Perfectly Patchouli

Occasionally we’ll get customers asking for “hippie oil”. More often than not, they are actually asking for Patchouli essential oil.

What is now so closely associated with the 1960s and free love has been around for hundreds of years. Originating in India & Malaysia, this shrubby member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, has been used for a multitude of purposes: from use as an anti-depressant to treating dandruff & other inflammations. Patchouli made its way west when Napoleon brought traditional Indian shawls to Paris. Leaves were pressed between levels of fabric to deter moths from nesting.

Patchouli, literally meaning “green leaf”, carries a distinctive & earthy aroma. One common opinion is that it has a “grounding” effect on the emotions, hence its use for anxiety issues. Many sources claim that patchouli’s exotic fragrance as having aphrodisiac properties.

The most interesting fact about patchouli is that unlike most essential oils, patchouli actually improves with age, mellowing and becoming sweeter. A fine quality patchouli oil may seem weak at first sniff, as it takes several minutes for the full body of scent to unfold.

Our most popular patchouli items include Triloka’s Patchouli Garden & Nature Nature's Passion Patchouli.

New from Baieido

Have you wanted to try Japanese incense, but were afraid of the possible monetary commitment? Fret no more! Baieido, the premier Japanese incense company, has introduced their "Imagine" line, which is perfect for sampling or gift giving at only $12 per box!

Scents available include:

• Cinnamon (a traditional blend of sandalwood, clove, cinnamon, borneol & other herbs)
• Honey
• Hinoki Cypress
• Green Tea
• Black Coffee
• Wildflower
• Strawberry
• Sandalwood

Visit us to see more about Baieido incense or to place an order.

New Products from Naked Bee!

Can't get enough of the all natural Naked Bee bath & body products? We're excited to add three more items to our inventory that are sure to please!

A great addition to the original Naked Bee Orange Blossom & Honey line is an 8oz pump bottle of Hand Wash. As with the rest of the line, the hand wash is paraben-free and contains no sulfates, no dyes or pigments, no EDTA. And of course, Naked Bee does not test on animals.

For those who prefer scent free body products, we can now offer Unscented Hand Wash and Unscented Hand & Body Lotion. Both are available in the 8oz pump, and as with all Naked Bee products, a little goes a long way!

Visit us for more information on Naked Bee, and remember, we offer bulk pricing on all Naked Bee products!

St. Patrick's Mobius Bracelet

The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate" , is believed to have been composed in preparation for his victory over Paganism.

Patrick was born in Scotland in 387 AD. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish marauders, and assigned to tend the flocks of the Druid chieftain, Milchu. As with many people who are cruelly removed from their environment, Patrick turned to prayer for comfort, and became a Christian.

After approximately 6 years, Patrick heard a voice urging him to leave, and believed it to be God. Considering he was a slave, this was no easy feat. He trusted that God would provide an escape from his captors. Finally able to flee, Patrick travelled 200 miles to find a ship that would transport him back to Britain.

He then dedicated his life to God, returning to Ireland for missionary work, to free the Irish population from Druid influence and bringing Christianity to the masses. He founded over 360 churches during his 60 years of missions.

St. Patrick died on March 17 (reported years vary, but most accounts cite the year as 493 AD) and it is easy to see why the Irish have celebrated his life and accomplishments.

Celebrate your faith & heritage on St. Patrick's Day with a gift for the special person in your life (or for yourself!) and consider a sterling silver mobius bracelet with St. Patrick's prayer. If you're unfamiliar with this popular prayer, here's the piece that's engraved on this beautiful and timeless bracelet:


I bind to myself today
God's power to guide me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to teach me,
God's eye to watch over me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to give me speech,
God's hand to guide me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to shelter me,
God's host to secure me.

Everything Lavender

Many of our customers are big fans of lavender, and we receive many inquiries about this popular herb. So here's a little history about lavender, and some of our most sought after products.

"Lavender" comes from the Roman word 'lavare', which means "to wash". The Romans were among the first to notice the many medicinal & soothing properties of this ancient herb, using it for bathing, cooking and treating various ailments. One of the most popular accounts regarding the use of lavender is during the Black Plague, where people were thought to have worn lavender sachets to ward off the deadly infection. Grave robbers escaped the fatal contact with infected bodies by a bathing in a concoction with a heavy lavender base. Although personal hygiene has come along way since ancient & medieval times, lavender remains a solid favorite for perfume purposes, as in our own multi-purpose essential oil which can be used for home fragrance, personal scent or other aromatherapy purposes.

It has been reported throughout the ages that lavender has been instrumental in seduction & emotional well being. Apparently Cleopatra used the strong scent of lavender to win the affections of Julius Cesear and Mark Antony. Now that's a powerful herb! There are accounts of European royalty demanding lavender pillows & fresh lavender in every room. Young women were said to sleep with lavender sachets to reveal the identity of their true love. Even today, lavender is widely used for relaxation & romance, especially in bath products such as Dresdner's Lavender Bath Oil and Bath Salts.

Many homeopaths suggest lavender for anxiety, depression & insomnia. Our most popular non-bath related lavender products include the soy lavender travel candle from Way Out Wax and hand rolled natural lavender incense from Triloka.