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You can’t eliminate all the uncertainty that arises when you own a business. But you can control how you react to the demands you face as an entrepreneur. Try these three simple wellness practices to improve your mental well being, and reduce the stress that can hinder your ability to perform. Alternate nostril breathing. Studies estimate that 75% of entrepreneurs work more than 40 hours a week. Those long hours may help you grow your business. But they can also lead to fatigue, burnout, and stress. If exhaustion has become a way of life, try replacing your afternoon Starbucks run with alternate nostril breathing, which has roots in yoga and Ayuverdic medicine. This simple breath practice is thought to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to calm your mind, and improve mental focus. Gently place your hand over the bridge of your nose so that your thumb can press gently on your right nostril to “close it off.” Close your eyes. Take a deep breath through the left nostril, inhaling for three to four counts. Before you exhale, place your ring finger over the left nostril, closing it off. Lift your thumb, and release the breath out of the right nostril for three to four counts. Leave your fingers as they are and inhale slowly through the right nostril. Place your thumb on the nostril, exhaling the breath through the left side. Repeat the process for two to five minutes, balancing the number of inhales and exhales through each nostril. Meditation. Entrepreneurs tend to be driven, curious, and high-energy. Though those traits can seem contradictory to the patience meditation requires, there are plenty of world-known entrepreneurs with “type A” personalities (including master motivator Tony Robbins and Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund) who credit meditation to their ability to manage stress, and approach their businesses with clarity. You too can benefit from a consistent meditation practice—even if your schedule is packed, your stress level high, and your patience limited. Set a goal to meditate daily for three weeks, for just five to eight minutes. Find a comfortable space free of noise and distraction. Find a comfortable place to sit--even if that means sitting in your desk chair—that allows you to sit tall. Set a timer to signal a beginning and end of your practice. Focus on your breath. Inhale for a count of four. Exhale for a count of seven. Inhale for a count of four. Repeat. When your mind wanders (and it will), don’t give up. Just observe the thought—and let it pass. Bring your focus back to your breath by counting the sound of the inhale and exhale, and listening to your breath. As meditation becomes part of your day, increase your meditation time by just two minutes each week. Before you know it, you’ll be able to meditate comfortably for 20 to 30 minutes a day. Journaling. Creating a to do list for the day can help you prioritize and feel accomplished. But seeing a long list of tasks may not be beneficial to your stress level. Journaling is a to do list of sorts for your inner state. The goal is to spend a few minutes writing down the events of the day that were emotionally meaningful, and how they made you feel. What you write doesn’t need to be cohesive, or grammatically correct, nor does it have to result in a solution or an insight. The idea is simply to release lingering emotional reactions and anxiety the day may have produced so you can find a sense of closure to the day, and awake the next morning stress-free and renewed.

Why Make Homemade Febreze? Creating your own homemade Febreze offers several advantages. First, it lets you avoid the harsh chemicals often found in store-bought fabric refreshers. Second, it’s budget-friendly, as you likely already have most ingredients at home. Lastly, a homemade fabric spray can be tailored to your favorite scents, making it practical and personalized. If you’re exploring other DIY projects, check out our Soap Making Kits for more ways to craft your home essentials. Essential Ingredients for a DIY Fabric Refresher To make your DIY fabric refresher, you'll need just a few simple ingredients: Water: The base of the spray makes it safe to use on fabrics. Rubbing alcohol: Helps neutralize odors and ensures quick drying. Essential oils: For a fresh scent that lasts. Popular choices include lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus. Baking soda (optional): Adds an extra layer of odor absorption for tough smells. These ingredients combine to create an effective homemade Febreze recipe that can freshen up any space without synthetic chemicals. How to Make Homemade Febreze in Simple Steps Now, let’s dive into how to make homemade Febreze. The process is quick, easy, and customizable: Mix the Ingredients: In a spray bottle, combine 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, and 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils. Optional Addition: Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the mixture if you want extra odor-fighting power. Shake Well: Give the spray bottle a good shake to combine all ingredients. Spray Away: Lightly mist your fabrics to refresh and eliminate odors. That’s it! You’ll have your homemade fabric spray ready in just a few minutes.For other quick DIY ideas to keep your home fresh, check out our Candle Fragrance Oils Collection to find the perfect scents for your homemade products. Tips for Customizing Your Homemade Febreze Recipe One of the great things about a DIY fabric refresher is how customizable it can be. Here are a few tips to personalize your homemade Febreze recipe: Adjust the Scent: Add more or fewer drops of essential oil depending on how strong you want the fragrance. Create Seasonal Sprays: Use seasonal essential oils like peppermint for the holidays or floral scents for spring. Use Distilled Water: To prevent unwanted bacteria growth, consider using distilled water instead of tap water for a longer shelf life. To explore more DIY projects like this, visit our DIY Soap Making Supplies for ideas that help you craft a healthier, more natural home. Benefits of Using a Homemade Fabric Spray Making your homemade fabric spray has numerous benefits. It’s a safer alternative for homes with children or pets since you control the ingredients and avoid harmful chemicals. A DIY Febreze is also cost-effective, as it’s made with simple household items. Another major perk is the ability to switch up the scent based on your mood or season, giving you the flexibility that store-bought versions don’t offer.For other sustainable home projects, explore our Soap Molds for easy ways to create natural products at home. How to Store Your DIY Fabric Refresher Safely Proper storage is key to ensuring your homemade Febreze remains fresh and effective. Store your DIY fabric refresher in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use a dark glass spray bottle to protect the essential oils from degrading over time. Be sure to label the bottle with the date you made it so you know when it’s time to mix a new batch. For optimal freshness, it’s best to use your homemade spray within 3-4 weeks. Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Febreze and Fabric Refresher How long does homemade Febreze last?Your DIY fabric refresher should last about 3-4 weeks. If you notice the scent fading or the solution becoming cloudy, it’s time to mix a new batch.Is homemade Febreze safe for all fabrics?This homemade Febreze recipe is safe for most fabrics, including couches, curtains, and carpets. However, it is always a good idea to test a small patch first to ensure no discoloration.Can I make a more potent version for tough odors?Absolutely! Add more essential oils or baking soda to your homemade fabric spray to combat more challenging odors. You can also add more rubbing alcohol to help neutralize more pungent smells.

We have created a chart that lists all of the characteristics and properties of Oils & Butters. Use this chart as a guide when making soap, lotion, lip gloss and more! Properties of Apricot Kernel Oil Accelerates Trace: NO Helps Hardness: NO Bubble Density: CreamyBubble Stability: StableAfter Touch Soap: ConditioningCeansing: Average Absorption: AverageGlide: ExcellentAfter Touch Cosemetics: SlipperyColor: YellowPoints of Interest: Light weight oil that is high in Vitamin A, Oleic Acid and Linoleic Acid. Excellent texture that is great for all skin types. Exhibits skin softening, moisturizing properties and is therefore recommended for skin that is dry, irritated or has prematurely aged. All Natural. Expeller Pressed. Can you name the properties of each oil and butter? If not, View Chart Here

Halloween marks the beginning of holiday trends and gift shopping. What is your business doing to capitalize on the season? Since “buyer mentality” prevails during this time many businesses make the bulk of their revenue from now until January 1st. Here are some marketing strategies to help you boost sales and offer customers a little fun and a lot of motivation to buy. Halloween marks the beginning of holiday trends and gift shopping. What is your business doing to capitalize on the season and take advantage of increased holiday shopping spending? Since “buyer mentality” prevails during this time, many businesses make the bulk of their revenue from now until January 1st. Here are some seasonal promotional ideas to help you increase customer spending, offer a little fun, and create a lot of motivation to buy during the gift shopping season. Create Products for Every Budget Smart retailers develop holiday gift ideas to fit small budgets and meet a wide range of gift-shopping needs. Think soaps in shapes that celebrate the season, fragrances with themed names and festive labeling, and fun little items priced under ten (even five) dollars. These affordable offerings encourage impulse buys and help customers check off multiple names on their lists. Lower-priced items also help increase the number of units per transaction, directly supporting efforts to increase average order value. These budget-conscious products are great product recommendations for shoppers looking for quick wins and stocking stuffers. Offer Holiday Packages Pre-packaged gift bundles are a hot item because they take the decision-making and work out of buying. Choose your most popular items and combine them into themed sets. Add a festive touch by naming your packages creatively and reminding customers about those they shop for every season—teachers, carpool drivers, and helpful neighbors. These bundling products strategies not only make shopping easier for your customers, but also elevate perceived value and increase total cart size, which contributes to a healthy holiday spending lift. You can even offer tiered options—some priced lower, others featuring premium items at higher prices for shoppers looking to impress. Suggest Other Products Does your shopping cart offer the option to upsell at checkout? If a customer adds your “Witch on a Broom” soap, they may also love your “Enchanting Brew” perfume. Consider integrating shopping cart suggestions that automatically recommend complementary items as the customer browses or checks out. This is a key part of successful upsell & cross-sell strategies, encouraging buyers to explore more and ultimately spend more. These product recommendations are subtle but highly effective tools to increase consumer spending. Offer Volume Discounts Encourage customers to buy more with volume discount deals. For example, offer 10% off orders over $30 and scale the discount as their cart size increases. You might also offer a discount when someone purchases five or more of the same item. This not only incentivizes larger orders but creates a sense of urgency and reward. Customers are often happy to spend a little more to unlock a better deal, helping you strategically increase average order value and build better customer spending habits. These types of seasonal promotional ideas work especially well during holiday campaigns. Create a Club Membership programs are highly effective for creating recurring revenue and long-term customer relationships. Consider a “soap and fragrance of the month” club that ships new seasonal items automatically. Not only does this build anticipation, it provides consistent income throughout the year. These clubs can support seasonal product launches and allow you to offer exclusive discounts in exchange for long-term commitment—turning seasonal buyers into year-round customers. If you don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription, consider launching a loyalty program that rewards repeat purchases with perks or discounts. This kind of retention-focused strategy builds customer loyalty and increases the lifetime value of each shopper. Add Style to Your Site The human brain processes visuals faster than words, so create a holiday shopping environment that’s rich with imagery. Boring product photos won’t cut it—your site should offer an immersive, holiday-themed experience. Showcase your products as place card holders, stocking stuffers, or gift toppers to inspire shoppers with creative use cases. Add lifestyle images and demonstration videos that show how your products bring joy. These visuals don’t just drive engagement; they can improve visibility in search engines too, offering a natural boost to your holiday sales tips and drawing attention to your product recommendations. Don’t try to do everything at once. Choose the strategies that most resonate with you and focus on marketing them effectively. Share your efforts on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram—where a single compelling image or video can go viral and dramatically increase traffic. This is the season where savvy, well-planned promotions can make all the difference in achieving your holiday shopping spending increase goals.