Articles
Essential Oil Safety and Information
Safety with essential oils
The total percentage of essential oil to our creams does not exceed the safety guidelines of 2%, however, if you are a person that has a problem with a sensitive skin it is strongly advised that you perform a skin patch test before using any Laughing Bird products. This will inform you of any unexpected allergic reaction to an essential oil - apply a small amount of cream to the inside of your wrist or elbow and leave uncovered and unwashed for twenty four hours. If no sign of itching, redness or swelling occurs after the 24 hour period, it should be safe for you to use the products.
Please check with your doctor for any interaction between medication and essential oils since some essential oils can interfere with certain prescription medication.
The essential oils we use and their production
Where possible Laughing Bird buy English grown and distilled oils from Norfolk Essential Oils (NEO) who are a Growers Co-operative based in the Fens of Norfolk, United Kingdom.
NEO specialises in the growing and steam distilling of a range of aromatic herbs for the production of high quality essential oils and floral waters that grow well in the rich fertile Fenland soils and flourish in the British climate.
The rest of our essential oils are from Kerfoot who are strong supporters of community and fair trade programmes and have established trade partnerships throughout the world.
The Essential oils we use which are grown and distilled at Norfolk Farm are -
English Chamomile
English Chamomile (Roman Chamomile, Anthemis nobilis) has been grown in England for over a thousand years and was one of the nine sacred herbs of the Saxons known then as Maythen. It is ideally suited to the United Kingdom's climate and soils. The flower heads are harvested when they are in full bloom in July and August and the essential oil is extracted by steam distillation. The oil is a sky blue colour when first distilled with a clean, floral aroma. The sky blue is caused by the presence of traces of chamazulene, a powerful anti inflammatory agent.
Peppermint
Mitcham mint has been introduced into the Norfolk Fens by Norfolk Essential Oils to supply superior quality peppermint oil. The perennial herb thrives in the silt soil of the Fens. After planting it soon spreads to form a carpet of mint leaves across the fields. The carpet of leaves are cut when the quality of oil is assessed to be at its best and allowed to sap dry before steam distillation. The oil is of excellent quality and expansion of their growing area is still ongoing.
Lavender and Rosemary
Other crops grown for steam distillation at the farm are Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia) & Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis). These have been grown since 1999.
The English Rosemary is distilled during the end of September. The plantation is five years old and is well established producing fine quality oil. The Gas chromatograph of the oil exhibits a profile similar to Spanish Rosemary.
The Lavender is grown on two farms within the co-operative . The source of true English lavender plants gives a pure sample of probably the most popular of all the essential oils. The lavender distillation days are always chosen to give the best sample and yield possible.
Lemon Essential Oil
Most lemon oil is expressed from the peels but this oil has been steam distilled from fresh lemons in the farms own distillery. The oil has a light yellow colouration and a typical lemon odour.
Thyme Essential Oil
Two harvests are carried out during the season, one in July when the crop is in full flower and the other in September before the winter arrives. The oils from both harvests are then blended together to give this oil the qualities of the full growing season. According to Norfolk Essential Oils the crop is thriving well in our climate.
Fennel Essential Oil
The Fennel has been grown by one of Norfolk farm's growers since 2001. The oil is steam distilled from the ripe flowering heads of the fennel plant. The oil is of a straw to yellow colouration.
Laughing Bird hope you enjoy the blends we have chosen for our products.
Sources - Norfolk Essential Oils