Oil Cleansing with Virgin Plant Oils

Grasse Diffusion Blends: Aromatics from the Perfume Capital of the World.

Take a trip with us into the marvelous city of Grasse, France: the inspiration for and birthplace of six Pranarom diffusion blends, and the perfume capital of the world. In the southeast corner of France, surrounded by the Cote d’Azur, Provence and the French Alps, is the town of Grasse. This colorful medieval town is ideally situated for growing some of the world’s most exquisite aromatic botanicals, and through the years has become a hub for talented artists who skillfully blend the plant essences into complex and beautiful perfumes. The town’s origin, however, was anything but sweet-smelling. Before the 1600s, Grasse was primarily known for its leather production. The tanning process involved the bacteria enzymes of animal waste to ferment the leather, making it soft and workable but leaving behind an extremely unpleasant odor. The solution, of course, was perfume. And Grasse, with its unique microclimate and geographic placement, was perfect for growing and sourcing aromatic botanicals. The diverse altitudes of the nearby Alps, mild winters, hot summers, and plentiful sun provided an array of fragrant flowers whose essences could be distilled. Today, Grasse still leads the aromatic industry. Although inevitably influenced by the rise of synthetic fragrances in the 20th century, the town remains largely committed to its heritage practices that protect the land and preserve the integrity of the oils. A Culture of Artists In addition to growing and distilling plants, Grasse is also renowned for its thriving culture of perfume artisans. These artists are known as “noses,” and are expertly trained to blend and recognize over 2,000 scents. We are very excited to have had Gerard Bertrand, a “nose” who specializes in blending pure essential oils, create our six Grasse diffusion blends: Provence, Zen, Meditation, Purity, Strength and Uplift. Inspired by Grasse and its surrounding regions, each blend combines the art of perfumery and the science of aromatherapy. The result? Delightfully complex scents that benefit your health and are a joy to diffuse. Provence The herbaceous vitality of Provence is the inspiration behind this blend. Clean tops notes of Lavender and Rosemary are deepened with herbaceous notes of Clary Sage and refreshing Cedarwood and Black Spruce. Black Pepper and Eucalyptus infuse the blend with a beautifully complex freshness and warmth. BUY NOW at Rosemary’s Garden FIND A RETAILER near you Zen A celebration of harmony and balance. Reminiscent of warm, sun drenched orchards along the Mediterranean, Zen combines sparkling top notes of Mandarin and Sweet Orange with deep Exotic Verbena and Cedarwood. BUY NOW at Rosemary’s Garden FIND A RETAILER near you StrengthAn invigorating aroma of crisp pine needles, spearmint and ravintsara. Just a hint of eucalyptus, citrus and spice add dimension to this blend inspired by the fresh, mountain air. BUY NOW at Rosemary’s Garden FIND A RETAILER near you PurityWith a base of three different varieties of Eucalyptus, Purity is fresh, sharp and clarifying. Notes of pine needles and mint deepen the blend, encouraging a renewed mind and a refreshed sense of well being. BUY NOW at Rosemary’s Garden FIND A RETAILER near you UpliftUplift is an ensemble of sparkling citruses to inspire and delight your senses. Spearmint and Star Anise complement Sweet Orange, Petitgrain, Lime, Bergamot and Lemon in a light, joyful blend. BUY NOW at Rosemary’s Garden FIND A RETAILER near you MeditationDeep, resinous and spicy, our Meditation diffusion blend evokes the dry, arid desert from which our Frankincense comes. Rich notes of Patchouli, Frankincense, Cinnamon Leaf and Spikenard are balanced with Bergamot, Sweet Orange and Lime to create an aroma that is perfect for prayer or meditation.BUY NOW at Rosemary’s GardenFIND A RETAILER near you Article by: Hanna Stensgaard

Plant Beautiful Skincare

A Holistic Experience for Mind & Body Essential oils and beauty are meant for each other. When we think of what it means to feel beautiful, to have beautiful skin, to radiate beauty – essential oils are the nexus that brings it all together. Their dynamic and nuanced composition of molecules – combined with the beauty and emotional resonance offered by their aromas – connects us to what true beauty really means. It’s not easy to formulate essential oils into facial products – you want to make sure the formula is both effective and smells incredible – simultaneously. The tricky part is crafting the aroma to be subtle, yet transporting and resonant – guiding us to connect more deeply with the power of its fragrant beauty. I’ve been using essential oils in my facial care routine for over 20 years and I attribute my consistent usage to healing all sorts of odd scars, marks and discolorations – along with greatly improving my complexion’s overall health and appearance. Not to mention the enormous benefits I’ve experienced from how their scents have nurtured my soul, soothed my anxiety, raised my awareness – and have made me feel beautiful. A great clean beauty facial care product needs to nourish us in 3 ways: physically, emotionally and psycho-spiritually. Applying product to our faces is a deeply personal experience, and can help us be more present, foster self-reflection and confidence, and just make us feel really good. And we definitely need more of that! Essential Oils + Lipid-Rich Plant Oils I have found that one of the most effective and safe ways to deliver the unique power of essential oils to our facial care routine is by pairing and blending them with lipid-rich plant oils. These oils support and enhance the aromatherapeutic properties and actions of the essential oils used in the product. The lipid-rich plant oils that I am talking about are the fatty extracts from some very common, and in some cases, very edible, plants: think olive oil, macadamia oil, almond oil, etc… All of these oils come from cold-pressed seeds, nuts and fruits. Pranarom’s Treatment Moisture Oils are a perfect example of this. Each of the three blends are thoughtfully designed so that both the aromas and the therapeutic functions of the oils enhance and support each other. Our skin has a real love affair with oil. Without getting too technical, our skin is made up of cells that actually need and feed on oils to stay healthy and in balance. This means that by regular and consistent application of lipid-rich plant oils, we can actually improve our skin’s function. This includes strengthening our skin barrier, improving its immunity, tone and resiliency and promoting cellular growth and renewal – all of which contribute to a glowing and healthy appearance. Essential oils love these lipid-rich plant oils – not only do they dissolve easily when blended together, but they also work synergistically to deliver a truly holistic approach to nourishing and fortifying the skin. The plant oils literally “carry” the essential oils and their benefits into the skin, gently supporting and enhancing the aroma-therapeutic properties of the essential oils. It’s a beautiful and very effective partnering. Let’s look more closely at the Clear Moisture Treatment Oil. This oil combines a dynamic array of nut and seed oils, including Macadamia, Black Cumin and Sweet Almond. The essential fatty acid composition and nutritive components of these oils work to promote the skin’s resiliency, defending against bacteria and oxidative stress. These are all key properties to supporting the health of blemish-prone or oily skin. Fused with these lipid-rich plant oils are a range of calming and balancing essential oils, including Frankincense, Marjoram, and Roman Chamomile. Blended together, you get a blend that not only smells clear and fortifying, but powerfully enhances the therapeutic properties of each ingredient to support clear, balanced skin. The Ritual Here are a few tips and suggestions for using Pranarom’s Plant Beautiful skincare and creating your own beauty ritual to nourish your skin and soul. Try cleansing your face with oil, rather than soap, and take note of how gently this lifts away dirt and grime without stripping your skin. The Pure Facial Cleansing Oil is perfect for this, as it’s easy to use and leaves a non-greasy feeling after rinsing. Use floral waters to tone and soothe sensitivity. After cleansing and patting your face dry, try misting with one of Pranarom’s Facial Mists – beautiful blends of a few different hydrosols and soothing aloe vera. They feel light and clean while imparting nuanced aromas that immediately calm both mind and skin. After cleansing and toning, feed the skin with one of the deeply nutritive Treatment Moisture Oils, massaging gently for best results. Pay attention to the scent of the essential oils and how well they partner and align with the plant oils, and how the scent makes you feel. Our skin is a reflection of who we are and how we feel. It’s deeply integrated with our nervous system, our hormones and our immunity. By taking care of our skin with pure, nutrient dense products of nature and engaging our sense of smell, we are encouraged to live happier and healthier. Enjoy the ritual of skincare – your mind and body will thank you! Shop This Story at Rosemary’s Garden post by | Amy Galper, B.A. MA. Certified Aromatherapist Amy is a nationally celebrated educator, author, entrepreneur and formulator in the world of organic health and wellness. She is the co-author of “Plant Powered Beauty,” and her new book, the “Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy,” will be launching fall 2020. Amy’s passion is empowering and inspiring others through a holistic lens that starts with mindfulness and reflection, leading to total wellbeing. Learn more about Amy at amygalper.com (coming late August 2020) and on Instagram @amygalper.