Essential Things

On day 2 of distilling essential oil from cedar, I learn that soggy branches already steamed still have essence to share – a steady stream of hydrosol and oil. When social isolation ends, we’ll be able to chat with steady streams of words. That’ll be nice.

With that nod to the corona virus, here’s something to note – essential oils have NOT been proven to kill the virus. Soap and water, as well as highly concentrated alcohol, are essential for cleaning. Still, the cedar hydrosol smells so clean, I add it to rubbing alcohol for counter-top sparkle.

So grateful for all working like crazy to understand this virus, and treat those it strikes. Praying for our medical community. Heroes all.

My mom was a nurse. As kids, every time we entered the house, she enforced a vigorous, sudsy hand-washing. These days, with the same great advice coming at us from every angle, I’m reminded…

She worked in a TB quarantine unit. Her stories of those days emanated confident rest in God’s goodness and control of all things. Moms, good job calming your little ones. God’s got this. We can trust Him. We can pray.

Memories of my mom aren’t the only thing making me smile these days. Marvelous natural butters and oils have kept my hands crack-free! That’s something, with all this winter’s hand-washing. Do lavish your hands and feet as you crawl into bed. The lavender is relaxing and the product is so great for your skin.

If you’re considering distilling essential oil, one thing, before you go the glass flask route. Distillers often mention a sulfurous “still note” in fresh essential oil. To get rid of those unwanted gasses, you let fresh distilled oil sit open a while, pour it from container to container, or add copper. For that reason, I recommend a copper still.

I wish you could smell the cedar essential oil pictured below. Immediately pure and sweet. Yes, sweet. Clean and woody, but also sweet. Delicious scent! No cedarwood oil I’ve previously purchased has captured this.

The cedar greens I used were trim from our yard, but there is a type of cedar called “incense cedar” (latin, calocedrus decurrens). In the OT tabernacle (Exodus 30), a specifically mixed sweet incense burned every morning. The scent connected the worshipers’ senses with the glorious presence of God. Our prayers can rise as sweet incense to Him (Ps. 141:2).

The transcendent God of the universe chose to give us scents that are fresh, clean, and pure – and the ability to breathe them in. That God wants us to pray. He is in control, He is glorious, He is good. In worrisome and wearying days, prayer is essential.