small in size, so it can be placed anywhere.

Personal Information

Birthday: April 28 Zodiac Sign: Taurus Age: 44 years old Profession: Housewife Height: 160cm Weight: 55kg Blood Type: ?? Interests: Chatting Features: Fashion design, clothes styling

Story

Character Details My neighbor, a full-time housewife, who likes to chat with everyone. She once worked for a fashion company as a fashion stylist, and her husband seems to still work for that same company.

Personal Data 1 When she was young, she was apparently a rebellious gyaru from Shibuya, and later had a son. She seems to be a bit troubled recently. She often comes to me for discussion, and even gives me clothes as a thank-you gift...

Personal Data 2 What she once knew as popular fashion is something that today's young people have never even heard of. Despite the generation gap, Tomiyama refuses to admit defeat, and decided to continue to get closer to the youth of today.

Personal Data 3 In order to better understand the younger generation, Tomiyama often asks me for advice, but every time, the topic ends up turning to her own experiences when she was younger. Although there's a lot she still seems unable to understand, I can tell she's really working hard.

Personal Data 4 The first time I met Reo Kamiyama, he quickly demonstrated his dedication to tokusatsu. While Tomiyama doesn't understand tokusatsu, in her nephew Kamiyama, she sees her own younger self pursuing her dreams.

Personal Data 5 Tomiyama always regretted that she failed to be a good daughter for her parents because she was young and rebellious. After becoming a mother, she tried to be a parent who never fought with her son, but it backfired, and she ultimately failed to connect with her son. Facing Kamiyama, she hopes that this time she can truly be a good support figure for him.

Personal Data 6 Kamiyama's audition did not go well. Tomiyama wants to support him, but doesn't know how to get involved, and seems to be at a loss. As it turns out, Kamiyama understands how she feels, but doesn't want to worry her, so he's forcing himself to act indifferently. Both of them hope I'll keep their secrets, but is this really okay?

Personal Data 7 Her successive missteps have made Tomiyama start to reflect on whether she's being too worried and nosy. But her enthusiasm and concern for others are part of her personality, right? I hope she won't worry too much, and realize it's better to be sincerely herself.

Personal Data 8 Tomiyama's concern led to Kamiyama deciding to leave. He realized that he's been too absorbed in his own world, and alienated the people around him. After I talked to him, he finally came around, and returned to his aunt who was waiting for him.

Personal Data 9 Tomiyama and Kamiyama were finally able to honestly express their thoughts to each other. Although Kamiyama's sticking with his decision to leave, this time it's for his own sake, and he's no longer uncertain. As his elder, Tomiyama also sincerely gave him her blessing.

Personal Data 10 Now that Kamiyama left, Tomiyama is back to living with just her husband. She seems to better understand the distance between herself and the youth thanks to this experience. Growth is a subject that both the young and old deal with. Maybe we can all learn more about it, going forward.

Voice Lines

Japanese VA: Atsuko Tanaka | Chinese VA: ChuRong Fan

(As I can only add up to ten audio files per post, I’ll only include the Japanese lines below! Feel free to ask for the Chinese ones, though.)

I'm Kayo Tomiyama~ Can you tell me about what's popular with young people these days?

When I was young, I always spoke my mind without hesitation. I enjoyed my time as a stylist, and I'm still pretty particular about fashion even now!

In age I'm thoroughly an adult, but mentally, I'm not all that different from when I was younger~ But it seems I'm completely out of touch with the culture of today's youth... The passage of time is cruel.

The clothes that I've been giving to you? Ah, they're all samples from Darling's work, so don't worry. But I can guarantee their quality!

Every time I talk to you, I feel younger again~ Huh? I'm too chatty? You're so bad! ... Just kidding~

Seeing that kid, I just can't help but cheer for him. Maybe I see my past self in him?

No way, asking me about Darling suddenly... though now that you mention him, you do resemble Darling when he was your age.

Confidant-Specific Bonuses

Rank 1 Fashion Designer: Gain outfit "Casual Formal Wear".

Rank 3 New Trend: Gain outfit "Casual Formal Wear - Green".

Rank 9 Diversity of Fashion: New outfits become available for purchase at the Shibuya Underground Mall Clothing Store.

Rank 13 Sewing with Care: New outfits become available for purchase at the Shibuya Underground Mall Luxury Clothing Store.

Rank 20 Special Taste: Gain outfit "Casual School".

[chaoticgeminate]

If My Heart Was a House

Pairing: Din Djarin x f!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 14.5k

Content/Warnings: Mutual Pining, Allies to Lovers, A/B/O dynamics (rut and heat cycles, nesting, knotting, pheromones), jerking off in the shower, brothels, beating up Imperials, Unprotected PiV, Oral (f!Receiving), spit as lube

Notes: Omega!Din and Alpha!Reader, they traveled together pre-Grogu, dynamics are a little different here since I sort of used bird behaviors for Alphas (showy and prefer bright colored clothes). Set between season one and two, asks are open for them if you're ever curious about more. Yes the title is the Owl City song.

“Roast nuna, one credit for five!”

“New durasilk shawls and scarves, treat yourself to core world fashion finery!”

“Please come, look at the fine jewelry made from only the rarest stones.”

Vendors shouting over one another for the attention of the crowd, the sharp roasting scents of meats and vegetables mingling with the tables of spices and heavily perfumed incense made for a chaotic dance through the crowd. Mando and the pollywog were on a hunt for a bail jumper, the armored warrior had tasked you to restock on rations and essentials, leaving you to all of this. Not that you minded much. The explosion of sensation from the sounds, the scents, the feeling of the sun on your skin was a welcome reprieve from the quiet of hyperspace.

Already the ration packs were being delivered to the hauler you’d rented, leaving you to find the cosmetic requirements like soap and towels, opting for low expense and bulk purchases over something indulgent. The number of times towels had been ruined by Mando bleeding all over them, washed as best as they could and then being turned into cleaning rags, it was easier to just buy the cheaper ones.

“A practical traveler.” You looked up at the shopkeeper as she folded some sort of flowy material, it was pearlescent in the light of the sun and stacked on the wall behind her with the rest, and she motioned to the packs of vacuum sealed towels you were holding under one arm.

“Unfortunately, these get turned into cleaning rags far too quickly to risk splurging on something better.” The Omega laughed softly, the musical quality of her voice combined with the warm scent of her pheromones made the hair on your arms and down your back stand up, your mind buzzing pleasantly. As you handed over two packs of towels, a bulk pack of soap sheets, and a hair moisturizer pack it was hard not to look at the bottles of oil for shaving and facial hair care.

Not only were they right there but the sleek bottles were an eye-catching shade of teal.

You knew Mando had facial hair, he’d told you that much when you asked why he had a straight razor, but you also knew that he didn’t use any lather to shave -there was none to be found in the fresher- and that he’d complained about it getting caught in the helmet lining if he went too long without shaving. You snagged a bottle each since the instructions said not to use more than a drop or two, and the Omega’s brows rose before she hummed.

“Part of a traveling flock then?”

“No, uh, ‘m not part of any of that. I don’t like those sorts. This is for a bounty hunter I know.”

In recent years -a few decades now- there’d been groups of Alphas that began flying around the galaxy together, being dubbed flocks with how often they flew, going around trying to bully Omega into a mating bond and even causing trouble in local cantinas doing so. It wasn’t like that sort of thing was unusual for an Alpha to do, your designation had a tendency to be showy bastards and bossy as hell, but you hated being lumped in with all of it.

The flocks weren’t even gender specific, plenty of Alpha women and non-binary Alphas were in these groups being just as brazen and pushy as the males, and while it was true that there were Omega out there who liked partners like that… none of that was you.

“You might want to consider something colorful then, walking around with your head low has eyes on you, people think you’re an Omega.” The advice made you look up and look around the market slowly, making sure it looked like you were just perusing the stalls, and you realized that she was right. Several others were watching you from afar, all of them donning some vibrant article of clothing like a tunic or a jacket.

It was instinctual, the desire to be noticed, something you struggled with because in your line of work -bounty hunting and protecting the baby- that was the exact opposite of helpful. You’d managed a compromise in the beginning with a woven string bracelet that had vivid teal strands mixed in the soft tan linen, made by Winta on Sorgan, but it’d been destroyed a few planets back.

All you could really do was sigh, motioning to the sheets of durasilk she had on the shelf behind her, and the Omega studied you before choosing the one that was a vibrant red shade after holding a few different colors up and comparing them. The material was smooth and soft, light but also durable, with the very faint embroidering of lines that made you think of sand dunes.

After folding the long length of material into a triangle you simply wrapped the ends around your neck and tucked them under the front so that it was draped almost like a loose bandana. A tight knot would give an opponent something to grab on to, to restrain you with, so you kept the ends loose.

Once the rest of your purchases were sent off to your hauler, the small floating cargo speeder being watched over by the owner, you decided that you were done and followed it back to the Crest. You took a pitstop top grab some fresh food, before you had to live off rations again, and made sure to grab more than enough for all three of you,

 The eyes that had been on you disappeared, adjusting your body language to present as more confident and aggressive than usual to be safe; Mando was sitting inside the ship when you got there, the ramp was open and he was cleaning one of his many blasters. The sand had gotten into it, you could see the coarse grains being swept away by the light breeze from speeders and haulers moving throughout the shipyard.

“Finished already? I wouldn’t have lingered in the market so long if I’d known, sorry.”

After paying the second half of the holding fee for the hauler you began unloading the boxes, seeing the door to the cot was closed -and likely where the baby was being hidden- you made quick work of dismissing the droid and the Beta in charge of the service. One quick inventory list slapped onto the crates, setting the soap sheets and hair oils into the fresher cabinet, you then went to get the baby so you could give him the roasted nuna you’d bought for him.

His eyes were wide open when you opened the door, your body blocking his form from view, and the excited grab for the roasted meat when you pulled it out of the insulted bag made you smile fondly. For such a curious, trouble-making, little pollywog he was damn adorable and his ears twitched as he tried to shove a whole one into his mouth.

“Small bites, don’t shovel it all in, come on now.”

Sure he’d eaten whole birds and whole mudjumpers before, with no consequences, but teaching him manners was something you were trying to work on. Soup was something he had down, he could sip bowls of soup easily, but whole meals? Rations? It was a work in progress. The ramp began closing and Mando’s steps across the hull were your warning that he planned to take off, your free hand going to the bag on your shoulder.

“I got you something too, Mando, I’ll feed the baby down here so you can eat up in the cockpit. I think one fresh meal after weeks of soup and rations will be good for you.”

You held out the takeaway container in his general direction, if you even looked away from the pollywog he’d scarf the rest of his food down, and you felt the weight of it leave your hand before there was a light touch at the red fabric around your neck. Now you did turn your head, seeing Mando’s helmet tilted as he took you in, and you realized he was probably confused by the sudden vibrancy in your wardrobe.

“There were Alphas watching me at the market, they thought I was an Omega, so I figured this would keep them off my back. Should have expected it, since it’s happened a few times now.” You shrugged off your discomfort at being so bad of an Alpha that you could be confused for an Omega in a crowd, the idea that all Alphas were showy and aggressive wasn’t wrong but it wasn’t difficult to suppress the more aggressive aspects of your designation, which made you think it had to be just you.

Mando’s reply was interrupted when the baby took an accidental bite out of your hand, the sharp sting making you yelp as the pollywog took advantage of your relaxed grip on the food to devour it in one gulp as you inspected the imprint of little teeth in your skin.

“Little bugger, that was mean, you need to be more polite.” The baby looked up at you like you were in the wrong, and of course he would think that since you were slowing down dinner time by insisting he take small bites. Mando seemed to choose retreat since you heard him ascending the ladder to the cockpit, reminding you -yet again- that you were kind of a shitty Alpha traveling with someone who had to be the most prime Omega specimen in the galaxy.

The Crest began take-off so you seated the baby in his pod, to prevent him from flying all over the hull, and settled into your hammock as you waited for the ship to exit atmosphere and enter hyperspace. Eating now while you were still dealing with the slight turbulence of exiting a planet’s gravity was a recipe for disaster.

He had to get it together.

Din scrubbed his hands down his face in the fresher, you’d already showered so the faint musk of your pheromones was7 still present in the air, and it was making his body react very enthusiastically to the unintentional dosing of scent. He had been completely thrown when you’d returned, glancing up only to immediately lower his gaze at the addition to your wardrobe, the vivid red was so eye catching and it looked good on you.

Every instinct to rip his helmet off and scent you had been very thoroughly tamped down as he gathered himself, up until you began feeding the kid; the care you displayed for the baby was like a shot right to his designation’s very nature. When you’d begun feeding the kid it practically purred Alpha cares in his ear, making his heart speed up, and then when you’d so calmly shoved food in his direction too?

Alpha provides had practically echoed in his head on repeat.

As an Omega he was very used to the usual flaunting and preening and prancing that Alphas were known for, independent clients were quick to try and play to his instincts for any sort of discount they could try and get from him. You’d never outright thrown your designation in his face, challenged him when he gave you orders, or even remotely tried to use any sort of pheromone manipulation tactics on him.

Respect was something that always made him take notice and the respect you showed him, by treating him like he was just a person instead of just a potential mate, had created this horribly confusing infatuation that Din had no idea how to handle. He wanted to drag you onto his uncomfortable sheet of barely-there padding so you could cover him in your scent, so he could shut the door to the cot and blacken the space and you could sink those teeth of yours right into his scent gland.

He inhaled heavily to catch the traces of your scent in the thick steam and wrapped his hand around his cock, he was hard and leaking at the very idea of your teeth breaking through his skin as you leaked with his spend. Din couldn’t help but create this fantasy of you taking care of him during his heat, riding him until you were sore and needing his mouth to soothe the ache between your thighs as you used your hand and mouth to soothe the insatiable need to fuck right out of him.

Just the thought of squeezing your plush hips, of your bare skin against his, as his knot locked the two of you in place made him spill all over the wall.

He stared at the ribbons of his seed being washed away by the splash of the water, remorseful that it was dripping down the fresher stall and not your thighs, but Din wasn’t sure how to go about asking. He could just go out there and tell you that he wanted you to scent him, that he wanted you to claim him, but he’d seen the way you always shied away from attention.

Other Omega noticed your calmer, subdued, nature despite being an Alpha and flocked whenever you strut through a town at his side; not-so-subtly trying to entice you to join them for some fun. Offers you never seemed interested in taking up, not that there was an issue with that, and he sighed as he turned the water off to get dry. He knew you weren’t against sex, that you weren’t disgusted or put off by it, you’d confessed to having lovers in the past when your rut would hit.

As he slipped on a new pair of underclothes Din paused at the sight of the very vivid bottles in the cabinet, inspecting the labels and swallowing thickly as a new wave of affection ripped through him. The scent was subtle, not heavily perfumed, which was always an issue with products like this because of the helmet trapping scent or the lining holding the smells; and he set his razor down on the sink and decided to use your gift.

The shave cream created a smoother glide and even his skin felt better, softer, once he rinsed everything off. The oil for the hair he kept wasn’t going to act instantly of course but he wondered if it would soften the patchy beard he kept, the idea that you’d bought this to feel his face rub against yours sent pleasant chills down his spine as Din put everything away and dried his hair before he slipped his helmet back on.

He left his dirty flight suit in the sonic scrubber and as he stepped out to clean his armor he felt his throat catch, you were sleeping in your hammock but had to have shifted around because your undershirt had ridden up and your blanket was half hanging on the floor. One bare leg was thrown over the edge of the fabric and he caught a glimpse of the scant material hidden under what little blanket remained, his eyes shooting to his cot where the kid was also sleeping in his hammock.

Carefully, so he didn’t wake you, Din brought your leg back up into the hammock so you didn’t accidentally roll out; he caught your blanket before it could fall completely and draped it back over you, tugging your shirt down and running a bare hand along your cheek. You crooned and purred softly as you nuzzled into his hand, comfortable with his presence, and Din spotted the red fabric piled on top of your clothes for tomorrow.

He glanced at you, almost afraid you’d wake up, before lifting his helmet and lifting the fabric to his nose; it was so strongly covered in your scent already, enough to make him squeeze his eyes shut and return it so he could retreat to sleep before he did something else even more embarrassing.

You couldn’t be happier that you’d gotten the red shemagh as you draped the fabric over your head and the bottom of your face, the durasilk helping to protect your skin from the heat of the twin suns, and your tech goggles helped obscure the rest of you while giving you a few advanced HUD options to ensure you didn’t lose visual clarity. Mando was on another hunt, he’d taken the baby with him again, while you were off to catch the other quarry in the opposite direction.

Having two quarry on the same planet wasn’t unusual and it was easier to split up like this, though you’d noticed Mando had been a little reluctant to do so today, you chalked his nerves up to the fact that your prey was an Imperial. He knew your history with the Imps, that your little hometown had been victim to raids for years before they decided to wipe it off the galactic maps, that you’d been the one to lead the children away from the destruction and get them to safety while all your parents had died in the assault.

Omega were protective of those they cared for, that was a well known fact, so having any proof of him caring for you even if it was something like this made your heart skip in your chest.

Flipping through your vision options, dimming the glare of the sun and enhancing your view, it was easier to see the start of the small town far ahead in the distance and you could have breathed a sigh of relief. While you had some mild regret for not renting a speeder, seeing as it took most of the morning to walk here and you’d likely have to trek back dragging your unconscious quarry, it was better this way.

Mando’s hunt was a much further distance so he needed the Crest, and when he was done, he’d come find you at the rendezvous location or be waiting there for you. Keeping your face covered as you approached, making sure your posture was tall and commanding as you kept one hand on your blaster, the townsfolk that were out and about all peered at you before returning to what they were doing.

Omegas, all of them, you couldn’t smell a single Alpha in the area and your eyes narrowed behind your goggles since the Imp you were after was an Alpha. Either he was suppressing his scent with pheromone inhibitors or he had moved on and your intel hadn’t been enough up to date, the idea that the little creep at the outpost lied to protect the quarry also presented a possibility.

Seeing as Karga didn’t have a damn tracker for this one, just a puck to your annoyance, and then triggered your natural show-off instincts by challenging your abilities right in front of Mando it was a wonder your mood wasn’t worse.

“Well, hello stranger.” You turned and felt your face warm under your cover as the Omega sent you a flirty wink, the line of her cleavage was very prominently on display and instead of hiding from the sun she had a lot of skin open to sunburns. Instead of remarking on that, like some kind of fucking creep, you cleared your throat and tipped your head in greeting.

The surprised look on her face melted to something pleased as she reached out to play with the end of the durasilk where it draped slightly over your chest.

“You’re a sweet Alpha, I’ve never had one like that, most that come here are bossy. You looking to show a girl a good time?”

“I’m hunting, actually, has another Alpha come through recently?” Using any sort of pheromone or tone shifts against an Omega was something you hated doing but in this case you had little choice, she was too close to her heat and would definitely lose focus if you didn’t, the stern tone and the way you stood up straighter snapped her right out of that syrupy haze of pleasure seeking for now.

“Yea, we got one, he isn’t kind.”

You pulled out the puck to show her the face, earning a nod, and followed her gaze to the unassuming door behind her. You should have guessed he’d find and hole up in a brothel, probably expecting any Alphas that came after him to get distracted by the Omega pheromones within, and you slipped a few credits into the woman’s hand in thanks before reaching under your scarf to slide your respirator filter over your mouth and nose.

Omega pheromones typically elicited the same instinctual responses in Alphas, but every person -Alpha, Beta, or Omega- had their own natural scent that helped create a unique chemical cocktail for others to pick up on. The sleek mask allowed you to breathe but had a unique pheromone filter to make sure you didn’t accidentally trigger a rut, since pheromone exposure was the leading cause of off-season rut incidents.

A few people looked at you as you walked in, no doubt taking in the oversized goggles and mask obscuring your face, but the owner looked relieved and you slid the bounty puck across the table to show her the image of your quarry. With crimes off assaulting Omega, in particular one bonded to an enforcer of the Hutt Cartel, you weren’t surprised that she was willing to give him up as she led you toward the room.

Punching the door switch and walking in on the Alpha choking out the young man he’d paid for, making your blood simmer in outrage, you used a tranq shot and watched the effect kick in immediately.

“I’ll be taking him off your hands, anything he owns is yours.”

Watching the owner fuss over the young man as you dressed and restrained the Imp, tossing him over your shoulder since it’d be easier than dragging the bastard, the young man let out a whine that drew your attention.

“Thank you. I’d like- could I offer you a good time as gratitude for saving me?”

“No, it’s not necessary, you should rest instead.” He looked surprised at your refusal, you knew that you carried no trace scent to indicate you had a mate, but then he smiled and nodded in response. Leaving the brothel, and the town, was easy to a point; you did not count on the Imp having friends though.

When he didn’t see you at the rendezvous point Din kept the Crest moving toward the coordinates you’d gotten for your hunt, you would have left some indicator that you’d arrived and there wasn’t one to be seen, it would be easier anyway. There was something burning in him, a feeling that something was wrong, and the kid had been very cranky out of the blue; if there was one thing Din knew for certain it was that the baby had a connection with you that transcended distance, the crankiness was a bad sign.

As the sand dunes passed by he finally noticed what looked like shapes moving in the distance, seeing you in a full-on fist fight when he got close enough, and Din snarled as he whipped the Crest around to land. The kid shut himself into the bunk and the second the ramp was down he was firing at two of the idiots that turned their attention on him, the sound of your furious snarls as you bared your fangs at the Alpha you had pinned sent a sharp thrill down his spine but Din shoved that reaction down fast.

The quarry was bound, unconscious, and Din suspected you’d dosed him with a tranq -maybe even twice- to keep him from escaping. He could see you’d taken out at least six of them on your own with how many bodies lay bleeding out in the sand, he grabbed your arm to pull you up after saying your name but he didn’t expect your fist to swing and slam into his chest plate. The sharp impact and the crunch of bone -your hand now broken from the impact- elicited a howl of rage that made Din realize you’d been pushed into a rut. He had never actually seen you like this before, this aggressive angry thing that saw anything as a challenge, and the Alpha below you snarled before Din put a shot through his head and wrapped you in his arms as you continued to try and fight him.

“It’s me!” He tipped his head up so that his neck was bared a little more, so that his pheromones could pierce through the veil of your rage, he needed you to calm down so he could get a bacta shot into you and heal your hand. The moment the scent registered he felt you begin to calm, the growls and snarls softening, but Din knew that wasn’t going to be the end of it. He hated doing it but he brought his helmet down hard, head meeting yours, and knocking you out cold with the hit; after stripping the valuables off your assailants and putting the bounty in carbonite Din set you down in the bunk and moved the kid to the cockpit.

The bacta shot was a half dose, since there was bone to mend, and he secured your wrists to be safe since he didn’t know what sort of temperament you’d have when you woke up. Bacta was a lose-lose situation with any Alpha, its healing properties be damned, some Alpha woke up enraged and pushed into a more extreme version of a rut while others woke up beyond starving as their bodies worked double time to burn calories and get the healing agent to wear off faster.

He took the Crest to the nearest town for a supply grab after fetching your broken filter mask from the sand, knowing that if you were the latter you would eat through at least two weeks of rations on your own, and realized that you’d been here. Your scent was soaked into the sand and adobe buildings, the brothel -an Omega establishment- reeked of heat and sex and your scent was mingling with it.

“So, she did have an Omega.” One of the women looked him over, the prominent display of skin and cleavage pretty indicative of being tasked to lure people to the brothel. The food stall owner stacked another box of rations -your favorites, even if they were a little pricier- onto the two boxes he already had.

“She?”

“The bounty hunter, the Alpha, she refused all of us even after saving us from that Imp and being offered a freebie. She was sweet, most of us were sad to see her go, I figured she had an Omega waiting for her.” The fact that you’d refused the others sent a shot of sharp victory and possessiveness through him, you hadn’t even entertained any other Omega despite being in a place that most Alpha would lose themselves to, and even though you had on your respirator and goggles Din knew that if you wanted to you could and would have stayed.

The fact that you hadn’t chosen them, even if you technically hadn’t said you chose him, made his blood sing; he was the Omega you spent your time with, he was the Omega that got to see you feel safe enough to sleep and provide you food and a little home in his ship.

“We’re not… we aren’t.”

“You should probably tell her that you want to be, honey, Alpha like her -that actually respect Omega like us- are far and few between. Not that I think any old Alpha would be able to take you on without a serious fight on their hands, but if she’s what you want you should make it clear before someone else does. Alpha and Omega stereotypes? None of that matters when you really care about someone.”

The woman let him be after that, though she tossed a cheeky ‘you can always tell her she has a fan club here and we’ll treat her right, too, honey’ over her shoulder, and Din paid for the rations before heading back to the Crest with his heart thundering with the knowledge that she was right. Who cared if he initiated things first, who cared if he was the one asked you to claim him, why did he have to wait for you to show interest?

Luckily the kid had not snuck down while he was gone, allowing Din to set down and add the rations to the inventory list before heading up to get the ship into hyperspace, you’d need to be changed and cleaned up anyway and that would be easier without the baby trying to heal you or fuss at you to wake up. Once Din got the Crest into atmosphere, he heard the kid grumble and sighed at the kid’s attitude, placing a hand on his head gently.

“I need you to stay up here a little longer, once we get to hyperspace, and don’t touch anything. I have to clean her up and get her into comfortable clothes.”

He was glad the kid just closed his pod, pouting, and Din’s own growl earned a smaller one in reply; it was kind of cute, honestly, and he began to suspect that the baby -if his species had a secondary nature- was more Alpha than he thought.

You were still sleeping when Din climbed down the ladder, removing his cloak and armor to make it easier to maneuver you and not take up as much space, and he did his best to be respectful as he laid you down on the supply crates and fetched a rag and bucket of water with some soap sheets rather than try to shower with you. The red scarf was tossed with the rest of your clothes into the sonic cleaner, with additional time tacked on for blood removal, and he couldn’t help but run his hands down your skin just to feel you beneath his fingers before getting to work on cleaning you up.

He slipped one of his spare under shirts onto you when he was done, along with fresh undergarments, and part of him preened at the sight of you in the material; knowing you were blanketed with his scent. Sliding you back into his bunk, forgoing any pants because you never slept with them on anyway, Din kept the door open and decided to sleep nearby so he didn’t have to restrain you again.

If you woke up aggressive, he would handle it. “Come on, kid, let’s get some sleep.”

You slept for two days straight, the brace he’d made for your hand to make sure it healed properly had worked according to the basic x-ray he ran, and Din nearly jumped out of his skin when you finally stirred; he’d slept sitting up against the wall while the baby stayed in his pod nearby and your soft whine of discomfort was cut off by the fierce growl in your stomach. The kid woke up to the sound, eager to make sure you were okay, and Din tipped his head up as you rolled and peered down at him. He watched you take in your place in his bunk, his place sitting on the floor without the rest of his armor on and the top half of his flight suit missing, and the baby’s frantic grabby hands.

“What happened after you pulled me off that Alpha and knocked me out?”

“You remember that? Being in a rut, I mean?”

Din knew that it wasn’t fair to assume all the Alpha stereotypes were right, especially since Omega stereotypes were only partially true, but you’d seemed so out of it when he found you. He got up to get one of the ration packs and nearly tripped over his boots when you brought the collar of his shirt up and sniffed it, your eyes lifting to look at him, and then a shy smile bloomed across your face that made his heart race.

“I always remember them, at this point I don’t know if I’m just an outlier but when I do get into a rut, I know exactly what I’m doing. There are things I can’t stop, like when I punched your chest plate, but I’m consciously aware of it happening.”

Din watched you inspect your hand, flexing your fingers and checking for any residual ache, and when he handed you the ration pack he watched your eyes take in the packaging. You rarely purchased anything expensive or indulgent, with how often the two of you ruined everything there was little point, but he wanted to give you this at the very least.

“Mando-“

“Eat.”

You leveled him with a look but nodded, activating the heating element and letting it warm the meal inside as Din got the baby’s meal ready, and he watched as you pulled your legs up and patted the flimsy cushion for him to sit before relenting. The warmth of your arm pressed into his as he sat right next to you, pulling the kid in his lap to feed him, and he kept a careful eye on you as he fed the baby.

After a moment of silence, just a calm between you, he was ready to talk but you beat him to it.

“How would scenting work, with your helmet I mean.”

Scenting was sort of like courting, an old custom that had been started among people being betrothed or engaged, it was a way to tell others that a person had someone who they wanted to mate with already. To ward off unwanted advances, typically romantic; although some Omega women would have platonic Alpha friends scent them before going out to party as a way to ward off unwanted attention.

It required unhindered access to the scent glands right below the ears. The very thought of your skin against his there sent his heart into overdrive, he knew he was releasing strong pheromones when your grip on the utensils tightened enough that he could see the strain in your knuckles.

“A blindfold.”

You nodded at his answer and shoveled food into your mouth, he hoped you were asking because you were interested, and Din sighed again when the baby began to mimic your pace eating. You would need more than one pack though, after all of that, and he could tell you were still very hungry when you finished the first meal off. He gave you a second one and put the baby in his pod since the little one was now trying to snatch at your meal, and Din felt you lean into his side a little more as the two of you sat there together.

His mouth opened, to ask, but he just couldn’t right now. You were recovering from your reaction to the bacta, the kid was right here, and if he started that conversation, he wasn’t sure he could stop it from going too far if you gave him a positive response.

After you finished off the second ration pack he wasn’t surprised when you got up, the shirt long enough on you that you didn’t even need pants, and Din watched as you picked up a bottle of water too before chugging the entire thing. He’d expected you to be ravenous so he simply began cleaning up behind you, setting your cleaned clothes out in case you wanted to change, and you reached for him when he went to get the kid up into the cockpit before the little one decided to join you in decimating the food supply.

You hugged him, making Din shiver as every hair on his body stood on edge, and he cupped the back of your head before pressing his forehead much gentler to yours.

“Is this- is this okay?” He angled your face toward his neck without actually pushing you, the scent of your pheromones teasing him as they slipped under his helmet, and he swore he felt you shiver as he offered you the bare side of his neck. Everything felt still as he waited for your answer, the racing of his heart and harshness of his breathing felt so much more intense, like some sort of pivotal decision was being made.

“Yes, Mando.”

Your breath coated his skin before you closed the distance on your own, accepting his request as you bathed his skin in your scent, the touch of your scent gland and the wash of your pheromones making his head spin. He heard the low coo from the kid, reminding himself that there was an audience, and it was so much more difficult to let you pull away with you wearing his shirt and laying your claim on him.

He wanted to build you a nest, to make somewhere small and dark and comfortable where he could feel every part of your skin against his, the warmth of acceptance making him giddy. Your hold on his suspenders was firm, keeping him still as you moved to the other side of his neck, and Din’s stupid knees began to go weak as you got more confident with your touch.

“Cyare, I- we need to find someone to watch the kid.”

“I know, and we will. I can’t- my hand is still a little sore and I’m still starving so this is just so I know that people are aware you’re mine.”

The possessive growl in your voice made his cock go hard in an instant, and he knew you felt it when you hummed softly, and Din hissed when your teeth teased him gently. “Soon, Mando.”

You had one last job before it was time to turn in the slabbed bounties to Karga, Mando was refusing to allow you to help while you recovered, and you knew that it made sense for you to stay with the baby; your body was finally starting to recover from the bacta dosing, you’d easily decimated a month’s worth of rations in a week as your system recovered from expending so much energy to burn off the medicine.

While you weren’t exactly a liability you knew that Din’s worry was amplified by his feelings for you and by his instincts.

The armored Omega had been firm in keeping you comfortable -as comfortable as one could be on the shitty cushion he called a mattress- and you let him fuss over you, the man naturally cared for those he was close to but his instincts were likely going haywire over you needing to rest up. He had removed your hammock, despite your complaints about how uncomfortable his thin cushion of a bunk was, but you didn’t mind the compromise.

You had not expected for him to strip down to only his undershirt and compression leggings and join you in the bunk, laying on the pad and having you lay on him, and when he’d closed the door so that the space was black he had removed his helmet. The pneumatic hiss was deafening in the space as his modulated breaths softened, as he gave you all of him the only way he could right now.

Never, in a thousand years, would you forget the feeling of his hands holding you against him as he pressed his cheek to yours for the first time. His facial hair was softer that what you expected, it smelled like the oil you’d bought him, and the fact that he used it made you preen that your gift was well-received.

You hadn’t thought about how he kept the kid out of the bunk initially, letting him fall asleep in his pod and sealing him in, but now it made sense. Mando had soaked you with his pheromones and you’d done the same, hands pressed to his pectorals to grip the shirt fabric when he finally kissed you after making your head swim from how strong his scent was and how good it felt to be wrapped in it.

“Mando-“

“Din, my name is Din Djarin and I’d like you to use it, Cyare.”

Avoiding the use of his name had been intentional, he himself had never told it to you, so you had firmly pretended not to hear Moff Gideon use it. Having his permission to do so made you smile against his lips; it was really all you needed to know that this man had truly chosen you out of every other Alpha in the galaxy. You breathed the single syllable name out in a sigh when he pressed your core against the hard line of his cock, when he rocked his hips up and captured your mouth again, and he shushed the rumbling growl that formed in your chest when he nipped at your neck.

“Want to- want to have your first time with me in a nest, would you be okay with that? Waiting until I can make a nest for us?” The idea of him making a nest for you to share sent liquid heat right through you, making your cunt throb as you began to leak into your underwear, you had only ever dreamed of being wrapped up in a nest with this man and to know that he thought about it too?

How could any Alpha get this lucky?

“I’m- I can wait, Din.” Your voice was breathy with desire and he groaned, slotting his mouth to yours as he planted his feet to grind against you, it was heady and overwhelming in the best way as you rolled your hips to meet his thrusts; you didn’t care that he wasn’t going to fill you tonight, that he was going to make you cum from just rubbing himself against you like this because you knew that when he made that nest you weren’t going to be leaving for a long time.

A sharp mewl escaped you when you felt the swell at the base of his shaft, felt the heft of his knot forming, and it made you rock down harder as his pheromones sharpened and his grip tightened and you felt the liquid warmth as he let out a strangled growl right into your mouth; you nearly screamed when one of his hands pulled the gusset of your underwear out of the way to slide two fingers into you as his thumb slid up through your folds to stroke your clit.

He swallowed down your sharp snarl of his name as your clamped down on his fingers, as your slick soaked his hand, and Din shivered beneath you as you nuzzled him and carded your hands through his hair to shower him with affection to temper your urge to sink your teeth into his skin. Din chuckled and you nearly yelped when he rolled you onto your side, so he could curl his broad body behind yours.

“We’ll clean up in the morning, Cyare.”

When you woke up, to him nuzzling you and whispering your name, Din kissed you deeply before putting his helmet back on to open the door of the bunk. The kid was still asleep at least, since it was early enough, so you were able to get into the fresher and wash up before sending the broad Omega in after you; Din’s chuckle when he emerged made you wink, since you’d flooded the steamy fresher with pheromones when you’d finished up.

As you handed him a ration pack to eat, expecting him to take it up into the cockpit, you didn’t expect him to take your shemagh and wrap it over itself several times before holding it out to you without a word. You realized it was meant to be a blindfold and you closed your eyes before turning around, letting him tie the red fabric over your face, and the hiss of his helmet was softened by the space of the hull before your felt him pressing his cheek to yours.

“Shouldn’t take too long.”

“Not with the best bounty hunter in the parsec on the loser’s tail.”

Din preened at your praise, even if it was Karga’s chosen moniker for him, and only when he was thoroughly drenched in your scent did he pull back to sit with his back to yours so you could eat together. The baby wasn’t due to wake up for another hour -you’d managed to get the little pollywog on a sleeping schedule at long last- so neither one of you rushed to eat.

“Keep the ground security protocols engaged, don’t leave the Crest while I’m gone, this area isn’t safe.”

“I’ll keep my blaster on me too, then, just in case.”

“If you could stay up in the cockpit that’d be great, this one is a Devaronian so I don’t want you or the kid in the line of fire if something happens.”

“Din, like hell I’m going to stay up here knowing you could get hurt. I’ll keep the kid up in the cockpit when I know you’re coming back and I’ll stay near the weapon’s locker since you’re going to bring him up the ramp, that way I can tranq him if he breaks your hold somehow.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Well, I don’t like that you’re going out there without me to back you up, how am I supposed to make sure you don’t get hurt if you go alone? Do you know how hard it is for me to sit back and let you go while I stay here?”

You felt him pause as your voice exploded out of you, the difficulty of warring with your instincts and respecting Din’s skill was hard, and you dropped your head before setting your food aside to hug your knees to your chest. Din’s arms circled you gently and he pulled you against him after he turned around.

“Hey, no, talk to me Cyare. Don’t hide what you’re feeling, please.” His voice without the modulator was a lovely baritone that made you want nothing more than to just curl up against him in a pile of blankets, to have him whisper praise and affection in your ear. Instead, he was crooning and purring, trying to get you to tell him what was going on in your head after your temper flared.

“Just because I have a better hold of my instincts doesn’t mean they aren’t there, Din. You’ve chosen me to be your Alpha, I’m supposed to be the one that goes out and gets hurt so you -my Omega- can stay here and keep our home safe, keep our young one safe. I’m willing to compromise and stay here but you cannot expect me to stay where I can’t help you if something goes wrong.”

 “Cyare, I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about how you’d feel with me asking you to stay out of the way, my desire to make sure you’re safe doesn’t excuse me from ignoring your instincts and feelings. Thank you for compromising and thank you for respecting me and what I’m capable of, I will try not to forget again.” If it were anyone else you would think it was mildly condescending but you knew that Din meant every word sincerely, that he was learning you just as much as you were learning him, and you huffed softly.

“Thank you, Din.”

A low grumble from the pod made Din let go of you, turning around fast and sliding his helmet on right as the baby let himself out, and you smiled as the little one reached for you when he spotted the rations open. Din got up with his half-finished meal, opening a new pack on the way over, and you finished eating as the Mandalorian fed the baby. As soon as you were done you took over for him and shooed Din away to finish his own meal, watching him slip out of sight into the bunk and poking the pollywog on his little nose when he tried to peer around you.

Din pressed a hand to your lower back after he emerged, his helmet resting against your cheek as he used his free hand to pat the baby gently on the head, and you watched him step away before starting to pull his armor on. You paid attention so you could get an idea of how to take it all off him later, if the need ever arose, and when he noticed your attention on him the Mandalorian slowed his hands and began explaining the steps. After he was armored up, the scent of you still so noticeable on him, you waited at the ramp as he armed himself and smiled when he slid his pulse rifle onto his back as a final touch. He paused beside you as the ramp lowered and you weren’t surprised when Din leaned his head down, forehead tapping yours gently, before leaving to get the last bounty. As soon as he was out of sight you closed the ship to activate ground security protocols, taking the baby up to the cockpit so that you could continue to try and work on talking with him.

He knew his mood was foul as he dragged the Devaronian back to the Crest, the bastard had put him on a chase for two days longer than Din had accounted for and all he wanted was to get back to you and the kid. The entire way back the bastard kept making remarks about you, calling you a shit Alpha for allowing your Omega to do the dangerous work, and it was taking all of his self-control not to put a bolt of plasma through the quarry’s head. Especially since you battled with insecurities about your temperament already, he didn’t want you being brought down by some bail jumper.

It appeared he was lucky, given the late hour, because he got the prey into the ship and slabbed without any sign of you or the baby; climbing up out of the hull and spotting you sleeping with the kid nestled against your chest in the co-pilot chair. He imagined you expected to wake up to the disturbance, and you should have since the bastard hadn’t been quiet, but it appeared the cockpit doors had muffled enough of the sound that you hadn’t noticed.

Din smiled, sitting down and getting the Crest prepped for take-off, and resisted the urge to chuckle when you inhaled deeply at the rapid button presses and switches being flipped; he heard you murmur his name and the baby didn’t even stir when you put him into his pod and closed the door. But Din couldn’t contain the croon he let out when you crawled your way into his lap, pressing your head right under the chin of his helmet, your legs folding over the arms of the seat so you could press yourself as close to him as possible.

He used one hand to hold your lower back, wishing that the plates of his armor weren’t so cold since he could feel your faint shiver, and you answered his croon with a warbly little noise before drifting back off to sleep. Once he had the auto-pilot engaged, the ship into hyperspace, he slipped his arms under your legs and stood up before setting you down and shaking you gently.

“Come on, Cyare, you should be in the bunk.”

“No way, ‘s uncomfortable. Dunno how you do it.”

As he steered you down the ladder, with the baby’s pod following you both, he sighed softly; more at himself, since he slept in his armor it was easier to ignore the pain from such a thin cushion. He made a mental note to get new padding for the bunk, his delight at having you share his sleeping space didn’t mean he could place his comfort above your own. Din joined you in the bunk after stripping down, the hull darkened enough that it was plenty safe, and he slipped his helmet off once you were settled mostly on his chest.

He could feel it now, without any of the armor plates in the way, just how thin and ragged the bed actually was and the way the bars were definitely digging into his back.

“I’ll make sure it’s more comfortable, promise.” He whispered that against the crown of your head as you got comfortable, the low hum you answered with fading into a light snore, and Din couldn’t help but think about the ship’s layout and how he might be able to make it easier for both of you if he just… got the work done. It would take time but Din wanted to be able to have you all to himself for a little while so it would be a win-win, he’d be able to take his time with you and the kid could spend time with other kids on Nevaro while the shipyard worked on his surprise.

With that rough idea mapped out Din closed his eyes to sleep and smiled, wondering what your reaction would be when you did get back to work after the Crest was finished, and he imagined you’d like it.

Once the mechanics gave him a rough time frame, a week and a half total, for the modifications Din gave them half the payment up front and let them get to work; he’d already handled lodging, Karga had given him shit for wearing your scent but seemed pretty pleased for the result. He’d been directed to the entrance that once led to his people’s home, Din hadn’t expected much to happen to the area once the covert was gone but Karga had surprised him, having it cleaned up and actually making something out of it.

You followed after him and looked around, he knew you’d seen the covert in shambles along with Karga and Dune, it was so different now. The walls had been carefully treated with a gloss so they could be tiled with a soft golden white mosaic of tiles, it looked almost upscale, and the nooks used for sleeping rooms had been turned into proper bedrooms with scent and sound blockers; some of the rooms were made to connect to the one beside it, though he had opted against that since Karga was going to keep an eye on the kid for the week.

The space was specifically to appease nesting Omega, being underground it offered somewhere quiet and insulated, the added scent and sound blockers guaranteed privacy. It didn’t really have a name yet, though Karga had mentioned Navaro’s Nests and The Nesting Grounds as choices, but it was functional. As he opened the door to the room Karga had given him Din looked around carefully, checking for any type of cameras or audio bugs, and when the room turned up clear he nodded at you.

The room size, and layout, were about the same except for a few key differences. The walls had also been treated with a gloss to stop falling dust and debris, the bathroom was through a door now rather than just an open walkway, and there didn’t appear to be a bed anywhere. The sleeping nook that had once been carved out of the stone wall had been turned into a seat with a table that folded out of the wall, the cold box and cooktop were across the way.

Din looked around the space and stumbled when the floor shifted under him, your hand on the button that opened the wooden cover on the floor to reveal that the mattress was set into the floor itself and he got down to inspect that area for possible problems like pests or technological bugs. You watched him as he tested the mattress itself, it felt pretty soft, and when he nodded you didn’t hesitate to grab the laundered sheets from the sealed bag the Beta at the entrance had provided you to put them on the bed.

As he stood up he watched you finish the task of making the bed, the octagonal shape was unique though and Din’s fingers flexed when he watched you get up again.

“Is there- I’d like some time to myself here for a little bit.”

“Of course, Din. Trust me, I’ve got some things I’d like to do as well.”

As you left he could only stare at the mattress before nodding to himself and locking the door behind him, steps fast as he headed right for the market, he’d need the spare blankets anyway by the time the work on the Crest was done so this was a win-win situation. A few people balked when he approached their stalls to inspect the things they had for sale, the satins and silks felt smooth under his fingers but he needed them to be perfect.

A new type of excitement sent him reeling on a hunt unlike any other he’d been on, testing the give of pillows and how smooth blankets were, and he ignored all the stares as he leaned heavily into his Omega instincts to nest. The thought of how your eyes would shine in delight when you saw what he made, the desire to see you laying on only the best materials after putting up his with ship for so long, it spurred him on through the market as he practically vibrated with excitement.

Din chose colors he knew you liked, the color scheme coming together by making a few things accents rather than full splashes, and he avoided anything with patterns; he wanted it to be soft and demure, he didn’t want some jagged chevron or whatever it was called drawing the eye among the solid shades. In his head he knew that some of the purchases were frivolous, like the two knit blankets that were an ombre of colors made of soft yarn, but Din couldn’t remember a time he’d ever indulged and if anyone was worth indulging for it was you.

As he got back to the room Din used the sonic cleaner to give everything a good sanitation first, including the sleep clothes he’d bought for himself, and as he waited he inspected the lights and tested just how dark the room could go. He didn’t want you in a blindfold if you didn’t have to be and he purred at the way the room went black when the lights were all off and the door was shut tight. The darkness and the small space made him croon before he began removing his armor and setting it aside for its own sanitation, his flight suit following, and the warrior gave himself a sonic shower before starting the task of making his nest once the cleaning cycle ended.

His helmet and armor went through the cleaner as he worked, a long and thick curtain of black fabric hung in front of the door just in case you returned while he was doing this or if someone tried to get in while you both were sleeping, and the mess of pillows were dropped onto the mattress before he started to place them where he wanted them. Din started by grouping them according to their color and arranging them around the edges to soften the corners, shaking his head at the outcome and mixing the colors up into a random hodgepodge before growling and sighing.

He wasn’t really an artist, not like you were, so it felt a little hopeless as he tried to come up with something that looked right.

Abandoning the pillow arrangement for now turned into layering the blankets, making the already soft mattress a dream, the thick and luxurious tauntaun pelt was unbelievably soft and would be a dream to lay on; the durasilk comforter over that was full of varacytl down, making it fluffy and warm with a soft surface to lay on or under. The knit blankets were folded and draped over two sides of the octagonal ledges just in case, that way if you didn’t want to sleep under the comforter you could choose something lighter, and Din went back to arranging the pillows.

He almost dropped his cloak onto the pile, since it was bathed in his scent, but the scratchy and worn material wasn’t what he wanted you to lay on or with. Instead he turned the lights lower and laid down on the bed, thinking about you coming back to the room, and for the first time in a long time he let himself flood the space with his scent. Din kept his helmet in reach, to be safe, but he laid there bare and thought about your reaction to his nest.

It was almost nightfall and you made your way back to the nest with a skip in your step, you’d gone through and purchased a handful of new things you needed to replace -mostly just socks and compression leggings- as well as a few things you’d just wanted. Tisai had greeted you warmly when you went into her boutique and, after a lot of catching up, she’d begun fitting you few a few specialty lingerie pieces that she ran through the sonic for you so that you could put them on right away.

The tailor was a very dear friend of yours, allowing you to work at her shop to supplement your income when you’d first started out bounty hunting, who also knew that you’d always had eyes for Din ever since you first caught his scent. On top of leggings, socks, and lingerie she’d also given you a flight suit made to your measurements with durasteel plating between the thick layers that were fit to add some extra protection but allow for movement.

You thought about dropping your purchases off at the Crest but decided against it, whatever work was being done to it was definitely big since you’d watched Din change the lock on the weapons locker and key it to his helmet if someone even tried to jimmy the thing open. You hadn’t even seen him do that when Peli was doing work on the ship, which spoke volumes for how in depth the repairs were going to be.

With each step closer to where Din was waiting for you it was like your stomach began to fill with glow flies, you had no real reason to be nervous about what was going to happen but you kind of were, and when you waved at the Beta you earned a soft giggle of a response and a ‘you two are so cute’ called down the hall.

You clicked the comm device on your wrist twice to warn Din that you were outside, not sure of what he could be doing, and yours clicked once to indicate it was safe before you opened the door. The black sheet of fabric in the way made you pause but Din’s voice, modulated, was warm with affection behind it even with the helmet muting his tone.

“Welcome back, that’s an added precaution, it’s safe.”

You stepped around the fabric and closed the door, locking it before turning and staring at the sight of Din on the bed; he was naked except for the helmet, the multitudes of pillows and the plush looking blankets were all in colors you loved and looked so inviting with the fluffy looking comforter hiding his legs from view. The fact that he’d tailored this nest to you made your whole body explode with a soft noise escaping you, the bags you’d been carrying thumping on the floor as you tried not to cry.

“Din this is- it looks so comfortable. You picked all my favorite colors? You really made this for me?” When an Omega tailored their nest to an Alpha’s preferences it was -supposedly- the trust sign of affection on an instinctual level, a way to show that they weren’t just nesting to satisfy their own instincts but doing so to ensure their chosen Alpha felt as invited and wanted as possible.

The reality of how well Din knew you came when he, instead of making fun of you, sat up and reached for you instead.

“I did, Cyare. Will you come here, please?”

“Hang on I- I need to, hold on.”

He tilted his head as you scampered toward the bathroom and you could have kissed Tisai for thinking to pre-wash your purchases and put them in boxes meant to retain that sanitary state. A quick sonic shower had to be done, you were covered in the volcanic dust from Nevaro’s market after all, and you felt your body begin to buzz with desire knowing he was there waiting for you.

The leather corset was designed to rest just under your bust with a ring that looped into the top closure with three straps were attached, the center strap had a leather band that buckled closed to circle your throat while the two straps on the side looped over your shoulders to the rings on the back.

Technically it was designed to be worn over an undershirt because the straps were meant to be used as a place to fasten additional ammunition cannisters, but without the added frills you’d seen the potential for this and asked for Tisai to include the band with the collar as a customization option. You wore it over the teal strapless bra and underwear set that you’d gotten, the fabric contrasting the brown leather and adding the color you’d so desperately wanted to find, the lacy fabric hiding everything and nothing all at once.

Feminine yet as flirty for a Mandalorian as any lingerie would ever get.

You grabbed the blindfold you’d bought and tied it in place, making sure it was nice and tight, before stepping out into the main space. You wanted him to see it without his helmet in the way, the matching teal blindfold was one of many you’d bought -all matching different lingerie sets- and meant to be a way to show him you were never going to disrespect his creed in any way.

“I might have bought some things too, Din.”

The sharp intake of breath followed by the low rumbling whine made your lips tip up, glad that he liked what he was seeing, and you heard the pneumatic hiss of air as he slipped his helmet off before you felt his hands take yours gently. Din guided you into the nest and you let yourself fall onto the pile of fabrics and pillows, moaning at how soft it was and how good it felt on your back compared to the bunk in the Crest.

“This is perfect, can we take this to the Crest? That bunk is a nightmare, I would like to sleep in something this soft forever.” While you were teasing him, he knew you hated the Crest’s bunk because you weren’t going to let him forget it, you also were admiring how good this felt from how soft and fluffy the blankets were to how warm they felt under you. Din’s fingers skirted across your skin, touching the feeling the sturdy leather first.

“Cyare, is this what you occupied yourself with while I made you this nest? Buying things for me to enjoy?”

“So, what if I did, you going to argue with your Alpha?”

“Maker no.”

Din’s reply was more of words mingled with an exhale as he continued to trail his fingers over your body, taking in the sight of you without his helmet on most likely, and you felt him playing with the soft lace fabric at your hips before he cupped your breasts and moaned when he felt your nipples start to stiffen because of his attention to them with his thumbs. His mouth met yours and you smiled into the kiss, luxuriating at the soft fabric below you and the firm weight of him as Din braced himself over you carefully, the long line of bare skin textured from scars as you ran your hands over his bare sides.

It was unhurried, the way he licked into your mouth as you rubbed one of your legs along the bare skin of his hip and thigh, and you scratched at his scalp with one hand while you used your free hand to cup his cheek and angle him the way you wanted his face to go so that you could deepen the already intense kiss.

“Since you bought these for me-” you grinned as he pulled himself from your mouth, he sounded wrecked and you loved it. “-may I ruin them?” His fingers tugged at the lace and you nodded only to whimper when you felt him drag the leaking head of his cock against the fabric. Purposefully smearing precum onto the fabric as he rocked against you.

“You want to cum on my pretty lingerie? Want to paint it with your scent and stain it with your mark?” Din groaned as his forehead dropped to your collar, the hand in his hair tightened to a firm grip that made him throb, and you hooked your leg over his hip to rock up against him as his hips bore down against yours.

“Cyare, ‘m gonna cum.”

“Good, cum for your Alpha, Din; be a good Omega and let me feel you.”

Din practically ripped himself off you to grab his cock, you felt where his cum hit your inner thighs and where it warmed the crotch of your underwear, and his harsh breathing made you wiggle your hips before you nearly jumped when he pressed against your clit through the fabric with firm pressure as he watched you. Your hips rocked against his hand and you gripped the blanket tightly now that you didn’t have anything to hold on to, a moan of his name when Din pressed against your opening and pressed the fabric of your underwear into you as he panted over you.

“Fuck, you’re so wet, you smell so fucking good.” His voice was more growl than actual tone and you felt where he pressed his forehead against the skin just above your underwear, his deep inhale making your pheromones flood the room and his tongue pressed into the skin on your inner thigh where your scent glad was before he sank his teeth into it with a firm bite. It wouldn’t break skin but the idea of him marking you there and claiming you, where only he knew it existed, pushed you over the edge as your slick soaked into the fabric on his fingers.

Din pulled the fabric away and moaned at the sight of your wet lips, his teeth sinking into the fabric of the lace as he used his now free hand to spread you open to look, and your chest heaved when he pressed his nose and face against you to inhale greedily. His pheromones spiked and you caught the hand reaching for yours, rocking your hips against the curve of his nose, and Din pulled the underwear off of you before shoving the wadded up fabric into your mouth and kissing the tip of your nose.

“Hold that for me, Alpha.”

His purr was soft and affectionate, as if he hadn’t just used your cum soaked underwear as a gag, and you practically melted when his tongue licked a flat stripe through your folds. Your strangled -wordless- moan, muffled by the wad of fabric, made him rumble a growl into your cunt that had more of your slick begin to gather at your opening as Din wedged his shoulders between your legs and used his thumbs to hold you open after letting go of your hand.

The feeling of added wetness made you shiver as he let his saliva drip onto your clit, watching it drip down your folds as you trembled for him, and then he sealed his mouth over you to lick up all up before it could fall onto the blankets.

“Di-“ The muffled attempt at his name had your Omega purring, no doubt satisfied as he swirled the tip of his tongue in a way that had your thighs shaking from the attention to your clit, and you felt his hands grip tighter as one of your hands found his hair and grabbed the strands for leverage as you lifted your hips to change where his tongue focused its attention.

“That’s right, Alpha, use me. Teach your Omega where you need him.” Din’s command sent liquid heat through you, he was both taking control and giving it to you, with each place you shifted your hips you knew he was paying attention. Learning where you preferred the flat long strokes of his tongue and where you liked the more focused, intense, tip of his tongue to circle; his messy slurping as your body leaked for him, coating his chin and mouth, was so loud that you almost couldn’t hear your own muffled cries of his name when your toed curled and your muscles locked down as you came hard.

He lapped at you until you were pulling his hair to get him away, when you were so sensitive and trembling and trying to uncurl your muscles, and the lace was pulled out of your mouth before Din kissed you again. His nose, his lips, his chin were all wet with you and he preened when you rolled him onto his back and loomed over him. You knew that he’d prove how much he’d paid attention to eating you out later, the man was one hell of a determined student when he liked the subject, but right now you needed him to fill you.

Din’s strangled attempt at your name as you sunk down on his cock, welcoming the burning stretch from his size, made you preen knowing that you were the one he’d feel from now on; that pride at bringing him pleasure so intense he couldn’t even say your name spurred you on, rocking your hips carefully at first, and the second you had a solid rhythm you planted your hands on his pectorals and lifted yourself off just enough before sinking back down while keeping that rhythm of your hips.

His hands held your wrists tight and even though you couldn’t see him beneath you there was no mistaking the tension in his chest and ab muscles, the way his thighs felt so damn sturdy each time you sank down against him, and his breathing was harsh as he squirmed beneath your body. Like this he hit deep, his cock dragging through your cunt and hitting areas of you that you were sure none of your past lovers had ever touched, and you were leaking a mess of wetness down his shaft and balls.

The slick sounds and harsh breathing, the way he whimpered for you, it made you move your hands to tug the cups of your bra down.

“Going to just ignore my breasts after I dressed up so pretty for you, Din?”

His needy whine as he sat up, using one of his hands to brace himself while the other held your side, it made you dizzy with delight that you did that; his mouth closed around your nipple before letting it fall out of his mouth with a pop, circling it with the tip of his nose, and then bringing it back into his mouth as you adjusted to the new angle of his body. He must have noticed the way you fluttered around him and Din nipped at the stiff tip before the hand on your side moved to take over where his mouth had just been as he moved to give your other breast the same attention.

“My Alpha likes it when I play with her nipples? Yeah, you do.”

Din crooned when his words made you clench down on him and you could feel another orgasm right there, the way his teeth set into your skin and the way he pinched your other nipple and tugged was like a line right to your cunt and your orgasm was a frantic and powerful thing as you felt where you were smearing every bit of your release along his shaft where the swell of his knot was growing.

“Knot me, Din, lemme- lemme feel it.”

Your plea made him snarl as he planted his feet and bounced you on him, the hand on your breast moving to pull you down after each thrust as he fucked into you with the sheer purpose of filling your body with his knot. A sharp whine escaped you when he thrust up once, the bulge of it making you breathe heavily against the size of it, but your Omega wasn’t going to be deterred now that you asked for it and Din pressed his mouth to yours as his knot caught and swelled with his orgasm. You rocked down against his hips, against his knot, as Din licked into your mouth and trembled while he trembled and panted at the feeling of you clamped around him.

“So good to me, feel so good, Din.”

“Wanna- wanna fuck you so full Cyare.”

“Yeah?” His syrupy, soft, answer made you smile and Din clicked the lights off before pulling you down and laying so that most of his weight was on top of you; he couldn’t exactly pull out without it possibly hurting anyway and you didn’t mind the arrangement at all.

He was sweltering, the room felt unbearable, and Din blinked awake through the darkness before getting up to go to the bathroom; he turned the fresher light on after closing the door and stared at his reflection, washing his face and marveling a little at how his back didn’t hurt for once. He kind of understood now why you complained a lot, the fact that there’d be a proper bed in the Crest was starting to look like a bigger plus than before. He cleaned up and stared at your sleeping form in the doorway, the warmth returning the second he smelled your pheromones, and Din felt a little like an idiot.

Suppressing heats wasn’t unusual but the longer you went without one often led to more intense heats, he usually timed his heats with times he came back to Nevaro for extended periods like basic repairs so he could shut himself away and the others of the covert could make sure he was safe. After the covert was exposed though he’d been forced to suppress it for when you kept the baby with you on hunts and he could shut himself away in the Crest, you’d offered after he explained it when he asked for the extended alone time and Din had appreciated your respect for him by just doing what he asked.

Most other Alphas would insist to stay and help.

Din knew he’d fallen in love with you before then but that moment, when you’d accepted his right to privacy, had been what finally pushed him to accept that truth. Din felt the stirring of his heat and smiled knowing that this time you’d be here, and willing, and he sank back into the blankets to nose at your cheek after making sure the room was darkened again.

“Cyare.”

You murmured a reply, adorable in your sleepy state, and he nipped at the shell of your ear. He could tell the moment you realized what was happening, your body shifting, and you captured his face in your hands to kiss him deeply.

“Mmm, your heat is here, you want me to roll over?”

“Please?”

He felt your lips curl up before you were pulling away to shift to your stomach, sliding your knees under you, and Din couldn’t help but bury his face into your wet folds first where the taste of you and him was mixed together. He grabbed you and held you in place, his thumbs pressing into the skin of your thighs as he pulled to hold you open for him, and you were trembling as he not only cleaned up the remains of before but worked to get you nice and wet. It was always intense in the beginning, during his heats, and he’d spent so long handling them alone that he didn’t know how to let an Alpha take care of him just yet.

But you? You were willing to let him use you, to submit to him, and that was what he didn’t understand but also fucking adored about you. It was easy with you and as your release smeared along his tongue after your orgasm Din couldn’t give you recovery time, he just couldn’t, his cock was so hard it hurt and you were fluttering around him from your orgasm as he sank into your wet heat.

The feeling of you clamping down on him was so intense and he draped himself over your back, forcing you to drop your face into the mattress as he pressed his hands over the back of yours and making you arch your spine as he drew back and fucked into you. It was the high pitched, sharp, sound of his name on your lips that ripped through all conscious thought; the scent of your pheromones dizzying as they changed in response to his, and he couldn’t stay still any longer if he tried.

The wet sounds where he slid into you again and again weren’t nearly as loud as his breathing, as the mewling of your voice each time his hips met yours, it was so much but it wasn’t enough and he nearly lost his mind when your back arched just a little more. His mind blanked at the way your mouth stayed open, the way he could see where you were drooling because he was fucking you so good, and Din’s blood roared as he felt his knot starting to swell.

“Fuck- fuck Din, gonna cum-“ The sharp whine and the way you clamped around him ripped his own orgasm out of him, his knot catching and locking into place, but he couldn’t stop from thrusting harder into you; from grabbing the front of your thighs and pulling you as he imagined fucking his seed right into your womb. The idea of you swollen with his children, bringing new life to the covert, made Din see stars as a second orgasm followed almost immediately after the first.

One of his hands moved to run his thumb along your lips, wet with drool, and he groaned when your tongue darted out to lick his finger before he let you suck it into your mouth.

“Fucking perfect, Cyare, my Alpha.”

He felt the way you fluttered at his praise and even though it was a little bit of maneuvering, without pulling out, he managed to help you get on top of him. What he hadn’t expected was that you truly meant you’d take care of him, the second his knot was small enough that he could slide out of you and his blood started to heat up again your hips rocked and you shifted to face him before grinning.

“Don’t worry, my Omega, I’ll take care of you.”

He almost wheezed when you began to ride him like he hadn’t reduced you to a trembling, drooling, mess and Din was lost to the rush of his heat as you leaned down to lick his ear. “Maybe, when we’re ready to retire, I can take out my implant.”

If Karga suspected what happened he didn’t say anything, just handing you the baby and letting you be on your way as Din finished up paying the mechanics at the shipyard, and you knew the little one had missed you by the way he was clinging to you instead of riding in his pod. You thought about the way Din had promised that the moment he got in touch with his covert again, wherever they were, he would make sure they knew he had chosen an Alpha -and been chosen in return- so that you’d be allowed to see him.

For now you just had a surplus of blindfolds, all of which Din had eagerly asked you to wear throughout the course of his heat, and you couldn’t remember a time you’d felt this pleasantly relaxed as you spotted the Crest come into view. There was an ache between your legs that wasn’t at all unpleasant, it was in fact a very pleasant reminder, and when you spotted one of the human mechanics leaning your eyes narrowed as you approached.

“You sure I can’t do anything else for you?”

“We’re sure.”

Your voice was sharp, a snarl of warning, and the guy turned to look at you before losing all the color in his face at the sight of the kid in your arms and the scowl on your face. No doubt realizing that it was your scent that was clinging so heavily to Din’s body.

“Right, uh- I think I hear my name being called.”

He wisely ran, moving faster when he watched you hand the baby to Din, and when he was back in the safety of the city walls Din chuckled as he pressed the forehead of his helmet to the side of your face.

“I like that you’re possessive.”

“Damn right I am, you’re mine.”

Din purred at your declaration and followed you into the Crest, you pressed the button to open the bunk before staring at the space that had been turned into a tiny room with a little bed specifically for the baby. When you looked at Din he simply hummed and began heading up to the cockpit, the ramp closing, so you left your belongings that you’d packed on the hull floor and followed him up to strap in.

But he stopped and pointed to the space that had once been storage for live captures before he slabbed them, or if they had to be returned outside carbonite, and when you opened the door your eyes widened as you took in the bed that was now there. The plating was different and when Din closed the door you realized he’d gotten plating the dampened exterior sound, specifically for to the reactor room right behind the wall, but it was an actual room and a bed.

“What-?”

“This is our room, figured I couldn’t let my Alpha be miserable with our sleeping arrangements.” He even had a space for his armor, a nook for his helmet to sit in right by the bed, and clothes storage space; you turned to look at him and hummed softly, tugging his helmet so you could tap your forehead to it gently.

“Thank you, Din.”

“You’re welcome, Cyare.”

As he went to the cockpit to take off, since he had a possible lead on the Jedi after a comm from Peli came through, you went down and collected your clothes to put them away. You went to sit in the co-pilot seat as Din finished prep for take-off but he tugged you into his lap and you went willingly, taking over some of the work for him, and Din held you close as the Crest began to lift off.

“Ready to find the Jedi?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, let’s hunt down a space sorcerer.”

“You’re adorable, Cyare.”

“Damn right I am!”

All Fics Taglist: @haylzcyon @wordsnwhiskey @pagannightwitch @radiowallet @tauralmie @amneris21 @trickstersp8 @practicalghost @alwaysdjarin @alexxavicry @all-the-way-down-here @xoxabs88xox

Just Pedro Taglist: @maievdenoir @beecastle @littlemisspascal @writeforfandoms @aynsleywalker @lovesbiggerthanpride @mswarriorbabe80 @emiemiemiii @harriedandharassed

[mysticstarlightduck]

Happy WBW! What kind of makeup/cosmetics are popular or in fashion in the world of your WIP?

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the Ask, @writernopal!

What kind of makeup/cosmetics are popular or in fashion in the world of your WIP?

Agrannor has a large variety of cosmetics, which vary accordingly to the different cultures of each kingdom as well as the materials available in each region.

People bathe regularly (and daily if they have enough time or money), so there is a variety of different soaps available, with different smells and textures. They are usually made out of flower extracts and essential oils, as well as a different mix of scented ash, and can be either liquid or solid, though solid soap is more commonly sold. The most popular smells are wild mountain rose, lavender ash, and marble-thorn blooms. Soaps scented with sweet vanilla are surprisingly popular in the kingdoms of Ergyre, Adrellios, and Faravvia.

On the same note - regarding bath cosmetics and personal hygiene - a rustic version of shampoo (actually a flowery potion/concoction created by alchemists) can easily be found at almost any market or bazaar in the continent, though the cheaper ones are more akin to liquid soap, and can also be found in a variety of - usually flowery - smells. Potions that serve as conditioners and other hair products are more difficult to find (a.k.a they are more expensive) but the pricier shops almost always have a full stock of those. There are traditional alternatives (more commonly used) to both of these and those alternatives are homemade. Scented water, lotions, and oils are also openly used, especially on special occasions and events. There is a potion that serves as an archaic version of what could be considered "deodorant", it is widespread and usually odorless (though lightly scented variants have become especially favored).

Hair dye (of almost every color available) is extremely popular in Agrannor, with some of the human kingdoms being known for their tradition of dyeing their hair unnatural colors (the most notable of those being Ergyre - where the favorite colors are purple or gold - and Adrellios). Those dyes are usually made by alchemists with magical mineral or herbal materials, and their duration in the hair varies according to the strength of the materials used (some can be borderline permanent for a couple of years before starting to fade, but most can be washed off within the week).

Makeup is very popular in Agrannor - for both men and women alike. It can be made from a wide range of materials - from natural materials such as ash and powdered sea monster shells or flowers to magical materials that provide more vibrant and varied colors. And their patterns, colors, and uses (Is it used daily? Is it for traditional events? Is it saved for people of a certain social class?) depend on the kingdom and its traditions. Etaruze has a vibrant culture and people almost always wear equally vibrant makeup in their daily lives - unless they're a member of the military, where those things are kept to a minimum. Kestrall uses face painting (as in, actual paint) for rituals and traditional events, and the members of the high-ranking military and nobility have makeup patterns according to their status, but most people rarely wear makeup outside of the traditional events. People in Ergyre have a preference for bold colors and glittery makeup, and their servants usually have to wear makeup colors and patterns that represent the House they work for. And so on.

Perfume is also used, and is usually made from natural oils extracted and distilled from rare flowers - it is much more expensive than just buying the actual oils and lotions in bulk and is usually only used by more wealthy people or saved for special occasions.

Also, nail polish is a common cosmetic practice - for men and women - in some kingdoms of Agrannor, namely Etaruze, Faravvia, Ergyre, Adrellios, and the Morosyn Empire. The color varies, and metallic hues are especially favored in the Empire while the Free Realms prefer more colorful or natural hues.

Everyone brushes their teeth (a loose term, though toothbrushes are available, some people use cloth - sometimes with a bit of sand), with a potion that mimics what we would consider today as toothpaste, though more sour. Some people make a cheaper mouthwash using a mixture made usually with crushed-up mint leaves, alcohol (of some kind, usually the drinkable one), or charcoal with water, and some alchemical elixir of their choosing.

It is worth noting about different Agrannorian cultures:

When it comes to cosmetics and especially when it comes to personal hygiene, the elves are by far the cleanest and most meticulous of all sentient species of Agrannor (while Mageborn, Merfolk, and Humans are very clean, elves take that matter to a very high level of expectations). They take special care of their hair, which is something of deep cultural importance to them (having long, healthy hair is a sign of status and honor for anyone in the elven community, something they take a lot of pride in).

Mageborn have traditional makeup for their rituals and events, though they usually make those at home when they need to, and they tend to use the same cosmetics as regular humans in their daily lives. DESPITE THIS: It is worth making the distinction that the Mageborn's markings (usually in their arms, collarbone, or more rarely face) are not artificial tattoos nor makeup, and are naturally occurring due to the Mageborn's magical affinity and the growth of their powers.

Merfolk due to their time spent in the water, rarely have to use cosmetics, but they do use a concoction made of sea-monster shells, sand, and a type of deep-water seaweed that they use to clean themselves underwater.

[awkwardpariah]

The Insurgency: After the MAGA regime fell in November of 2031 a crop of secessionist states and terrorist organizations rose from the Ashes. Most fell mere months after their formation like the Christian Republic centered in Western Nebraska and the 2nd Texas Republic around Amarillo. However, some groups managed to hold out for years. The most infamous: the American Redoubt in the Northern Rockies. Founded by the most extreme elements of the NDF and the Atomwaffen terrorist organization, they managed to keep fighting a guerilla war for 4 years thanks to their massive stockpiles of small arms. The Other War: When AOC took office, most people expected her Green New Deal to be shelved in favor of a more pragmatic, i.e. oil based, war economy. By 2032 her decision was paying real dividends. With so many oil, gas, and coal sources behind enemy lines, modernizing the country's energy grid not only proved essential to war production, but kicked off an economic boom in the Southwest, a region rapidly becoming known as the new "World's Factory." But an unlikely hero in the fight for climate change was the fledgling algae farming industry. Once limited to a handful of small sites in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the country's need for a reliable source of protein without land for livestock feed kickstarted a boom in the demand for genetically modified algae derived proteins. By 2032 once empty desert in California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado were blanketed in algae greenhouses that not only provided a stable source of food, but also extracted a good deal of CO2 from the air, and increased the Earth's albedo, cooling the planet. The Big Linkup: After 3 years of fighting, and the hard slog across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, Army Groups East and West meet at Burlington, Colorado. For most people, this signals the end of the war, and indeed it does for the government as well. Both army groups will reduce in size considerably, and the conflict against the insurgents will transition over to a primarily counter-terrorist campaign against the insurgent cells. Air power and special forces units will do the bulk of the fighting from now on. Election 2032: There was no question about AOC seeking a 2nd term, and after the collapse of the MAGA regime, the idea of challenging her for the nomination seemed absurd. By the Democratic National Convention, AOC was at the height of her power and used it to finally dump Pete Buttigieg and nominate a strong VP that wouldn't try to undermine her: Senate Finance Committee Chair Katie Porter. The National Union Party puts up Utah Governor Joel Ferry, one of the few National Union Green New Dealers. The National Union Party makes a strong showing among suburban voters who are still no fans of AOC's progressive agenda, particularly with regard to her war on their portfolios, but ultimately the President wins her re-election bid thanks to the success in the war and on crafting a strong social safety-net. Crafting a New Order: 2033 is a year for ends and new beginnings. Mitt Romney dies at 86 in the middle of his third Senate term. The Senator leaves behind a legacy as the leader of the wartime loyal opposition, and in many ways the last man to carry Ronald Reagan's torch. Not long after Romney's death, Congress passes the 29th Amendment to the Constitution, which establishes informed consent and in effect bodily autonomy, an unalienable right. By Summer, those who tried to destroy those rights are charged with high treason and crimes against humanity. To cap off the year, Donald Trump Sr. is taken off life support. The former President had been brain dead for almost 3 years, kept alive by his family to maintain their legitimacy as leaders of the MAGA movement. Artemis VI: In 2029, Artemis VI lifted off from Cape Canaveral carrying six astronauts to the Gateway station and then onto Shackleton Base in the Lunar South Pole. The mission was the final flight of the SLS rocket, rushed into service before the Cape was completely surrounded by the NDF. The crew had a single assignment: mine as much water ice as was possible to keep the newly nationalized fleet of on-orbit servicing satellites, and by extension every other satellite, fueled and flying for the duration of the war. The Rebs captured the team at Kennedy Space Center, and the 2030 hurricane season trashed the Cape. No further launches could be safely conducted beyond small supply flights out of Wallops until 2034. When the Artemis 6 returned to Earth their bodies were frail, having lost muscle and bone density. But radiation damage was minimal thanks to their decision to move Shackleton into a nearby lunar lava tube. VA Day: On May 26, 2035 the town of Salmon, Idaho was completely destroyed by a combined air an artillery campaign that had been going on for a week. Salmon was the last hold out of the American Redoubt terrorist state, and its destruction finally brought Victory in America. VA Day was, in practice, a technicality. The Redoubt hadn't been able to threaten anyone outside of the Idaho panhandle for over a year, and for 4 years the insurgency had been limited to the Rockies and Appalachia. But on that day Americans everywhere celebrated the end of the bloodiest war in our country's history. Almost 9 million people had died, 2.5% of the population. 50 million people had been displaced and the war had cost the country trillions to bring to a close. Justice was still being sought by those who suffered under the MAGA regime, with Congress finally agreeing to hold a vote on the proposed War Reparations bonus to the UBI system. But for many, the debt of the war can never be paid. New Normal: With the war over Congress sets out to keep the victory they fought so hard for. A new amendment is sent to the still readmitting states for ratification, one that would give Congress the power to regulate redistricting, campaign finance, and places the country under a Ranked Choice/Popular Vote system for all elected offices, including the President. Meanwhile, the government also struggles to right many wrongs of the war, particularly with regard to the million or so Americans still displaced from the War. With the elections of 2036 on the horizon, nobody wants to be held responsible for making hard decisions. But at least one more is made with Congress agreeing not to repeat the mistakes of the past and to simply assume the war debts of the rebel states, rather than consigning them to financial ruin. <-Part III  \ Part IV

[ideaunlimited]

Top Exporters of Incense Sticks from India: A Guide to the Leading Incense Stick Manufacturers in India

India has long been synonymous with incense sticks, with a rich history of craftsmanship and tradition that dates back centuries. Incense sticks, or "agarbattis," are used worldwide in religious ceremonies, meditation practices, and even as a way to freshen the air. With this growing demand, India has emerged as one of the top exporters of incense sticks globally. But who are the leading manufacturers making waves in the incense industry? Let’s dive into the world of incense stick exporters and uncover the top players, especially Incense Stick Manufacturers in India, and how they contribute to the industry.

Introduction: The Global Appeal of Indian Incense Sticks

Incense sticks have a universal appeal, transcending borders and cultures. From religious temples to yoga studios, incense sticks are integral to setting the atmosphere for peace and tranquility. India, with its deep-rooted spiritual culture, has become a major hub for incense production and export. The quality and variety of incense sticks produced here are unmatched, and several manufacturers have taken this age-old tradition and transformed it into a global business.

In this article, we will look at some of the Incense Stick Manufacturers in India, their contributions, and how they maintain the quality and authenticity of their products to meet international standards. Whether you are looking for bulk suppliers or unique, artisanal incense, this article will help you explore the best options available.

The Rise of Indian Incense Sticks in the Global Market

India’s dominance in the incense market is not just limited to its domestic consumption but extends far and wide across the globe. With countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and several in Southeast Asia importing large quantities, the country has firmly established itself as a leader in incense manufacturing and export.

Why Indian Incense Sticks Are So Popular

Cultural Significance: Incense sticks hold immense cultural importance in India. They are used during prayers, meditation, and spiritual rituals, which gives them a distinct aura of authenticity and tradition.

Natural Ingredients: Indian incense sticks are made from a blend of natural ingredients, including herbs, flowers, and essential oils, making them not only environmentally friendly but also appealing to consumers looking for a natural alternative to synthetic air fresheners.

Wide Range of Fragrances: From sandalwood and jasmine to rose and lavender, the variety of fragrances produced by Indian manufacturers is extensive, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.

The demand for incense is set to continue growing, and as a result, Incense Stick Manufacturers in India are rapidly scaling up their production to meet the needs of both local and international markets.

Why Choose Indian Incense Stick Manufacturers?

There are several reasons why Incense Stick Manufacturers in India are highly regarded and sought after by international buyers:

Consistency in Quality: Indian manufacturers adhere to strict quality standards to ensure that their incense sticks provide a consistent experience. Whether you are buying in bulk or purchasing a few sticks, you can always expect the same high quality.

Variety and Customization: Manufacturers in India offer a wide variety of fragrances and even provide customization options for international clients. From floral to woody, earthy to spicy, there’s something for everyone.

Competitive Pricing: The pricing of Indian incense sticks is highly competitive, making them an affordable choice for consumers across the globe without compromising on quality.

Sustainable Practices: With the growing focus on environmental consciousness, many manufacturers have adopted eco-friendly practices, from sourcing organic ingredients to using biodegradable packaging.

How to Choose the Right Incense Stick Manufacturer?

When selecting an incense stick manufacturer, there are several factors to consider:

Product Range: Ensure that the manufacturer offers the types of incense you are looking for, whether it's for meditation, religious ceremonies, or general use.

Quality Assurance: Look for manufacturers who use natural ingredients and avoid harmful chemicals in their incense production.

Pricing: Compare prices to ensure you’re getting the best deal without compromising on quality.

Shipping & Delivery: For international buyers, reliable shipping and on-time delivery are essential. Ensure that the manufacturer has experience in exporting goods globally.

Customer Reviews: Check for customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the reputation and reliability of the manufacturer.

Conclusion: Embrace the Global Aroma of Indian Incense Sticks

India continues to lead the way in incense stick production and export, thanks to a combination of traditional craftsmanship, high-quality ingredients, and innovative practices. Manufacturers like Shubhlabh play a key role in ensuring that the aromatic heritage of India reaches the far corners of the world. As demand for incense sticks grows globally, India remains a central hub for incense manufacturing, offering a diverse range of products to suit all tastes and preferences.

Are you looking to explore the best Incense Stick Manufacturers in India for your next order? Consider the top exporters mentioned in this article and discover the rich, soothing aromas that India’s finest incense makers have to offer.

[tameblog]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[ramestoryworld]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[alexha2210]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[angusstory]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[breelandwalker]

Magical Powder Recipes

A collection of some of my original magical powder recipes -

All-Purpose Cursing Powder

Bree's Banishing Powder

Clean House Powder

Come Hither Powder

Dead Man's Dust

Dream Dust

“Eye of Sauron” Revelation Powder

Get Thee Hence Powder

Ghost-Be-Gone Powder

Heal Thy Heart Powder

Hexbreaker Powder

Inspiration Salt

Lucky Day Powder

“Outta My Way” Powder

Peacekeeper Powder

Persuasion Powder

STFU Powder

Traveler’s Luck Powder

Truthfinder Powder

Addendum: The masterlists of oil recipes that I have made available -

Baneful Blends

Buffs and Blessings

Glamour Edition

Protection and Warding

For those of you who may not be able to find supplies and components locally, here are some online suppliers who consistently have affordable and high-quality products.

Penn Herb Co. - Bulk herbs, spices, and botanicals - including over 400 wildcrafted herbs, gathered from the United States and worldwide. Single ounce packages are available. Excellent source for powders.

Starwest Botanicals - Bulk herbs, spices, oils, and teas. Good amount of organic and Fair Trade products, as well as supplies for holistic medicine and tea-making.

Mountain Rose Herbs - Bulk herbs, spices, and sundries. Also carries organic products and essential oils, and has link to schools that offer courses in herbalism and herbology.

Bulk Apothecary - Bulk herbs, spices, and oils, in addition to materials for the home production of soap, candles, wine, and beer.

Specialty Bottle - Bottles, jars, and tins in many sizes at very reasonable bulk rates.

For more recipes to fill out your potion kit, you can check out Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. (Available on Amazon and in my shop!)

If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

[tumibaba]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[romaleen]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[monaleen101]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link

[iamownerofme]

Want to put your hardworking herbs to yet another use? Making herbal oil is just the thing to try! Infusing herbs from your garden in oil will help extract all those helpful properties of each herb. You’ll be left with a powerful tool that can be used in your DIY beauty recipes. Learn three simple methods for making herb oil, plus the different ways you can use it! Infusing oil with herbs is a great way to add colour, scent, and beneficial properties to natural skincare and soap recipes. As home skin care recipes almost always start with good quality oils, adding herbs allows you to enhance the oils and design customized and unique recipes for massage bars, bath melts, lotions, soaps and more. Using homegrown herbs harvested from your own organic garden is a fun way to personalize your products, but you can also purchase bulk herbs from reliable sources that will be just as effective. No matter how you do it, adding herbs to oils make your beauty products uniquely herbalicious! In this post, we will cover… It All Starts with the Oils Infused oils can be substituted in most recipes for natural beauty: soap, body butter, lip balm, and scrubs. You can typically decide on the oil of your choice. Some good options to infuse are: Coconut oil – nourishes and hydrates skin, good for sun-damaged skin Sweet almond oil – moisturizing and skin-softening Grapeseed oil – easily absorbed into the skin; light, non-greasy feeling Olive oil – greasier but very moisturizing, can clog pores, so not for the face (extra virgin is a bit lighter) Jojoba oil – closest to the skin’s own sebum, so it is a great carrier oil and cleanser I would recommend staying away from other oils such as canola and vegetable oil. Solid oils like coconut oil should be melted down before adding the herbs. Adding Herbs for Healing Turning your oils into herbal infusions allows the oils to absorb the beneficial properties of plants. Some herbs that are good for infusing are: Lavender – relaxing, antibacterial Calendula – healing, adds golden colour to oil Chamomile – calming Comfrey – helps with pain and inflammation Sage – pain relief, anti-inflammatory Mint – energizing, pain relieving, darkens colour of oil Rose – romance, love Herbal Oils vs Essential Oils Making herbal oils is not the same as making essential oils. Essential oils are made by extracting the oil component of a plant that contains a very condensed set of properties from that plant. Essential oils are usually used in small doses. Infusing herbs into oil still maintains the properties of the oil that you’re using as a base but helps to extract the herbal constituents. Gently heating the oil encourages the herbal properties to infuse into the oil within a few hours. Herbal oils are not meant to replace essential oils in beauty recipes. Three Ways to Make Herbal Oils for Natural Beauty Recipes My journey in infusing oils started when I was making calendula and chamomile oil for a really gentle bum balm for my son’s diaper rash, and I’ll admit that it’s expanded to a bit of an obsession. It’s quite fun to try new recipes with different herbal infusions to see the benefits and the natural colours that are produced. Simply soaking herbs in oil isn’t enough to infuse the oil; it needs to be heated. Luckily, there are a few ways of doing this, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs. The following describes how to infuse oils using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or the sun! The common thread to all methods is to pack as many dried herbs as you can fit into a container and then pour over the oil so that the herbs are completely submerged. Choose herbs that are completely dry (moisture and oil don’t mix). When the infusing is finished, strain the herbs from the oil with a fine strainer over a large bowl, then pour the oil through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined fine sieve. Next, follow one of the three methods listed below. Compost your herbs once you’re done infusing. Stovetop Oil Infusing Use a double boiler to slowly heat the oil and herbs. Pack a handful of herbs in the top of a double boiler, and pour oil over. If you are using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, then melt the oil first before adding the herbs. Fill the bottom pot with an inch of water and set the double boiler on medium-low heat to warm up, then turn it down to low for a few hours or until the oil becomes aromatic. Slow Cooker Oil Infusing The slow cooker method takes longer, but it requires less attention than the other methods. Just set it and forget it! If you have a small slow cooker, or you are doing a large amount of oil, you can add the herbs right into the ceramic bowl and set it on the lowest setting for 8-12 hours. Note: When making her herbal oils in a crock pot, the biggest thing to watch out for is condensation from the lid. If condensation drips into the oil, then it can introduce mould and bacteria. If you’re putting the oils and herbs directly into the crock pot, then leave the lid off while you infuse the oils.  To do a number of different herbs in separate oils, you can put the oil/herb combination in mason jars and set those in the slow cooker. Put a lid on each of the jars and leave the lid off the slow cooker. Infuse for the same timing: 8-12 hours on low. Sun-Infused Oil Pack herbs into mason jars and pour oil over them. Screw on a lid and set in the sun for 8 hours. The summer sun can be very hot, so this method is best used in cooler months and with large jars. Overheating the oils can remove some of the beneficial properties, and this method is one you will have to watch more closely. It doesn’t use any power beyond the sun, so you can infuse oils right out in the garden as you harvest your herbs! Storage Store the oil with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Generally, infused oil will last up to the best-before date on the original package label. Olive oil should last for 2-3 years, and coconut oil will last for many years, although spoiling could happen more quickly if contaminants were introduced in the infusing process. Strain all herbs prior to storing your oils. Herbal Oils FAQ How do I infuse coconut oil with herbs? You can use any of the above methods, such as stovetop, crockpot, or sun, but you must melt it first and then add in the herbs. Once strained and cooled down, it will also preserve much better when solid. Should I add water to my crockpot for multiple jars? The crockpot will heat up the water and give your jars inside even more heat. If your crockpot runs warm, I would advise against adding any additional water. If not, you can add a bit of water. Usually, I add a tea towel for them to rest on, no water. All crockpots are different so it really comes down to figuring out the best for you. Do my herbs need to be dried? In most cases, yes. The herbs need to be completely dry, as any moisture will introduce bacterial growth and spoil the oil more quickly. In some cases, such as lemon balm and St. John’s wort, the herbs will only work when fresh, but the oil will have a shorter life span. What do I do with my leftover herb waste? Some herbalists will use the herbs a second time, but the resulting oil will have significantly less of the herb’s properties. I don’t add oil to my home compost, so I add it to my city compost bin, which can handle oils better. I know it can be hard to throw the herbs away, but thank them for all they offered you and enjoy their beauty in the oils. What ratio of dried herbs to oil should I use? You don’t need to be exact when measuring your herbs. Fill the jar or container, and pour enough oil to completely cover the herbs. Recipes Using Herbal Oils Now that you know how to infuse your own herb oil, let’s talk about what to do with it! Here are some simple, effective recipes for you to try: Source link