Nature's Gift
JUNE JUBILEE NEWSLETTER

This newsletter contains:

Newsletter Changes coming:  The service which has handled the delivery of our monthly newsletter is closing down effective June 1st.  We are currently researching other options, but all seem to require a "double opt-in" for addresses I upload.   When we make the cutover you will receive an emailed message to confirm your reservation. PLEASE follow the directions in that newsletter if you wish to continue receiving your newsletter.

We apologize for the inconvenience! 

New Oils and Absolutes

The new oils and absolutes hinted at in the May newsletter have arrived.  Rose de Mai absolute, grown near the French Riviera, produced in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world. The return of Osmanthus Absolute - liquid sunshine - two new Sandalwood specimens, one a reasonably priced Absolute, the other perhaps the most stunning steam distilled Santalum album we have ever experienced, a lovely new Somalian Frankincense - all available on our New and Special page.

For Dad: 

Suggested Father's Day gifts - our "Sensual Sandalwood" gift package - Sandalwood Shave Soother for shaving (or massage!), our Sandalwood Musk soap, a pine soap deck and Sisal Soap Saver all attractively packaged for Father's Day gifting,  or choose our most masculine aroma lamp at a new lower price.  Both on our New and Special page.

Hydrosol sale 

We've chosen our most masculine (or least feminine?) hydrosols for this months special sale - Frankincense Hydrosol - ideal for mature skin care - and light, herbal scented Lavender Buena Vista Hydrosol.   Both are truly Unisex skin care products.

Carrier Oil Sale 

NO oil is better for the heat of summer than our Organic South African MARULA Oil.  We were amazed when we first received a sample of this rare oil from the producer.  It absorbed instantly, much faster than the lightest oils we have offered. 

Save on all of the above, only on our New and Special page.

Saying "Thank You"

Even though we printed this in last month's newsletter, I am typing this on Memorial Day, when we remember the fallen heroes who gave their all... let's make it a point this week to say thank you to those at risk.

A non-political suggestion:  No matter what political affiliation or personal feelings on what is happening "over there," most of us are still supportive of our troops that are following orders and doing what they signed up to do (even if they didn't think that's what they were getting themselves into).

If you would like to send a free postcard and say "Thank You" to a member of the U.S. military personnel stationed overseas, go to

<http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html>

Summer travelers sale:

We have slashed the price of our Aromatherapy Car Diffuser for your summer vacation driving. Save even more by bundling the diffuser with our favorite 'on the road again' synergies - Fresh Aire, Fog Cutter, or Focus. 

Or, for the world traveler, order our Jet Lag kit - a MIO diffuser, with five mls of our refreshing ReVive Synergy to energize, and our Lavender Mailette to help relax when your body's internal clock is not in sync with your geographical location.  both are available on  our New and Special page.

You Asked?  (Answers to frequent Questions)

SHEA BUTTER

We are often ask about our refined shea butter - how is it produced and refined? Is it truly a natural product?  This description from our producer:

The ultra refining process for shea butter is:
1.  Shea seeds are harvested from organically grown Shea trees in Africa.
2.  The seeds are expeller (screw) pressed to extract the butter-like oil
without solvents.
3.  The resultant crude Shea butter is then sent to the processing plant for
further refinement.
4.  The crude butter is heated to allow filtration using organic clays
(diatomaceous earth) which removes much of the odor and color, and is then fine filtered to remove all particulate matter.
5.  Final deodorization is accomplished via steam injection to blow off
volatile oils which contribute to Shea butter's strong, sometimes
objectionable odor.
6.  The refined butter (oil) is then rapidly cooled using a heat exchanger
to drop the temperature below room temperature while pumping into cartons or drums, facilitating a smooth, creamy texture without graininess or grit.

And there you have it!

Experiences and Feedback

More Helichrysum Hydrosol

My grandson spent too long at the pool. In spite of naturally dark skin, and lots of sunburn lotion, he developed what looked like sun poisoning on his face.  The following day the family came to visit. I had NONE of my normal "arsenal" on hand. No Sunburn Soother, no Aloe Vera Gel, no German Chamomile oil. No diluted Lavender - nada! What I DID have was the remainder of the new helichrysum hydrosol I shared about last month. (Look for the paragraph headed "dentistry") The hydrosol that kept my friend who had so many teeth extracted from swelling and bruising. So we spritzed that on JT's swollen face.  It eased the pain and the swelling almost immediately.  My grandson has taken the remainder of the bottle home with him.  I've not seen him since, (they've headed back to Indiana) but his dad says he's LOTS better and won't be parted from the Helichrysum.

Clary Sage:

Many of you know we switched distillers, and are now offering an organic French Clary Sage. It is an exquisite oil, but a good bit more costly than its predecessor.  Allison Amick recently wrote:

You included a sample of this with my last order and I've fallen in love!  It smells amazing and did wonders for my menstrual cramps.  Thank you!!!!!!!!!

When I asked if I could share her comment, she replied:

"Yes, please feel free to use my comments about the clary sage!  I have
to say that I've used a number of different clary sage oils from
different folks and never thought they smelled good.  The smelled
tolerable for the desired results (relief from menstrual cramps).  This
smells amazing!  I was thrilled as soon as I opened the sample bottle!
I had to order right away - 1 for me and 1 for a friend!

I was willing to pay the higher price because it smells so good!  If it
didn't I wouldn't. :-)

Thanks again for your amazing products!"

(To which I can only say...bless her dear heart!)

Stimulating Scalp Oil and Chemotherapy:

We never advertised our Stimulating Scalp oil for any type of hair loss other than that caused by alopecia. But a national magazine has suggested it more than once for thinning hair in general. Recently, Florence Pizza wrote:

"I have used this since you sent the first bottle. I had lost my hair due to chemo and it just never came in on top of my head. I now have hair growing and I thought that would never happen. If someone had told me about this sooner, which I read about it, I would have started to use it sooner.  Hats are okay, but its very hard to find some that will work with all clothes and hopefully this will help it get thicker and make me feel at ease without wearing hats all the time. Thank you so much for finding this. I have given it to two other people to let them know that I have had good results so far."

When I thanked her, and asked permission to quote her, she replied:

"I took a chance knowing that it had worked on alopecia, I just wish more people knew it was out there for other hair loss.  You can quote me as using and having results, if it helps someone else that's what counts.  I never thought about it until it happened to me and it took two years to find this oil, and it made me feel better because I finally found help, as no one else had even made an suggestions and I thank you and First magazine for getting my attention. Have a good day and if you need to reach me, feel free to e-mail at anytime.. Florence Pizza"

again, all I can say is "Bless her heart!"...  we are all so grateful when we hear that something we have produced has made a real difference for someone!

Miracle Oil

Alexis Stegal wrote not long ago:

Dear Marge,
I have purchased Marge's Miracle Oil Blend for my 85 year old mother-in-law and for my sister-in-law and have sent you  reports on the great results that they have  had using the oil for pain relief.

This time it's from me.  Yesterday morning when I woke up I moved my wrist and something snapped inside.   It almost felt like a sprain.  From that point on my wrist was very sore and at lunch, I could hardly pick up my beverage glass.  I went to my mother-in-laws and asked her if I could use some of her Miracle Oil and she sent me home with one of her bottles.  I immediately applied the oil (this was about 1:00 PM).
I applied it about every 2-3 hours after that and by evening almost all of the pain was gone.  This morning - absolutely no pain at all.  I have now purchased my own bottle.

So I state once again, it really is Miracle Oil and as always you may quote me.
Best Regards,
Alexis Stegall"

Perfume blends:

Awhile ago one of our staff was "playing" and came up with the following perfume blends.

Summer's Eve:

Equal parts of:
   * Cassie Absolute
   * High Altitude Lavender
   * Tobacco Absolute
 

Sweetness and Light:

   * Linden Blossom    5 drops
   * Vanilla CO2          5 drops
   * Benzoin                6 drops
   * Indonesian Patchouli    1 drop
   * Blood Orange         1 drop

Please remember to dilute properly if wearing on the skin (as opposed to one of our aromatherapy jewelry amphoras.)

Scent Blends for Dad - or any other man in your life:

Picked up over the years - for "do it yourself" toiletries -

Aftershave Splashes: Mix 1 part scent blend with 10-20 parts ethyl
alcohol or vodka - (you could blend one part vegetable glycerine into the alcohol/eo mixture for gentleness.

Men's Cologne:
8 oz. high proof vodka
1/2 oz (one Tblspn) vegetable glycerine
approx. 40 drops scent blend
Mix well, steep 3 weeks and bottle.

Soothing Aftershave Gel:

1/2 cup aloe vera gel (one 4 oz bottle)
2 oz. commercial witch hazel extract (from the local drug store)
1 tsp. glycerine

Blend two to three mls (approx 60 drops) of your scent blend into the witch hazel.  When the eo's are dissolved, stir into the aloe vera gel. Stir in Glycerine.   (Note, I would avoid using the potentially irritating essential oils in this soothing blend.  No clove or cinnamon,  and perhaps no citrus, either.  There are lots of other blends to choose from!)

Santal:

Sandalwood
5 drops sandalwood essential oil
2 drops frankincense essential oil
1-2 drops patchouli essential oil
1 drops clove essential oil

 Amber:

3 drops cistus e.o or labdanum Absolute
3 drops benzoin absolute
1 drop sandalwood e.o.
1 drop clary sage e.o.

 Rajah:

15 drops sandalwood e.o.
10 drops patchouli e.o.
3 drops rose e.o
2 drops vetiver e.o.

 Magi:
2 parts frankincense e.o.
2 parts myrrh e.o.
1 part sandalwood e.o.
1 part vanilla CO2

 Bay Rum
10 drops West Indies Bay e.o.
2-3 drops Orange e.o.
1 drop clove e.o.

 Bay-Patchouli
4 drops west indies bay e.o.
2 drops orange e.o.
1 drop patchouli e.o.

 Bay-Lime
10 drops bay e.o.
5 drops lime e.o.
1 drop clove e.o.

Cedar Hills
4 drops cedarwood e.o.
2 drops patchouli  e.o.
1 drop lime e.o.
1 drop clove e.o.

 Fresh Breeze
1 part juniper branch and berry e.o.
1 part scotch pine needle e.o.
1 part rosemary cineole e.o.

 Hungary Water
3 drops rosemary e.o.
1 drop mint e.o.
2 drops lemon e.o.

 Classic Eau de Cologne
3 drops lavender e.o.
2 drops rosemary e.o.
1-2 drops bergamot FCF e.o.

 

Quotes of the Month for June

"When the soul approaches the mysteries; when it tries to
rally to the great spiritual principles, the perfumes are there"
~Marguerite Maury,  The Secret of Life and Youth"~

(Somehow that one reminds me of our new oils, and felt appropriate, even if there is nothing seasonal about it!)

Perhaps more appropriate, as Spring merges into Summer before our eyes:

"Nature, exerting an unwearied power,
Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower;
Spreads the fresh verdure of the field, and leads
The dancing Naiads through the dewy meads."
                         William Cowper   1731-1800