botanical products and services that nurture your family
Have you looked out the window at your garden lately? The beginning of August is prime garden season in Indiana where I am. Most of the plants that l planted back in April and May are growing like mad. It’s time to start reaping the benefits of these beautiful blooms. Where to start? [Read more…]
I love going to get a facial, but it’s usually a rare treat for me. For about three days after, my skin glows and fine lines and wrinkles are diminished. Wouldn’t it be nice to get similar results more often? [Read more…]
And especially when it comes to the more expensive oils like rose, sandalwood, and jasmine, I don’t want to waste anything. Every drop is expensive.
I came up with an easy solution to using those last few stubborn drops. You can hear it in the one-minute video below. [Read more…]
It’s the month of February and Valentine’s Day, so that means love is in the air. What better representation of love than a rose? [Read more…]
Recently I was spending a lovely sisters’ weekend on Mackinac Island. If you’ve never been there, it’s truly 
like stepping back in time. No cars are allowed on the island, so the main forms of transportation are your feet, bicycles, and horse and carriages. The rhythmic clip-clopping of horses’ hooves on the roads is a welcome relief from the noise of buses, trucks, and cars.
An assortment of shops fills the downtown streets of Mackinac, and my sisters and I couldn’t wait to explore them. In a little store tucked away on a back street, I found a lovely treasure
— a bottle of Rose de Mai Beauty Oil
. If you’re at all familiar with aromatherapy, you know that rose is one of the most expensive essential oils that you can purchase. One ounce of (true) essential oil of Rose Otto
(Rosa damascena) can cost well over $1000. [Read more…]
I saw the familiar yellow school bus in our neighborhood this morning, definitely heralding the end of summer—at least for the academic calendar. Back to school is always an exciting time for kids and parents alike, albeit for different reasons! Whether your children are just starting their school career, are somewhere in the middle, or are heading toward graduation, aromatherapy can support a wellness lifestyle throughout their entire year. Let’s look at some possibilities of how to do that. [Read more…]
Echinacea is your herb. It’s well-known for being an immune-enhancing plant. It has a reputation for being effective against colds, sore throats, and flus, especially if taken at the beginning of the infection. Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar points out in her book Medicinal Herbs, A Beginner’s Guide that it is also rich in polysaccharides, which aids cells in resisting viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Here’s more in-depth information on the health benefits of echinacea from chiropractor Dr. Axe. [Read more…]
As I’ve been studying aromatherapy over the last two years and starting my business, I’ve found some tips on essential oil uses that make life a little easier! I thought it might be helpful to share with you a few of the tools that I use when creating butters, balms, salves, synergies and all kinds of other fun things for my product line. [Read more…]
Over the last week, I’ve seen them peeping from behind their heart-shaped leaves. Little flower faces shyly stretching up to the sky. Could there be a sweeter flower than violets?
Certainly one of my favorites, violets are a joy to behold when spring arrives. Their aroma fills the air when warmed by the spring sunshine. They’re so lovely I can’t help but think of this quote from L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables,
“Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?”
While you’re enjoying the beautiful violets gracing the front lawn, why not try making your own tisane to sip on a spring afternoon? Violet leaves contain Vitamin C and their mild, earthy taste is refreshing. Add a bit of honey to sweeten it up, and you’ll enjoy your pretty and tasty tisane. [Read more…]