Let’s face it, essential oils are DA BOMB!  This craze is definitely one you want to get on board with because the benefits are endless.  If you are just getting started, or even if you are a seasoned expert, Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box is an awesome way to experience a variety of quality tested 100% pure essential oils and learn tons of new ways to incorporate them into your daily regimen in just minutes a day.  Today I’m going to be reviewing the December 2019 box, which is all about GIFT GIVING!  ‘Tis the season…

Simply Earth is a small, family-run essential oils company based in Hingham, Wisconsin.  Each month, Simply Earth provides its subscribers with everything they need to make handmade natural products with friends & family, and to create a natural home – all for a great value.  I’ve been using essential oils for years and can attest to their life-changing therapeutic benefits, and I am absolutely THRILLED to be able to review this box for you!  You can see my other Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box reviews here.

Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box is $39/month (+tax if applicable) with free US shipping (they also ship to Canada, but shipping fees apply), or there is a quarterly subscription option where you will receive one box every 3 months.  The quarterly subscription is $45 (+tax if applicable) every 3 months.  Every box is curated around a theme and includes 4 full-size essential oils + the toxin-free ingredients & containers you need to make 6 natural recipes.  As a member, you will also receive exclusive access to members-only discounts and sales on Simply Earth products in their shop.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY!  Simply Earth recently launched a ‘Starter Box’ because the monthly recipe boxes have been selling out almost every month!  To make up for that, they came up with the Starter Box so that interested subscribers don’t have to wait.  The Starter Box also has recipe cards and will come with a free Big Bonus Box.  So, if the December box sells out, don’t worry – you will get the Starter Box!  Moving forward, Starter Boxes will replace the monthly boxes whenever a monthly box sells out.

*Use code CDMFREE at this link when you checkout to receive a $40 gift card in your first box!  (NOTE:  This code is for first-time subscribers only, and the gift card can be used on future purchases or your next box. The code is not a discount, but an additional incentive intended for first time subscribers.)*

DISCLAIMER:  I am a Simply Earth affliliate, and was provided this box at no cost in order to review it.  As an affiliate, I earn a small commission on sales which does not affect the price for the buyer using my links.  Any additional affiliate links are identified where listed.  You can read my full disclosure statement here.  Please note however, that I *never* accept compensation in exchange for a positive review.  All of my reviews are my honest, personal opinions and contain my own photography (unless otherwise stated).

Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box Review, December 2019

This is my second Simply Earth box, so I’m receiving the main monthly recipe box only.  I want to note that you only get the free ‘Big Bonus Box’ with your first box, and then with every 6th box – which I have to say is such a great perk!  The Big Bonus Box includes additional supplies needed to make the recipes in the subsequent boxes, and you can see my review of it here.

Once subscribed/ordered, your box generally ships the next day and and will arrive 2-3 business days after that.  Your next box will be billed and shipped on the same day you placed your first order in.  You can cancel any time, or skip a box.

I get a kick out the little photo stickers they put on the boxes.  My box was handpacked by CHERYL – which is also my name – and she looks just as crazy as me.  🙂

Let’s see what’s in this month’s GIFT GIVING box…

Each monthly box comes with 4 full-sized essential oils (15 mL each), which is quite impressive for the low cost of the box!  They are packed really well as you can see, so that they arrive in perfect condition.

Here’s the December 2019 lot!  I love how the items are color coordinated.

On the backs of the recipe cards are notes and additional information about the box.  This note is from Katie – a recipe formulator and certified aromatherapist.  This month she talks about the theme of the box, and how gift giving can be fun and doesn’t have to break the bank.  The recipes you can create each month will always make great gifts, but it’s especially fun for the holidays!  I’m going to be making a bunch of essential oil gifts this year as stocking-stuffers.

Simply Earth gives back!  With every box and purchase, you are helping in the fight against human trafficking.  This month, 13% of their profits go to Night Light Bankok, a non-profit organization offering holistic intervention and restoration for women, families and communities affected by the global sex industry.  I truly believe in this mission, and am super happy to do my part to help!

This card is a breakdown of the items included in the monthly box (with descriptions), and a reminder that with Simply Earth you get quality ingredients at a low cost!  If you are already an essential oil lover, you’ve probably heard of all the ‘big dogs’ out there like doTerra and Young Living, which have fabulous oils, but they come with a hefty price tag.  Simply Earth is able to cut out the middle-man and work directly with the farmers to give you a more affordable value.

They also have a blog with lots of articles, recipes and fun things to read, as well as a free e-book you can download called “Essential Oils for Beginners”.

Here are Simply Earth’s batch-tested, 100% pure essential oil selections for December!  Not all essential oils are created equal, so it’s important to be diligent when selecting the oils you wish to use.  You want to look for purity, where the oil is from (grown) and it’s therapeutic grade classification.  Don’t just blindly order from any company – do your research!  I’ve done mine, and Simply Earth gets a thumbs up from this picky buyer.

Commitment to Quality

With the safety of your home in mind, we’re meticulous about every step of our process. To make sure each plant reaches its potential, we carefully and ethically choose a region where it will thrive. Then we work with our farmers. When our plants have reached maturity, they are harvested safely and fairly. From there we collect their natural essential oils through either cold-pressing or steam-distillation. Every batch is then tested to ensure 100% purity.

Here are the details for each oil included in this box:

Candy Cane Essential Oil Blend 15 mL – Retail Value $11.99

The Candy Cane Essential Oil Blend is an obvious holiday choice!  It doesn’t have an overpowering minty fragrance, but more of a minty-citrus scent that invigorates the senses.  It is a blend of Spearmint, Frankincense, Orange, and Lemon Essential Oils, and although it doesn’t necessarily remind me of a candy cane, I really love the cool, sweet & refreshing aroma.  The spearmint and orange oils stick out to me the most.

NOTE:  There are a few cautions to be aware of:

• Kid Safe: May be used by children 2+
• Pregnancy Safe: Not recommended
• Breastfeeding Safe: Not recommended

Benefits of Spearmint Essential Oil:  An uplifting aroma that is softer and milder than the well-known peppermint, spearmint aids in digestion, skin problems, headaches, nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues, hormonal imbalances and cold symptoms.

Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil:  I forget that Frankincense is a historically significant Christmas oil, and it has AMAZING health benefits as well.  Called the “King of Essential Oils”, Frankincense can be used for just about everything including easing anxiety & insomnia, boosting cellular immunity & function, anti-aging & skin health, and much more!

Benefits of Orange Essential Oil:  Lifts mood, reduces stress, treats skin conditions such as acne, reduces inflammation and is a natural deodorizer and household cleaner.

Benefits of Lemon Essential Oil: Fights exhaustion, helps with depression, clears your skin, kills harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduces inflammation.

Peppermint Essential Oil 15 mL – Retail Value $11.99

Peppermint is probably the most well-known and popular essential oil out there, and for good reason!  It smells absolutely DELICIOUS, and it’s effectiveness is off the charts.  It also screams CHRISTMAS, and is quite appropriate for this month’s box.  I personally use it to aid in pain relief; especially headaches.  You know what else?!?  Spiders don’t like the smell of it…SCORE!

NOTE:  You don’t want to use this oil without diluting it first!  It is VERY potent, so here is a list of the cautions:

• Dilution Rate: Recommended maximum dilution of 5% for topical application.
• Kid Safe: May be used by children 10+
• Pregnancy Safe: Consult your doctor
• Breastfeeding Safe: Consult your doctor
• Cat Safe: No, don’t use this oil on or around cats. 
• Dog Safe: Use caution. Do not use this oil topically on your dog. This oil is unlikely to cause adverse effects when diffused near dogs, but make sure the dog can leave the room if the aroma causes him/her distress. 
• More safety info: STORAGE LIFE up to four (4) years.  Don’t use this oil if you have cardiac fibrillation or G6PD deficiency.  When used at rates higher than 5% this oil can cause burning sensations. 

Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil: Aids in pain relief, congestion, head tension and digestion, gives a ‘cooling’ sensation, and increases focus & energy.

Pine Scotch Essential Oil 15 mL – Retail Value $11.99

I have an artificial Christmas tree, and while it is more cost effective and easier to put up, I really miss the house smelling like pine.  HOWEVER, now that I have this Pine Scotch Essential oil, I can have it all!  This oil has a wonderful woody-evergreen scent, and when diffused next to my tree – you’d swear it was real.  😉  It also has some pretty great health benefits, and is a perfect choice for more masculine recipes.

Benefits of Pine Scotch Essential Oil:  Supports a healthier respiratory tract, improves circulation, and has a warm & soothing effect.

Mandarin Essential Oil 15 mL – Retail Value $9.99

I adore the scent of Mandarin!  Botanical records show that Mandarin was cultivated in China as early as the 12^th century BC, and is known for its relaxing and calming effects.

Benefits of Mandarin Essential Oil: Relaxes, calms, cleans naturally, soothes sore muscles and uplifts mood.

Each bottle gives the specifics of that oil’s batch and origin, as well as a child safety rating – which is very helpful.

Each oil bottle also comes with the ‘Simply Pure Promise’ that has a 365 day guarantee!

Creating New Standards

From displaying quality testing for our oils in the form of GC/MS reports for all our oils right on the product page to visiting our vetiver farm in Haiti, we are working on creating the standards for what it means to have high quality oils. All this is backed with our 365 day Simply Earth Guarantee.

The bottles come equipped with dropper attachments for easy measuring, and to prevent spillage.

Amber Spray Bottle 2 oz. – Retail Value $2.99

The box includes most of the items you will need for the six recipes they provide.  Anything not included is usually common household items like baking soda or Epsom salt.

(2) White Lip Balm Containers – Retail Value $1

I’m so excited to use these!

2 oz. Tin – Retail Value $0.70  (NOTE:  Commissions may be earned through link.)

This tin was provided for the salve recipe included in this month’s box.

(6) Paper Gift Tags with Twine – Retail Value $0.36  (NOTE:  Commissions may be earned through link.)

Being that the theme this month is “Gift Giving”, it is fitting that they’ve included 6 gift tags for the 6 recipes!  These are cute, and add that personal touch to any gift.

Simply Earth also includes color coordinated stickers for your oils and projects – they’ve thought of everything!  Hopefully you are better at cutting these than I am – I always get a good chuckle at my attempts.

BONUS ITEM!  WILDROOT Natural Deodorant Performance Formula 0.5 oz.

WILDROOT is a brand new company (sister company to Simply Earth) launching in January of 2020, and we get to be among the first to try their all natural deodorant!

So far I’m loving the Ylang Ylang / Lavender scent, and it feels nice and silky smooth on the skin.  I’ll be putting it to the test tomorrow at Hatha Yoga!  It’s a smaller size and perfect for traveling, too.  How awesome that they included it in the box!

It is paraben and aluminum-free, which allows your pores to breathe and fight bacteria naturally.

I’m looking forward to seeing all the natural products they offer!  You can sign up with your email to receive exclusive discounts and free products.  I’m on it!

Here are the (6) color-coded, aromatherapist-certified recipe cards with toxin-free ingredients that were included in this box.  Each recipe can be made in just a few minutes (nothing too extreme here!), and almost all of the ingredients needed are included (or were included in your free bonus box that came with your first box).

Citrus Christmas Room Spray Recipe Card

This recipe can be made with distilled water + vodka or witch hazel if you have it, or just distilled water.  I had some vodka in a convenient airplane bottle, so decided to use that.  It couldn’t be more simple to make!  You just add all the ingredients listed (in the suggested proportions) directly into the included spritzer bottle, and DONE!  It took longer for me to take this photo, than to make the recipe!

Here is what the finished product looks like with it’s pretty label and tag if you choose to give it as a gift.  The mandarin & pine oils together is FABULOUS!  It isn’t dog-safe, so I don’t spray it near my pup, but it’s perfect for my guest bathroom because Jack isn’t allowed in there.  (Some guests aren’t excited about having a dog stare at, and/or lick them while using the facilities.  Jack has no personal boundaries – LOL!)

I decided to gift it to myself because it just goes too perfectly in my guest bath.  😉  It’s going to look so pretty in there when I add my Christmas decorations!

Cold Buster Roll On Recipe Card

This is also a super easy recipe to make using one of the roller bottles from the bonus box.  I love having rollers everywhere to grab when I need a pick-me-up.  I keep them at my desk, in my purse, and by my bed!  They are PERFECT for gift-giving, too, and I love experimenting with different combinations.  As a testimony to essential oils – since I’ve started using them, I haven’t had one single cold!

Christmas Candy Diffuser Blend Recipe Card

I diffuse oils EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  Not only does it make my house smell incredible, but the health benefits are awesome – especially over time.  I haven’t tried this recipe yet because it isn’t dog-safe, so I’ll just be diffusing it a room where my dog doesn’t go.  You can put a few drops of each essential oil straight into your diffuser, or if you love the blend, you can use one of the 5 mL bottles from the bonus box to make a master blend to keep next to your diffuser to add at will.

Mandarin and Coffee Sugar Scrub Recipe Card

This sounds absolutely delicious!  I haven’t made it yet because I don’t actually keep sugar in the house (I gave sugar up this year!), BUT, while sugar is terrible for the inside of the body, it works wonders on the outside.  This recipe is definitely going to be made as a gift for a friend of mine, and I think I may make some for myself, too!  Coffee grounds are a great way to smooth out cellulite, and make your skin silky smooth.  Sugar scrubs are insanely popular, so this is a perfect fit for the theme.

Candy Cane Lip Balm Recipe Card

My lips get excessively dry in the cold, so I was all over this one!  Let me show you how easy it is to make…

This simple recipe uses the coconut oil, almond oil and beeswax from your bonus box, combined with the Candy Cane Essential Oil blend and lip balm tubes from this month’s box.

You can melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler if you have one, or you can simply fill a pan with water, then place your ingredients in a Pyrex measuring cup (or other glass container) and melt it that way.  I have a double boiler, but I wanted an easier (less messy) way to pour the melted liquid into the small lip tubes, so I did it this way.

The finished product looks professional!  These will make super cute stocking stuffers, and the formula smells and works great!  Get ready to receive lots of kisses under the mistletoe!  😉

I’m going to be purchasing some additional lip balm containers, because these were too fun to make!

Peppermint & Pine Salve Recipe Card

Salves are my absolute favorite thing to make with essential oils.  It might seem like an intimidating recipe, but it’s EASY-PEASY!

You’ll be melting the beeswax and coconut oil again, and then once melted, you just add in the essential oils and let cool.  Your friends & family will believe you are an apothecary genius!  My sweetie and I love using salves for giving massages – it is the ultimate luxury – but this one is specifically for any chest congestion you might have.  Even without any congestion, this salve is fresh & crisp on your inhale, and soothing & cooling on your skin.  It will also help keep your immune system strong all Winter long.

This is the double boiler I use – I got it on Amazon here, and it works great.  (NOTE:  Commissions may be earned through link.)  You can also just use a regular single pan filled with water, placing a separate glass container filled with the ingredients in the middle of it, as seen earlier in the lip balm recipe photos.

Ta-Da!  Once the mixture is completely cooled, you can put the lid and label on, and you have yourself a healthy and toxin-free Peppermint & Pine Salve!

I decided to put the label on the back side of the tin.  As a gift, I will put the salve inside a small wrapped box, and tie the included gift tag to the ribbon I put on the box.  Then, under the tree it goes for someone special!

So cool!  This is my favorite recipe so far.

Simply Earth has a Facebook page exclusive to members to share recipes and ideas, ask questions and socialize with other ‘Earthies’.  There are a ton of great ideas on here, and it is a closed group, so only members can post.

This card shows how their referral program works; it is an opportunity for subscribers and their friends to receive free boxes!

A sneak peak at January’s Recipe Box – the theme will be “Winter Wellness”, and will include Simply Earth’s Relief Blend, Clary Sage, Ho Wood and Lemon Essential Oils.  The bonus items will be avocado oil + containers, and the toxin free recipes will include a foot soak, massage blend, body butter (yay!), a spritzer, a roll-on and a diffuser blend.  How exciting!  The card also gives you a head’s up to have epsom salt on hand for the foot soak since that ingredient won’t be included – which is appreciated.

So what do you think of the December 2019 Simply Earth Essential Oils Recipe Box?  I really like the theme, and all the fun items to use to make gifts for my friends & family.  I am also impressed by the quality and usability of this subscription at such a reasonable price.  The total (current) estimated retail value of the monthly box is $51.01 (not including the deodorant, recipe cards or label stickers), which I think is extremely fair for a $39 box with 4 full-size essential oils and additional ingredients.  That really is a HUGE value comparatively to other essential oils out there of equal quality, and it is so handy to be able to make so many different recipes without having to buy a bunch of additional expensive ingredients.  This subscription is a great way to learn and build up an essential oil collection that isn’t so overwhelming.  I’m enjoying this subscription immensely, and am looking forward to the January box!

Don’t forget!  Use code CDMFREE at this link when you checkout to receive a $40 gift card in your first box!  (NOTE:  This code is for first-time subscribers only, and the gift card can be used on future purchases or your next box. The code is not a discount, but an additional incentive intended for first time subscribers.)

TTFN, CrazyDogMama – XOXO