Hi again, Earthies! (a.k.a. Simply Earth Essential Oil Lovers) Hope you all are safe and well, and getting ready for the holidays. Today I’m excited to share the Simply Earth December 2020 Essential Oil Recipe Box with you!
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.
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 affiliate, 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 2020
Behold the December 2020 Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box! 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 a phenomenal 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.
The sticker on my box – pretty funny, these girls!
The oils are packed really nicely in sturdy cardboard pockets to decrease the chances of spillage or breakage.
Each monthly box comes with 4 essential oils + 6 recipe cards, and additional items to complete the recipes. Quite impressive for the low cost of the box! Simply Earth is able to cut out the middle-man and work directly with the farmers to give you a more affordable value. I’m calling the theme this month ‘The Soap Box”. I’m clever, right?
On the backs of the recipe cards are notes and additional information about the box. This is a note from Katie – a recipe formulator and certified aromatherapist. This month she talks about the theme of the box and how most store-bought soaps contain artificial fragrances and chemicals. Making your own soap with Simply Earth is the toxin-free way to go! It is also fun to make gifts for the holiday season.
Have a question? Want to know more? Looking for recipes? Simply Earth has several resources available through their website; a blog, a subscriber Facebook group, an essential oil hero course, and an email for customer service.
Simply Earth gives back! With every box and purchase, you are helping in the fight against human trafficking. This month, 13% of their profits are going to ‘Freedom’s Journey‘, a group in Rapid City, SD, whose mission is to combat human trafficking by meeting the needs of survivors through relationships and with innovative collaborations with public and private partnerships. Even if you aren’t a Simply Earth subscriber, I highly encourage you to support this cause.
You also receive a ‘sneek peek’ at next month’s box. I appreciate that they inform you ahead of time, of any extra items you may need to complete the recipes.
This card is a breakdown of the items included in this month’s box (with descriptions).
Simply Earth’s batch-tested, 100% pure essential oil selections for December 2020! 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 deets on each oil included in this box:
Simply Earth Bergamot Essential Oil (15 mL) – Retail Value $16.99
Bergamot was named after a town in Italy (Bergamo) where Bergamot oil was first marketed. This citrus oil was most commonly used in Italian folk medicine for fevers and other medicinal purposes for many years. The uses for, and benefits of Bergamot include: Reduces insomnia, relaxes and calms, refreshes, uplifts, balances oily skin, and eases tight muscles.
Cautions: This oil is safe for kids (2+), and is safe for use during breastfeeding and pregnancy. It is safe for dogs but NOT cats. There is a special Dilution Rate: 5% or less. This oil is phototoxic. Avoid spending time in direct sunlight or a tanning bed after using this oil topically. This oil may be used at 1-2 drops per ounce of carrier oil (0.4%) without being phototoxic.
Bergamot is one of my favorite citrus blends because it isn’t overpowering, and smells so clean and fresh. I tend to choose this over orange or lemon every time! I’m all about anything Italian – seriously! Gimme espresso and pasta all day, every day! LOL!
Simply Earth Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil (15 mL) – Retail Value $12.99
Ancient middle eastern cultures used Cinnamon Leaf for colds, flu, digestive issues, menstrual complaints, and as a general stimulant. Believed to be one of the oldest plants on Earth, it is still very popular for its various health benefits. The uses for, and benefits of Cinnamon Leaf include: Promotes warmth when applied topically diluted to the skin, relieves chronic aches and discomfort, uplifts, helps combat seasonal illnesses, and deters pests.
Cautions: This oil is safe for kids (10+), however it is NOT recommended for using during breastfeeding or pregnancy, nor is it safe for dogs or cats. There is a special Dilution Rate: 0.5%, and it has a recommended use of 0.5% topically. Possible drug interactions: Cinnamon is a blood thinner and may complicate clotting disorders.
Cinnamon is a favorite for Fall, Winter and all the holidays. Cinnamon lattes, cinnamon sticks in cider, cinnamon candles – the list is endless. It is what I call a ‘comfort scent’, and the DIY projects this month from Simply Earth will carry that comfort into my bath & shower!
Simply Earth Himalayan Cedarwood Essential Oil (15 mL) – Retail Value $7.99
Cedarwood’s uses can be traced as far as biblical times, as it was used for construction materials in temples, homes, boats, and torches. Cedarwood Himalayan is now more commonly used for its skin and respiratory benefits. It is also found to be helpful for those who are emotionally tense. The uses for, and benefits of Cedarwood include: Helps with oily skin, supports emotional balance, and provides respiratory support.
Cautions: This oil is safe for kids (2+), and is safe for use during breastfeeding or pregnancy, as well as for dogs/cats. The special Dilution Rate is 5% or less.
When I first started using essential oils, this wasn’t my favorite scent, but as time went on it grew on me – especially when blended with citrus or lavender oils. I don’t know why I didn’t care for it at first because I generally prefer masculine colognes, and you’ll find plenty of cedarwood (and sandalwood) in those.
Simply Earth Winter Spice Essential Oil Blend (15 mL) – Retail Value $12.99
Winter Spice Essential Oil Blend is the perfect addition to make your home have that Christmas smell naturally! This seasonal blend has the aroma of an evergreen tree with a little bit of citrus. The blend also fights air born bacteria and clears congestion to help get you through the winter season. The uses for, and benefits of the Winter Spice blend include: Seasonal aroma, airborne microbial, refreshes and rejuvenates, clears the mind, and eases congestion.
Cautions: This oil is safe for kids (2+), and is safe for use during breastfeeding or pregnancy. It is recommended to use caution when diffusing this blend around cats and dogs as it could cause adverse reactions.
This oil is SUPER woodsy and aromatic – and it does seriously smell like a citrusy Christmas tree! Being that I have a fake tree, my intention for this oil is to make a spray to make my tree actually smell authentic!
Each bottle gives the specifics of that oil’s batch and origin, as well as a child safety rating – which is extremely 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.
Goat Milk Soap Base – Retail Value Unavailable
This product is not available in the Simply Earth store, so I don’t have a value for it, but it is incredibly easy to use!
You just pop the little squares out as needed to melt. Goat’s milk is great for softening the skin and providing moisture.
Simply Earth Silicone Soap Mold – Retail Value Unavailable
Look at this cute little soap mold! I did not have any kind of soap mold, so I was THRILLED to get this one with the ‘Simply Earth‘ logo stamp. I don’t have a value for this item because it is only available through the subscription box.
It is made of soft silicone, and it is easy to get the soap out of it, as well as clean.
Simply Earth Dried Orange Slices – Retail Value Unavailable
Again, this item isn’t available in their store, so I don’t have a value, but what fun! They were included to use with one of the soap recipes, BUT you could technically put them in a cocktail if you wanted – just sayin’. They are 100% fruit with no preservatives.
Simply Earth Label Sheet – Retail Value Unavailable
OK, it must be noted that the new label sheets are pre-cut and you just peel them off!!! NO MORE SPAZZY CUTTING!! PRAISE THE LORD!! I am VERY excited about this – LOL! Thank you Simply Earth!! It’s the little things…
Simply Earth Recipe Cards (6) – Retail Value Unavailable
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!). Each month your box will come with 6 new recipes, and I’ve got quite the collection now! Love it!
Now let’s get to the fun part – making the projects!
Orange Grove Exfoliating Soap Recipe Card
Recipe Project: Orange Grove Exfoliating Soap
This recipe calls for the goat milk soap base, the soap mold, the orange slices (optional), Cedarwood essential oil and Orange essential oil (from a previous box). If you don’t have the Orange essential oil, I would suggest substituting with the Bergamot essential oil that came in this box! I’m not a certified aromatherapist, but it’s a good combo I promise.
Because the orange slices are lightweight and ‘float’ in the melted soap base, they suggest pouring a little into the mold first, then adding the slices, then finish pouring over the top of the slices.
You can use a double boiler (as shown), or a microwave to melt the soap base. If you think you might be a long time subscriber, or enjoy doing aromatherapy/spa DIY projects, I would highly recommend investing in one. They are pretty inexpensive on Amazon.
Here is my pour – having the orange slices sticking out makes the soap look pretty after it’s dried! You might be thinking that it’s a little weird putting dried fruit in your soap, but that’s where the ‘exfoliating’ part of the recipe comes in.
Ta-Da! Simply Earth Orange Grove exfoliating soap!
It’s beautiful! I used it in the shower the night I made it, and it was very nice. Even the man of the house tried it and liked it! I thought that was funny. Something I thought of, you *could* add some Cinnamon essential oil to this to spice it up! Orange & Cinnamon = MMMMM.
Before I tried it out, I wrapped the soap in Saran wrap and applied the sticker to show you how lovely it would be as a gift. I plan on making soap for everyone on my list this Christmas! Heads up!
Winter Skin Protection Balm Recipe Card
Recipe Project: Winter Skin Protection Balm
This recipe calls for the soap mold, the Bergamot/Cedarwood/Winter Spice Essential oils, and 2 items from the bonus box – beeswax and almond oil. If this is your first box, you would get the bonus box and be good to go. Instead of making a typical salve that goes in a jar or tin, this recipe is for making a ‘bar’ of balm that you use to put a layer of protection onto your skin after a shower or bath.
After melting/heating the beeswax and almond oil in a double boiler, you add in the essential oils and stir, then pour the whole mixture into the soap mold. NOTE: This recipe made TWO full bars, meaning I filled the soap mold up twice. If you only want to make ONE, just halve the recipe. This project took longer to cool than the soap, but if you put it into the fridge, you can save time.
Another beautiful bar! This one melts easily, so be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place. It smells divine – woody/citrus and fresh & clean. You will combat dry skin for the Winter, that’s for sure! My skin was silky soft, and did not stay greasy for very long. My skin just soaked it right up.
I keep mine wrapped in plastic wrap with the sticker on it. This recipe also makes a great gift, but be careful it doesn’t melt!
Calming Orange Grove Roll On Recipe Card
Recipe Project: Calming Orange Grove Roll On
Each month there is a recipe for a roll-on, and this month’s roll-on is for calming yourself down. This may be what everyone needs most right now with all that’s going on in the world. Cedarwood blends great with Bergamot! This recipe also required items from the bonus box – fractionated coconut oil and a glass roller.
These are so easy to make – just put the suggested number of drops of essential oil into the bottle, then fill with the rest of the way up with fractionated (MCT) coconut oil. 30 seconds, tops!
To use, roll onto the pulse points (wrists, neck, back of knees), but make sure to test on the back on the hand first.
Soap Jellies Recipe Card
Unfortunately I didn’t have gelatin and couldn’t make this recipe, but I will soon – it looks like fun!
Cocoa Marble Soap Recipe Card
I AM SO BUMMED that I didn’t have enough soap base left to do this recipe!! Guess I’ll have to get some more, because I think all my peeps are going to get this soap in their stocking this year. I’m imagining it smelling soooo good, and the ‘marbling’ to be pretty to look at. In the mean time I’ve got my orange grove soap.
This recipe continued on the back side of the card; as it is a little more involved.
Winter Sunshine Diffuser Blend Recipe Card
Diffuser blend recipes are included every month as well, and if you are a fan, the recipe includes a master blend you can make to have on hand. The recipe card gives you the ingredient amounts you need to put directly into you diffuser, as well as for a master blend. The bonus box includes (6) 5 ml bottles so that you can make master blends each month if you choose. I haven’t made this one yet, but I’m anxious to smell the blend! Maybe when I start Christmas decorating I’ll do a trial run…
So what do you think of the December 2020 Simply Earth Essential Oils Recipe Box? I’m so totally into soap and balm bar making! It is SO EASY! I am consistently impressed by the quality and usability of this subscription at such a reasonable price. The total (current) retail value of the essential oils ALONE in this box is $50.96, and that doesn’t even include the soap mold, the soap base, the orange slices, the recipe cards or the labels! I think that is pretty amazing for $39.99! 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, and I look forward to getting it every time! IMHO you absolutely can’t go wrong if you enjoy essential oils and DIY projects.
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 Elbow-bump!
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