Eucalyptus for the Soul

So as far back as I can recall, Bath & Body Works was the jam for my aromatherapy needs. Sure they are more wildly known for their more popular scents like Japanese Cherry Blossom or Midnight something or other, but me? Aromatherapy all day. I would purchase the Eucalyptus Spearmint in the body wash, the body lotion, the 3-wick candle, the air freshener, the eevverrything. And all of that time, all of that money, it never dawned on me that I could just buy the eucalyptus myself. Never.

But one fateful day scrolling thru social media, I saw an add for Eucalyptus Farms, a farm in California that specialized in growing and mailing bundles of eucalyptus in a monthly subscription. For $12. Well, $19 with shipping.

So you know I had to try it, right? I mean, if nothing else, I’ve lost more than $12 on a bad lunch. So yea, I can try it. What’s $12 for a little self-care?

A few days later, the longer-than-usual brown box arrived and I must admit I was a little excited. I had never received a box of eucalyptus before, even if it was to me from me. That’s beside the point. It was nice! I immediately noticed the strong but soothing earthy scent and was pleasantly surprised to see a beautifully wrapped and twined bundle of blueish green stems neatly places inside. Pretty cool! I had been reading up on what exactly to do with this gift from me to me, even though I knew full well where this bundle baby was going. Straight to the shower!

I had seen eucalyptus in the shower before, but only in the land of Pinterest or some Home magazine while in line at the grocery store. But I adore fu-fu stuff like that! So yes… straight to the shower. Not exactly sure how to rig it, I took a rubber band and wrapped one end around the bundle and stretched it far enough to go around the shower head as well. It took a few attempts to get it just right but eventually, I had a bundle of eucalyptus primed and ready for some steam time.

And steam it did. With the water cascading down the leaves and the steam opening up the aroma, I have to say I am not a believer. There were no miracles or rainbows, but it was a really chill experience. I loved the sight and the scent, and it def made a good substitution for a nice day at the spa which is currently off-limits due to the lovely pandemic.

Come to find out, there are actual legit benefits, too. According to healthline.com, here are 7 benefits of this evergreen plant:

• High in antioxidants. Although you cannot eat fresh, whole eucalyptus leaves, dried leaves can be made into tea. …
• May relieve cold symptoms. …
• May treat dry skin. …
• May reduce pain. …
• May promote relaxation. …
• Can help keep your teeth healthy. …
• Can act as a natural insect repellent.

So in short, or long, if you’re looking for something to step up your shower self-care game, maybe invest in a few springs! A quick google search can tell you if there are growers local to you, or you can check out the place that I used, Eucalyptus Farms. This isn’t a sponsored ad, so I get nothing for you purchasing from them. Just sharing because I actually have enjoyed my last few months of fresh eucalyptus 🙂

Oh! A note for my pet lovers: Ingesting eucalyptus is highly dangerous for animals. Please keep your cats, dogs, and other pets away from eucalyptus, and call your vet right away if you think your pet may have ingested eucalyptus.

But for my human subscribers (smile), have you tried hanging eucalyptus in your shower before? If so, did you like it? And if not, would you ever? Do tell…