1. Wash your pillow or pillow case. Yes, even for you super clean freaks out there, sometimes an extra wash helps. Let’s say you always wash your pillow case and sheets on Sunday, but your feeling low on Wednesday morning, pop your pillow case in the washer, with a little white vinegar and lavender EO (or any EO that is safe and you like) added during the rinse cycle or whenever you put your liquid fabric softener in. That night you may find you feel a bit better, and there is an added bonus: Washing your pillow case a little more often may curb acne breakouts, it has been said that sometimes skin troubles can be caused by oil and bacteria on your pillows. 
2. Start a new hobby. Always wanted to build model planes or learn to prepare sushi? Do it. Now. Quit putting it off. Let’s rewind to about two years ago: I had a nasty Etsy addiction (love this place still). Buying crochet hats is one hell of a drug, and the money it cost…the things you have to do for it…ugh.  Anyway, I knew handmade knitted and crochet items are definitely worth the money considering materials and the the labor, but I just could not keep buying. And I was sort of in a funk, so one day I wondered into the depths of the interweb and found myself watching a video on how to crochet a simple line, and that was it, I was hooked. A lot of you may be deterred  on starting a hobby because of money, but in most cases you can still start in some way. I did not have a crochet hook, but after a few minutes with a piece of pine and a knife I had the ugliest, but kind of functional crochet hook.  So you don’t have the stuff yet to make a cherry pie because you want to bake,before you get the cherries and the nonstick pan, study some free online recipes. Take a few days to find the best recipe for you. Before I even made my hideous crochet hook, I watched tons of crochet videos just to learn. Learning is sometimes the best part of a hobby. With your hobby, don’t set major goals. Don’t swear you’ll know Cantonese in three months, just take your time, and let things flow, you may find more success this way. who knows, maybe in five months you might find yourself tackling Mandarin as well. I did not push myself to learn how to crochet a sweater in a month, and it has been two years and not only do I crochet, I knit and sort of weave. And it really lifted the low I was going through when I started.  I found something to do, and the ideas that ran through my head are what gave me some excitement. So go look up a video on interpretive dance and start trying to do jazz fingers!
3. Listen to different music. No, I don’t mean listen to something cheerful, just take five minutes when your feeling blah and listen to something you don’t know. Karl from Karl’s Didgeridoo Shack who makes excellent incense, also came out with a didgeridoo album. I never thought to listen to didgeridoo music before and the day I got this wonderful gift from Karl, I was feeling bad, but then I listened to this album that day, and lit some incense, and wow, it was a different, intriguing experience for me, I felt better quick. You can too, aromatics and music together have always helped those I subjected to it. So you like, umm, that little guy with the bangs, who sings pop music these days, try looking up an old, old bluegrass song and spritzing some citrus oils in the air. Will you be cured? I’m not sure, but you definitely shouldn’t be bored and that is a step in the right direction. This can be done quickly in your car too.
4. Talk to the cashier you have seen every week for the last year at your local dollar and nickel store. So you feel kind of crappy and you have to go pick up some processed cheese chips for your mom because she won’t get off your ass until you do, and you are checking out, ask the cashier how their day is going. Did they enjoy the weather this weekend? Do they have grandkids?  Talking small talk with a smile will not only possibly help you, but it maybe a kind thing to do for them. I did this once when the owner of this site demanded some type of Grade A potting soil for his planting of jasmines and so I had to go to the local dollar store. I ended up talking to the cashier and turns out he was way into Star Trek too, and he thought Klingon’s were way more awesome then Bajorns as well. And now I always have a pleasant experience at that store. And I did not feel like biting the owner of this site   right on the face anymore. That day. Give it try.
5. Are you in a really bad low energy funk? It could be a health issue. Despite my heavy Crow heritage, I have really pale, light sensitive skin, so daytime outdoor playtime is pretty limited for me and I was not absorbing the necessary vitamins from the sun’s glorious rays. I started feeling bad and tired (I already had a preexisting disorder and thought it was that, getting worse). When I went for some blood test, it was found that my vitamin D was dangerously low. So I had to take supplements and after a few weeks, I felt more alive than I had in awhile. So if you feel tired, and bad, try some vitamin D and a doctor’s appointment. It could make a major difference. And of course, talk to your doctor before starting any new vitamins, supplements etc.
6. Get your frankincense  on. Frankincense has been said to help with a wide range of emotional issues, people often burn the resin to dispel negative feelings and vibes. If you don’t feel like burning resin, get the essential oil and put a few drops in a pot of water on your stove and simmer without the lid, the scent should fill up your house or a least a room or two. Frankincense is believed to purify and with its evergreen, almost pine like notes, it has refreshing and clean perky scent. 

I hope this was able to help someone out there, but of course you know that you should see someone if you are having severe depression symptoms . Slight moodiness or blues are normal for everyone and can usually be remedied with a few simple efforts and of course, natural aromatics!

I took my time to write these reviews probably because I was savoring these samples one at a time. I have been blown into Spring with an aromatic gust of wind and smoke, it’s been a nice floaty ride.

The first perfume I want to tell my readers about is Arabesque Aroma’s Orlando, it is named after the Virginia Woolf classic. I love literary perfumes, and I love this one particularily well. Like the masterpeice, Orlando is classy, deep, and hauntingly sweet. It is an oil base, and this seems to increase the softer features, which is great! There is an exotic tea note, that oddly adds to the more traditonal feel of this fragrance. It is warm, and if ever a perfume could conjure up feelings of a comfortable fire place, this is it. The vanilla is so creamy in this, not foody creamy, but wrap around you creamy, if this makes any sense. There is a resinous zing that gives this perfume a mysterious quality, much like the author Woolf had herself. I think that anyone that likes vanilla, but not cake batter vanilla, but of-the-earth-and-sun vanilla will love this. Vanilla in her orchid flower form, with the fermenting pods laying close by. This may be one of my favorites of Arabesque’s. What a delight this one is! The top notes are very lady like and seem to let the base and heart drive this fragrance, which is really a change of pace from the in your face top notes of commercial perfumes.It had really good lasting power on the skin, which is alsways a plus.I suggest if you like a fragrance with a hint of mystery and a dream like quality, then this is for you.

I recently reveiwed some of House of Matriarch’s perfumes, of which I am sure Forbidden could become a natural perfume classic. I was recently sent her perfume, Ambre Vie. It is an ambery perfume, and while there are tradional amber fragrance notes, this perfume has a fresh, up to date vibe. On Matriarch’s website, the first description is “Liquid Gold”. That is a simple but accurate description. The frankincense notes in this could also be golden as well, a mythic frankincense. I have recently become a little more familiar with mimosa and this fragrance has helped me find a fondness for it that I had not had before. There is a sandalwood base note, which seems to add powdery feel alongwith the amber, but not too powdery.There are also earthy notes( patchouli?) but there is nothing “hippie” about this one. The top notes are energetic and lively (a peppery, flirty note), but never immature or flighty.In the heart and base there are resinous incense notes, not just from the frankincense either, I beleive from all my tincturing experiences, it may be dragons blood, which is pretty rare in current perfumes. I would say that this is the perfume for people who love ambery perfumes, but need something new,and unique. For people who may be a bit tired of traditional amber fragrances. It has a airy alcohol base and it also has good lasting power!

Thanks to Andrew Kimball over at Equinox Aromatics, I have been introduced to a newer American artisan incense line, Karl’s Didgeridoo Shack, located in lovely Virginia. They are hand grinded, natural and rolled on bamboo skewers. I was lucky enough to sample about five of these fragrant incenses. I will list them and my take on them (I liked them all).

Ancient Mystics: I appreciated this one immediately. Probably because of the Palo Santo I picked up,which has become a favorite incense note of mine. It burned well, and the pine + Mayan copal had a brilliant synergy.

Hippie’s Delight: I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t hestiant of this one because of it’s name. I was expecting a very 60′s dirty patchouli, and while there is patchouli in this, I was not “dirty” at all. It was earthy, but the Shack kept it classy, and contemporary. It has zip to it, that enlivens it. This is probably my favorite out of the line.

Prohecy: Simply named, but not generic. It is myrrh and frankincense heavy, but it is tempered well with dragons blood. I could see this being a spiritual incense, or used in esoteric rituals, very nice.

Winter Breeze: Ahh, this one was refreshing. It has camphor, but not typical camphor, it really only breathes winter into the blend. The tea tree is surprising too, it is not the tea tree most would know,  it is also tastefully placed in this composition, the frankincense gives it strength, but the benzoin is what keeps this family of scents balanced honestly. This is another favorite of mine.

I really want to see more of these artisan incenses from Karl’s Didgeridoo Shack, they bring a new feel, a truer, cleaner feel to American combustible incenses. You can purchase them at Equinox Aromatics.

Arabesque Aromas sent me a really pretty loose incense, it was their Organic Rose petal Botanical Incense. It seems a very straight forward incense right? It is, but it is not a just petals ground together and called a loose incense, it is a bit more complex. It is tradional incense, but from the Elizabethan era, not ancient Egypt, which makes it quite different in the incense world. It is an innocent, rosy incense, and I heavy suggest that if one is looking for a romantic scent for a special evening, then they should go get some good charcoal, and give this lovely mixture a try! It’s so pure and rosy, and from a time past, and I can not help but conjure images of young maidens and May poles.

My home smells spectacular for Spring and I have these aromatic artisans to thank for it…

Also, in the near future, I plan to review a perfume by House of Matriarch, Arabesque Aromas, and incense from Karl’s Didgeridoo Shack. In the not so near future, we will be opening the storefront again here.

From the House of Matriarch site-”Perfume connoisseurs who prefer artisan, handcrafted fragrances over mass-produced, synthetic scents are falling in love with House of Matriarch where we create modern, expressive perfumes in the age-old European tradition. Blending with the finest aromatics available, we create world-class fragrances which delight the fifth sense and envelop the wearer in Nature’s healing beauty.”-
This is a very true statement. The nose behind this house is Christi Meshell, and from what I have sampled, what a nose! Her perfumes are very modern, without the cheap vibe that so many natural and unnatural perfumes sometimes have these days,(so far no perfumers I have chosen to review have made this offense). The aromatics that are used in Matriarch’s creation come off as authentic and of high quality, which means a lot to us at the Haus of Waft. I must tell you about the sophisticated scents I have experienced from Matriarch!

Forbidden-Exotic Potion/Unisex Tuberose- A potion this is! This was the first sample I tried, and it left me so impressed that I had to test more samples. This is a very seductive perfume, it unfolds on your skin, first expressing it’s magical flair with florals, and forbidden tinctures from times past, and when you have met these, you will eventually run into some very precious woods, that hint at some ancient forest no longer in this world. This perfume is what old, old fairy tales are made of, twists, turns, intrigue and a plot that sticks. Marvelous. I can not give it enough justice in my earthly words. ****

Carmine-Expressive Exotic Floral, but Old World Soul- On Matriarch’s site, it states that the ingredients in this perfume are too costly and obscure to be used in commercial perfumes. Just by sniffing once, you know this perfume is too decadent to ever sit on the shelves of a large department store . This is a masterpeice best handled by the true lovers of natural perfumes. Kewra greets the nose quickly,followed by great mix of rare rich aromatics, like Africa stone, Michelia alba ( which I have heard many seasoned perfumers say is not an easy aromatic to work with) and Michelia champaca. African Stone lends a nice animal note when it has lingered on the skin for a bit, but it is never offensive, enhancing the resinous members of this creation, like Bruizinho and white copal. The African stone also compliments the earthy and wood notes, like classic patchouli, vetiver,tobacco, sandalwood and oakmoss. Quite decandent.

Destiny- Floral Chypre- A perfume that sings of walking on clouds and weightlessness. How light and classical this one is! A little chorus of flowers on your wrist, as you smell Dawn Blooming Jasmine, coy neroli, gracious gardenia and sweet tuberose. And a unique orchestra they have playing for them. Green galbanum, sunny tangerine, culbeb pepper and almost elusive tansy. And the stage is set upon Night Blooming jasmine, steadfast oakmoss, seasoned vetiver and reliable benzoin. This perfume is brightly lit, after an hour or so upon the skin it becomes a peaceful glow. I really feel like this perfume could become a springtime favorite for those that have experienced House of Matriarchs perfumes. A clean, but very feminine scent.

Alpha-Woodsy, Incense Rich Fougere- This may be the most classical of all I have sampled. However, it is still modern, and could be enjoyed by my generation or my grandfather’s. How to explain this? Alpha is like a classic 60′s Thunderbird, but someone has taken it and made it better, greener. They have tweaked it to run on renewable fuel instead of gas and have added a nice, technologically nifty-new sound system. It’s a smooth ride, with out any bumps or icky chemicals. I tried this on the owner of the site, and it was manly, without the taxi air freshner smell. Classic woods, sandalwood, cypress and cedar give it mature male base, while house made incense notes,copal and frankincense may describe a man well traveled. It’s a cologne that could fit any man and tell a interesting story about them, and maybe hint of a little mystery too…..
House of Matriarch gets a big A ++ from the Haus of Waft.

Arabesque Aromas- Kirsten from Arabesque Aromas has always provided wonderous samples to us at the Haus of Waft. This perfume house is a Haus favorite. So it was no surprise when we once again got a beatiful perfume from Arabesque Aromas. And what is just as exciting is that Arabesque now is selling high grade aromatics. I always get stoked when a talented perfumer sells aromatics, because this generally means that you are going to be experiencing oils that are held to a good perfumers standards, and those are very high. (Especially if you knew Kirsten, the perfectionist perfumer!) So I will review a new perfume from Arabesque and I will also review three high grade essential oils she has in stock.

The Virgin and the Gipsy- Exotic, rich,classic- If you are somewhat familiar with classic literature, then you may recognize this perfume;s name as the title of a DH Lawrence work from around 1930. Kirsten has dedicated a perfume to this work, and it meets the grade. This is a luscious compostion, but there is a relaxing, thoughtful nature to this perfume. Resins, particularly a elegant frankincense, take you to 1930′s Egypt, and a very light trace of clove reminds you that you just came from India. Oud, ( a very soft, womanly oud to my nose), makes you remember warmly hosted dinners you attended across the East and black pepper still lingers as a home favorite of yours.Slow, but steady rockrose is the spine of this family. All this comes to you ( in a Egyptian marketplace) as you pick up a well bound DH Lawrence work called “The Virgin and the Gipsy”. This sits on the skin for a good long time, but is never forceful or invasive. Staying so pleasant and harmonious the whole time it graces your wrist ( or whichever body part you choose). I could see this becoming a nature perfumery classic. Arabesque Aromas, you never disappoint, only please.

Now onto the aromatics! Arabesque Aromas is now carrying Indonesian patchouli, Frankincense, and sandalwood. All classical royalty ingredients, going back to perfume antiquity.

Indonesian Patchouli- Impressed again! I generally prefer very dark patchouli’s but this one is light, and I love it. It’s not too green, or dirty -earthy,however it is still a rich, regal patchouli. Any aromatic lover, incense maker, or perfumer would value this essential oil.

Frankincense- A wintery, zesty frankincense. So resinous and cold masculine ( this is a good thing!), that I believe this a very unique frankincense. This is not your run-of-the-resin-mill frankincense essential oil, it has a not too tame hint to it, and that is what I look for in resin oils. Incense nerds would appreciate this guy! I know we do.

Austrailan Sandalwood- What a dreamy, but stage stealing sandalwood. He is romantic, mysterious, and so true to it’s reputation. I have not seen a sandalwood like him in a long time, maybe because he has made his way to Arabesque Aromas. He is gorgeous, and a model of sandalwood-ness. Very smooth, and ancient (but in a sexy way). And Kirsten offers a Certificate of Analysis upon request, which would have me clamouring to her essential oil section at her online shop. Thank you, Arabesque for offering these pure, authentic and high grade aromatics.

The Owner here at the Haus, recently purchased some hydrosols from the very reputable SunRose Aromatics. White Rose Alba (yes, white rose!) and a full bodied organic geranium hydrosol are being put to good use at the house this week. So I will review them, because they are of excellent quality.

White Rose Alba of Bulgaria Hydrosol- It really is like burying your nose in a newly plucked white rose. Not only is it aromatically lovely, but as a skin toner it is also very nice. For those new at aromatics, pure, authentic rose or plant hydrosols, the nutrient water left over from a steam distillation of extracting essential oils, can often be adulterated, then sold by, unknowing sellers or not so honest suppliers. So obtaining a true hydrosol can be a big deal, and a white rose hydrosol is even rarer because white rose extracts are very hard to find in a pure form. So imagine my delight when I was gifted with some of this “water of life”. If your needing some rare white rose aroma, or would like to try it, then get on over there, because this stock could go quick.

Organic Geranium Hydrosol distilled in the U S of A- I love geraniums, I love the absolute, the flower, the essential oil, and now I have fallen for the hydrosol. This compliments any rose hydrosol, and is powerhouse against parched, dry skin. I was having some problems with wind burns (live on a windy hill) and this helped greatly. The rose notes make this seem like a luxury face tonic ( well, it kind of is) and it’s not too floral to be used buy a big manly man (The Owner) as a aftershave or cooling face spray. Good job on the quality SunRose Aromatics!

Well this concludes my long due review, and I want to thank all the perfumers and suppliers who made this a positive review, and of course my readers.

**Owners Note: For SunRose- The quality of the White Rose Hydrosol is fantastic, and the customer service is unbeatable. They made this a wonderful anniversary gift for Aer, including wrapping and presentation. For both Arabesque Aromas and House of Matriarch- The samples we received also came with wonderful presentation, both perfumeries make their perfumes appeal to all of the senses which adds to their amazing quality. I personally greatly enjoyed the entire experience.

**** From the site of Matriarch.biz, about the artwork that adorns the bottles of Forbidden:ABOUT THE ART: In 1894, Gustav Klimt was commissioned by the University of Vienna to create three paintings~ Philosophy, Medicine and Jurisprudence. Criticized for their radical themes and material, their display was forbidden. Sadly, all three works were set aflame by SS forces in 1945. Photos exist which are held as public domain, so Hygieia (the serpent-wielding Goddess of Good Health and daughter of Asclepius) rises from the ashes to adorn Forbidden. We are honored to have a part in helping this beautiful art live on.

Advice For A Newbie Scent Lover

1) Listen, Listen, Listen!!!!- I can not emphasize enough the importance of this repetitive word. What I mean by “listen” is: Seek out those more knowledgeable than yourself , regarding raw aromatics. Advice from a well experienced natural perfumer, incense enthusiast , incense maker, or aromatherapist, can go a very long way. This doesn’t mean you have to directly contact a person, but maybe reading an article or interview of or by a person like these above is helpful. The first helpful tip I ever read was not to use rubbing alcohol ( or isopropyl alcohol) for tincturing or perfumery. Unless your cleaning pipettes or tools. You use an alcohol that is not mixed with unpleasant chemicals, the best for natural perfumery and tincturing, is 190 to 200 proof undenatured grape alcohol (not wine). This may seem like a “duh” tip, but there are so many people who will go to the local drugstore ( not knowing better) and buy rubbing alcohol to mix with essential oils and to tincture aromatics. It is a lot more common of a mistake than a lot of people care to admit. Tincturing with rubbing alcohol leads to a weak, and aromatically inferior tincture. Usually just awful, and if you use that tincture in a burnable incense, you will end up with a room filled with a harsh, chemical smoke. If you use it for perfuming,as the base alcohol, then you will still, in most cases, smell of the chemicals that make it rubbing alcohol. I was saved from wasting good essential oils, resins, and extracts by this simple tip. I do wish I remembered who said it though. Although, it is not considered as effective as undenatured alcohol ( or as nice), I have used 150 proof Everclear in a pinch. It’s not encouraged in most circles though. Although it seems I jumped off the subject slightly, to me I didn’t. Another good source for (usually) credible advice, is a local soap maker. A lot of very talented soap crafters use aromatics  in their creations, and most are very knowledgeable when it comes to mixing, blending and safety of extracts/oils.  Most of them do not mind being questioned a bit about essential oils, or things they add into their soaps. But don’t ask for specific formulas of their soaps, they are not so sharing with that information.  Books about your interests are also very helpful. Just a plain aromatherapy book that has some basic facts about specific aromatics can get you on the right path quickly.

2) Avoid aromatic blends or co-distillations  when training the nose to recognize single notes- Yes, I said it, and I may get a lot of disagreement on this statement. But just because there is  Bulgarian rose otto in”Mother Love Root Nature Shetland Ram Aphrodisiac Heart Blend”, does not mean your nose will learn to “remember” it. It may be all natural, but the tincture of ram  eyelash and hoof, essential oil of ylang ylang, galbanum, cistus,  and vanilla may confuse your senses. I know that some absolutes, essentials, CO2′s, enfluerages, tinctures and extracts are expensive, but invest in buying a small sample of them if you need to. Co-distillations are great for those who know the aromatics involved well enough, but if you are not familiar with petitgrain  essential oil or neroli  essential oil (called Orange Blossom Absolute when solvent extracted), then I would not suggest purchasing Petitgrain Sur Fleurs , which is petitgrain distilled with a smaller amount of neroli blossoms, although lovely and cheaper than pure neroli essential oil.  However, i have found two exceptions to my own rule; Floracopeia’s co-distillation of orris root and violet leaf, and Eden Botanical”s myrrh/saffron co-distillation. Floracopeia’s product may help someone recognize what a fresh violet note smells like (orris root is from the iris plant, but contains irones, which makes a violet floral scent, especially when mixed with violet leaf absolute or co-distilled). Violet leaf absolute is a perfumer’s specialty oil, and so is orris root butter/distillation/CO2, both are very expensive. Even if your not too familiar with these aromatics, they are cheaper this way (still not cheap though) and it will help with learning violet floral, and green floral. Eden’s myrrh/saffron is good too, because saffron extracts are high dollar products, myrrh not so much. It’s not hard to pick out the saffron in the blend, (think food and spice like), so it’s a good product to experiment with.

3) Common sense goes a long, long, way. – Always be safe when using raw aromatics, or even not so raw aromatics. Don’t eat the Shoyeido Gourmet line incense sticks, it’s not food. Don’t lather your torso down with undiluted cinnamon and clove essential oil, it most likely will burn or irritate your skin . Don’t bath in a drum of ylang ylang absolute, it may be too much for your system. Don’t brush your teeth with a local artisans natural peppermint body scrub, and and don’t rub your damn eyes with orange and lavender blended essential oil. I promise, it’s not rocket science, it’s common sense. Always use caution when using any cosmetics, perfume or even incense. It’s not fair that a small business owner has to answer legally to something because someone did not think before they acted, like grating a rosemary nettle shampoo bar over their salad because “Hey, he he haw, it says it’s all natural. I like rosemary chicken” and then they wonder why they are glued to the porcelain throne for 48 hours.  If you are not sure about something, like the proper dilution of an extract, the uses of a product, or the safety of it, just ask someone, Send an email, make a phone call, hell, Google it if you have to, but do not assume things, USE COMMON SENSE. It’s okay to seek out answers.

Well this has been my thoughts on aromatics today. I will hopefully be doing a review soon, and will periodically give my thoughts here and there. It’s good to be queen…..

The selling point on Kyo-nishiki was when I opened the attractive long box, I could catch the scent of strong clean sandalwood immediately, with the sweetness of cinnamon only gently backing it up, and patchouli lightly sleeping in the very far back. The sticks are thin, solid, in the style that is sometimes known as senko, which is very common, if not exclusive in all of Japanese incense. They are also very breakable, which could be good or bad, bad because if your trying to push the stick into a traditional incense wood holder, they will snap with even light force. The good being that you can easily snap it in half if you only want roughly fifteen minutes of scent, and you can save the other have for later. It’s a very hard stick, very dry, even, and it looks like if it was in it’s powder form, it would be a very fine powder. It’s a well made Japanese incense, which is one of the things Shoyeido is known for.

When I lit this incense, the first thing I picked up on was light smoky sandalwood, instead of the strong clean hint I had encountered earlier when it was unlit. It was nice, and what was even nicer is when I was able to meet the cinnamon in a more upfront way, instead of it being a shy player like when I had noticed it in it’s unlit stage. Instead of the cinnamon coming off as sweet, now it changed into a spicier note, cooled down by a very soft patchouli. The patchouli in this incense isn’t as head on earthy as most know patchouli, it’s quiet, displaying it’s more feminine side. It all comes together well, the sandalwood and cinnamon almost holding hands in the lead, and the patchouli trailing slower, following a good distance back. This is a good incense, that also like most incense in this style, produces less smoke than Indian, or other incense you directly burn. Over all, I really like Kyo-nishiki, and have myself been burning it regularly.

I should probably note for those that don’t know, that Shoyeido is a well established company out of Japan, and have been making high quality Japanese incense for quite a while now. Another wonderful thing about them is that they use quality natural ingredients, and do not use synthetic in their products. Generally their incense are sandalwood based, but the higher end products are sometimes aloeswood based or at least blended with sandalwood. They also make coils, powders, wood chip mixtures, and kneaded incense. It’s one of the better incense producers that you may be able to find locally. Their incense are used at home, festivals, Buddhist and Shinto temples.

Purple Sage Designz has been making some of my favorite accessories, and I found this Spring friendly (and earth friendly) cotton mesh hat in a creamy natural shade. She crochets everything herself, and her designs are are great.

Sweet Creek Herbs is an another favorite of mine. Kathleen makes shampoo bars, with silk extracts, that well, make your tresses silky! And this lovely nourishing shampoo is very aromatically pleasing, with sage and cedarwood thrown in the potion pot that made the bar. Cedar is said the keep scalp issues at bay, and sage is very good for the hair, this is ideal bar for the seasonal change!

Lovin the Land makes some awesome soaps, free of any artificial ingredients. One of the best ways to jump into Spring is to erase Winter’s effect on the skin. So here is a moisture rich body soap loaded with lemongrass and skin loving oils.

5280Yarns is a newer Etsy shop, with excellent customer service, and cute home products. Around this time of the year I like to brighten up my home with little things, and I spotted these cool little fruit coasters. These are funky, and hand crafted.

Arabesque Aromas, makes fine perfumes, but Kirsten also offers card readings now, and this I find is pretty neat way to start the new season, by predicting it!

SobeBotanicals is a very popular make up maker, and their products are very natural. They have made some lip stains, which are a very light way to color the lips in Spring.

Origins, the skin care company, has had a product out for awhile that I could sing praises for, it;s called Modern Friction, a rice starch based scrub for the face, that rivals microdermabrasion (I’m serious, it’s good.)

Although I know this an aromatics based site, I thought I would expand the sunshine out to other goodies in this entry.Most of these are Etsy sellers, and handcrafted (except Origins) goods. Also, I think all of them are pretty earth friendly goodies. So enjoy!