5 minute read
HEAL YOUR HOME
Wellness expert, author, and founder of JOGB Living, Jo Glanville-Blackburn reveals why the power of nature’s scents in
the home make for a better way of living
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As an author and wellness beauty expert for over 25 years, my life has always inspired self-care, and lifestyle advice to make people live a better, healthier, stronger life. My belief has always been that to look good on the outside you had to feel good within.
When I had my three children, Olivia, Will and Phoebe, time became precious; home became sacred. At the birth of each child, I’d breathe in my own aromatherapy essential oil blend of geranium, rose and sandalwood to help my body and mind relax. It still works today, on my children too. Knowingly, I began to cultivate their sense of smell, using plant oils in their bath. One day, my son hugged me after school and said, “you smell like home.” I had just lost my mother, so this meant so much to me: I carried on. Always natural, my innate passion for aroma in the home grew, not just my garden with rosemary to invigorate and lavender to chill, but with incense, candles and room sprays. In 2012, my health took a sidestep when I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Suddenly, all knowledge I’d gleaned throughout my career fell into place. My focus turned inward to selfhealing, as I genuinely believe that our body is so clever that if I could lower my stress, calm my senses, I may improve my health long-term.
“JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE RELOCATED TO SOMERSET, TO OUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, ‘RANDOM THATCH’...INSPIRED BY OUR SURROUNDINGS, WE’RE FINDING FRESH NEW CREATIVE INSPIRATION IN WOODWORK, SCULPTURE, WILDFLOWERS AND WEAVING.”
I worked on my breathing, learned meditation techniques (I highly recommend Autogenic meditation), became a Reiki master, all in my quest to heal myself. Along the way, I interviewed countless experts from a naturopath, aromatherapist, acupuncturist, a Shaman, and even my neurologist; each one recommended I remove artificial aromas from our home that were potentially aggravating a weakened immune system. Out went surface cleaning sprays, replacing them with homemade (pure and cheap) bicarbonate of soda; no air sprays – just pure essential oil drops di using in a bowl.
But candles? I love them: their ambience, the way they instantly make me pause, breathe, and calm. On research, I found that more than 95% use para n wax - aka mineral oil that’s cheap, always burns no matter what you put in it, and emits the equivalence of a diesel engine running in your room. Rather than live without them, my husband James and I, in partnership with a natural artisan perfumer in Somerset, created JOGB Pure Scented Candles.
Each of the three handcrafted and exclusive scents reflects di erent moods: uplifting GOJO, balancing sensual MOJO, and relaxing SLOJO. Each has a wonderfully therapeutic aroma - your favourite might shift from day to night: that’s the beautiful power of aroma as a positive therapy. The candles are luxurious because of the quantities of pure oil used - our oils are therapeutic level and 100% pure blends. Eco cotton wicks nestled in a sustainable soy and rapeseed oil wax, recycled boxes, made exclusively in the UK: this was always our feel-good way from the start. Customers can now send back empty candle glass to repurpose; they get a 20% discount o their next purchase to say thank you - that also covers the postage.
We’re so used to the word ‘aromatherapy’ we’ve rather forgotten its potent use to connect ‘aroma’ as a mind and body ‘therapy’. We’ve been through one of the toughest tests of modern life. In the process, my pure scent passion has evolved to help others: that’s an amazing feeling. Now more than ever, people are looking for comfort and contentment – for me, that’s a scented home. Just remember, if things get crazy or overwhelming, your peace is within you and within your walls.
Just before the pandemic, we relocated to Somerset, to our beautiful house, ‘Random Thatch’. Somerset is such an awesome county full of energetic souls. Inspired by our surroundings, we’re finding fresh new creative inspiration in woodwork, sculpture, wildflowers and weaving. randomthatch.co.uk is an extension of our wellness pursuits, with our own random style of dried botanicals, crystals, incense, rustic interiors, and original artful pieces to complement our JOGB botanical blends. We’re living a slightly wilder, greener way of life, based on joy, and creating together.
Check out our journal Random Life over on jogbliving with tips for a more holistic home. @randomthatch @jogbliving
JO’S TIPS FOR A LESS STRESSFUL LIFE
Educate your sense of smell to tune into a moment of genuine relaxation: di use, spray, sprinkle, light it… love it. Choose one or two (or our three!) aromas you engage with and sit peacefully surrounded by the aroma whenever you feel happy and content. Gradually this aroma will become your ‘go to’ and help bring stress levels down. Practice makes perfect.
A simple breathing technique to bring calm and mental clarity is to make your exhalations longer than your inhalations. Often taught in yoga: inhale for four and exhale for six. As you gradually feel calmer you can extend to a count of eight. This technique works well because it calms the vagus nerve: our longest nerve, from the brain to the colon, that feeds the entire central nervous system.
If I’m shocked, worried, or upset, I press the thumb to the index finger of each hand to create a circle, with the other three fingers held upwards, for about 3 minutes. It kicks into the body’s ability to disengage your response to any external stressor, lowering stress levels.
Rekindle your carefree, inner child. I have always loved art, ink drawing, painting, sewing, creating. You get absorbed, time runs away, and yet you’ve created something. Our children recently bought us a pottery course: they know us so well.
