A Few Fun Facts About Balsam Fir

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
In beauty green will always grow
Through summer sun and winter snow.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!

(traditional English translation of the German carol O Tannenbaum)

 Many people think of fir trees only during the holiday season. Balsam fir trees are important part of our ecosystem, providing food & cover for many regional species while their root system prevents erosion.

“First described in 1768, balsam fir is a medium-sized tree generally reaching 40-60 feet in height and 1-1 1/2 feet in diameter. It exhibits a relatively dense, dark-green, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip. The scientific name "balsamea" is an ancient word for the balsam tree, so named because of the many resinous blisters found in the bark. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have many similar characteristics, although geographic ranges of the two species do not overlap.”

Prepared by Dr. Craig R. McKinley, North Carolina State University (found on realchristmastrees.org)

  One of our most popular products is the Balsam Fir incense from Paine’s. Made in Maine since 1931, Paine’s incense is 100% natural, as local woodsmen bring in boughs that are subsequently dried & pressed into molds. No balsam fir trees are “cut down” to make Paine’s amazing products. Bring the scent of the holidays, of wintertime, to your space throughout the year. Visit us for more information on Paine’s Balsam Fir incense.

Let's Be Frank(incense)

Many people in the United States and across the world only think of Frankincense when the Christmas season rolls around. Christians, of course, think of the gift to the Baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. But in some parts of the world, specifically in Arabian countries, Frankincense is a part of everyday life.

Our favorite Frankincense comes from Oman. In Oman, the sweet, mild citrus scent of Frankincense is everywhere: from government buildings to streets & alleys, homes, shops & more. As incense sticks are to Japan, Frankincense is to many Middle Eastern countries.

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia tree found in southern Arabia, Somalia, Kenya & India. There are over a dozen species, but 'sacra' is considered by many to be the finest smelling Frankincense. The actual tree is not the prettiest thing you'd ever see & you would probably not ask your landscaper for it in your Zen Garden. The Boswellia tree grows in harsh conditions & is likely to be found clinging to rocks or small cliffs.

Harvesting Frankincense can be tricky. A tree can be harvested up to three times a year, but often at the expense of lessening that tree's life span. Harvesting is all done by hand, no heavy equipment or machinery. A small amount of bark is scraped from the tree & will start to ooze resin. The harvester must wait until the resin harden before removing it for the sorting process. The resinous pieces, called "tears", are sorted by hand or in some cases, sifted. Then it's off to market!

In the case of Omani Frankincense, we are talking about Hojary (Hojari). The resin is sorted into two sizes, Superior (larger tears) & First choice (smaller tears). The only difference between the two is the size! You'll enjoy the sweet fragrance of both.

Have we piqued your interest in Frankincense? We have First Choice Hojary available here. If burning botanicals isn't your thing, try our amazing Oman Frankincense sticks.

Many thanks to Bill Huf from Scents of Earth for this article.

Didja Know

...that camphor, clove, sandalwood, agarwood & borneo are the main ingredients in traditional Buddhist incense?

Triloka Herbal Incense

Looking for new incense? Try one of Triloka's 33 fabulous herbal scents! Hand rolled in India using the masala method, Triloka herbal incense is also a Fair Trade Cottage Industry, allowing the workers to support themselves & their families.

Using natural herbs, gums, resins, woods and oils, Triloka is never "dipped", like some other brands, which means no headaches. The affordable price per pack allows for easy sampling, but try the Assortments as well! Click here for more information!

How to Burn Resin Incense

Our own Nikhe shows you the proper way to burn raw botanicals! Here are the ones we offer! This was shot in our store, Good Scents, last year.

A Very Brief History of Wax Seals

Whether a simple decoration for written correspondence or an eye-catching statement for more formal letters such as invitations, wax seals have a history throughout the ages.

Most often used a proof of authenticity or signature, the wax seal used would fall apart if a forger tried to remove & reuse it. Wax seals were often used as a way to seal important documents, as the recipient could tell if the document had been opened. Many civilizations had their own seals: Ancient Greece, Rome & East Asia among them, leading into what we now know as Signet Rings, which are literally the seals on wearable rings.

Many documents still require a seal for authenticity, but we now have the Notary Public for such matters!

In the past several years wax seals have seen a resurgence, with brides-to-be decorating the back flap of invitations for a personal touch. Many businesses also find the seals a quirky addition to outgoing mail.

We are fortunate to carry high quality pewter seals, as well as an array of sealing wax. Simply visit us & start perusing our variety of options.

Paine's Balsam Fir

If you're looking for the scent of the holidays, this is the incense for you! This delightful log cabin houses the incense & functions as a burner, with the smoke wisping from the chimney. The log cabin is one of our most popular items at this time of year, and refillable incense logs are as easy as a click away. A great stocking stuffer or hostess gift! Visit us for more information!

Tibetan Nag Champa Travel Set

This is our perfect gift for the person on the go who enjoys meditation. The hand crafted box includes Nag Champa incense & burner, a small candle, meditation beads also made from Nag Champa, and a small metal statue of Buddha. All pieces are handmade in Tibet. Visit us for more information on the Nag Champa travel set!

Triloka Perfume Oils

A customer favorite! From Amber to Wildflower, we carry the entire line of Triloka Oils. Made from natural plant & flower essence in a vegetable oil base, these wonderful perfume oils are small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to only need a drop or two on pulse points. You may also use them for home fragrance in an oil burner or other fragrance accessory. Visit us for more information about Triloka oils!

Diamond Woods Incense

Often difficult to find and often imitated, Diamond Woods incense is a long time favorite amongst our customers. Woods is a classic Indian incense that contains natural oils & resins. Visit us for more information on Diamond Woods incense!

Brand New Incense from Bhutan

We are so very excited to offer amazing incense from Bhutan! All are handmade, following strict Buddhist guidelines & traditions. All types are made from natural ingredients. Incense is an everyday part of life in Bhutan, used for meditation, healing, devotion and purification. Please visit us for more information on Bhutanese incense!

Irish Blessing Mobius Bracelet on Sale!

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, we're offering our exclusive Irish Blessing mobius bracelet. This sterling silver bracelet makes for a wonderful keepsake with an inspiring prayer:

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand

Visit us for more information about the Irish Blessing bracelet.

What is Aromatherapy?

One of our most common questions, and we've got the answers!


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We are fortunate to have a variety of medical practices at our fingertips today: at the doctor’s office, pharmacy, alternative health centers and even our own backyards! Aromatherapy is the science of utilizing the essential oils of plants & herbs for medicinal purposes to promote health & well being.

Unlike most Western medicines, Aromatherapy is holistic, combining both physical & mental aspects of healing. Many pharmaceutical medicines have side effects that weaken one part of the body while strengthening another. With holistic medicine and Aromatherapy, you may strengthen many parts of the body simultaneously.

Common Aromatherapy practices include: massage therapy, baths, and home/space & personal fragrance. Visit us for more information on essential oils!

New Pewter Wax Seals

We've been carrying sealing wax and seals for years, but we're proud to offer a few new options for your invitations, cards & other correspondence that demand a little "something extra". These beautiful pewter seals can be used with regular or glue gun sealing wax. Visit us for more information on wax seals or to see the amazing varieties we carry!

History of the Serenity Prayer

One of our most popular pieces is DVB's Serenity Prayer sterling mobius bracelet. Many people equate the Serenity Prayer with Twelve Step fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

But did you know that theologian Reinhold Niebuhr is credited for the popular prayer? Most sources agree that Pastor Niebuhr created the prayer for one of his sermons at his New England church in 1943.

According to popular record, a member of AA saw the prayer as a caption in a New York Herald Tribune obituary, and recognized the simplicity & clarity of the prayer, and how it could be applied to the basic tenets of recovery that Alcoholics Anonymous practices.

"With amazing speed," wrote Bill W., founder of AA, "the Serenity Prayer came into general use and took its place alongside our two other favorites, the Lord's Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis ."

The Serenity Prayer has become one of the world's most recognizable mantras, as the simple words and ideas cross all of mankind's barriers.

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.