DIY Life

Join me each week as I explore the naturally aromatic side of DIY.
herbs, and other botanicals to soap-making, body care products and other useful blends.

Peppermint . . . candy canes, peppermint patties, toothpaste and tea. I'm sure that when you think of peppermint, these are some of the images conjured up for you. OK, maybe some of those yummy mint melt-a-way candies too. Or perhaps even indigestion tablets. I think you get the point.

There are a myriad of uses for peppermint essential oil that just may shift your long-ingrained minty paradigms, so read on.

Before you create any of these mint-a-licious recipes, be sure you are getting a quality peppermint essential oil from a reputable source. It should be organic or wild-grown.

1. Chocolate Mint Lip balm
This is so easy, you are going to make enough for everyone you know, I am sure of it. Peppermint is also reputed to help plump up the lips, so your kisser will not only taste great, it'll look great too.

• 1 tsp. beeswax
• 2 tsp. prime-pressed cocoa butter
• 3 tsp. any liquid oil you like. I love rice bran oil and jojoba (not really an oil, but a wax), but you can use the olive oil in your kitchen cabinet and get great results.
• 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil