Stephanie K Naturals Blog

San Marcos Saturday Market at Tantra Coffeehouse

2008-12-14T15:34:00.000-08:00

Looking for awesome local gifts? The Saturday Market has them!

You'll find a variety of handcrafted items and art to browse while enjoying live music. This is a great opportunity to support your local artists and small businesses.

Saturday December 20 from 12-4pm is next market date. We'll be having it every third Saturday of the month, so mark your calendars and come back to see what's new each market!

New perfume minis

2008-12-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to announce I am adding new mini bottles to my offerings!

Several of my current line of natural perfumes are now being offered in this size in my stores, and soon more will follow.

Full size 10 mL roll-ons will still be available.

Are your essential oils authentic?

2008-12-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

The essential oils you buy might not be what you think. In order to keep demand for low prices, essential oils often are in some way adulterated to lower costs. Some unscrupulous companies even sell altogether fakes as the real thing.

Here are a few red flags too look out for when choosing a supplier.

The supplier is not a well known and reputable company. Sellers on eBay are the first to come to mind, but anyone who has not had a strong reputation should be looked into very carefully.

The oils do not have a strong scent. Most essential oils have a quite powerful scent undiluted. They can be quite overwhelming and it is not recommended that you inhale it straight from the bottle (Instead, waft the scent over to your nose). If the scent is not strong, you could have oils that are already diluted.

They are priced much lower than the going rate. The old adage applies—-you get what you pay for. If they are significantly cheaper than comparable offerings on other sites, they are very likely poor quality or adulterated.

Essential oils are not clearly marked or separated from fragrance oils. I once visited a health store that had an aromatherapy section of mixed fragrance oils and essential oils. The only way to distinguish them was to find the extra fine print on each bottle. It was a mix-up waiting to happen.

The botanical name of the source plant is not given. This is a biggie. If they don’t tell you what species it is from, perhaps they don’t know themselves. Uneducated vendors sometimes market perfume oils as essential oils and don’t understand the difference.

The seller uses hype and questionable marketing terms. Many of the phrases commonly used to describe essential oils sound great, but really don’t have any concrete meaning. “100% pure” and “therapeutic grade” means only what the supplier decides it means. At least in the US, there is no standardization or system of grading. The producers or suppliers are the ones who these claims.

They make grandiose claims. Some claim their products are far superior to everything else on the market. They have sources that are “exclusive,” they use special testing that no one else uses. They’ll tell you only their oils are quality oils. Truth is, there are many reputable suppliers who have been in the business for decades. And, often unknowingly, they use the same distillers as the competition.

Always buy from a knowledgeable seller or company with a solid reputation for selling real essential oils. If you don’t know, ask around on the internet. There are a number of forums, groups and mailing lists where you can get great recommendations.

Is it important to have natural essential oils?

2008-12-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

When and why would it be important to have authentic, natural essential oils?

If the only purpose of your essential oils is a nice scent, it may not make any difference to you whether or not your EO is really a pure natural EO. Sometimes though, it's important to know you are purchasing a pure and high quality oil.

Aromatherapy — Aromatherapists insist that only natural plant extracts are appropriate for aromatherapy. Whole oils may have therapeutic properties that synthetic reconstructions do not have.
Allergies and sensitivities — You could be allergic or sensitive to certain chemicals in the unknown adulterants.

Higher cost — If you pay premium for an essential oil but you get a fragrance oil, you’ve been cheated out of the extra money you've paid.
Internal use — It is crucial that you know what you are ingesting! If you intend to use oils for culinary use or any other internal purpose, not only must you research, research, research, but you must be certain sure you are using a true essential oil.

NOTE: I do not recommend anyone but the most advanced and well-read users try using internally. Please do not harm yourself or those you love by ingesting the wrong essential oils!

So how do you know if your EO is not the real deal? See my next entry...

Have another reason or two? Share them here in a comment!

Natural Materials: Bergamot

2008-11-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Bergamot essential oil has a wonderful fresh, uplifting scent. It makes an excellent top note and is another favorite oil of mine.

Photo by jen_maiser CCL

Bergamot

Source - Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia, cultivated in Italy
Plant parts used - rind of the fruit
Aromatic extract - expressed essential oil

In perfumery, bergamot is used extensively as a top note and is common to many fragrances and cosmetics. It is very uplifting, and in aromatherapy has been used to treat tension, anxiety stress, depression and more. Bergamot oil is phototoxic, meaning it can cause sensitivity, sunburn and skin pigmentation when exposed to sunlight. The chemical components that cause phototoxicity can be removed through distillation or treatment so that it may be used for leave-on skin products without problems.

The oil is extracted from the rinds of the small pear-shaped fruits. The fruits are called bergamot oranges, but the skin is yellow to green. They are commonly grown in Italy and named for the city of Bergamo where it was first sold. Earl Gray tea is flavored with bergamot oil. The fruit itself is not eaten, and it is cultivated just for its oil.

Article: A rose, by any other name?

2008-11-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

A Grasse rose farm, run by fourth generation farmers, is having to sell off the precious rose fields.

Natural Misconceptions by Haley Alexander van Oosten

There's no surprise that few are willing to pay for the luxury of real rose oil, especially when the synthetic alternatives are so much cheaper and the average consumer knows no difference.

It is a terrible shame that a tradition passed on through many generations will be lost. Besides losing the culture, the history, and the beauty of the process, the supply of natural oil will further dwindle. I have not yet had a chance to sample Rose de Mai from Grasse, but it's one I'd hoped to procure in the future.

My hope is that as the demand for natural products increases, so will the demand for aromatics--and that cultivation and production of botanical aromatics will not become a lost art.

Maker Faire Austin

2008-10-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

Maker Faire starts tomorrow! If you're in the Austin area this weekend, come out because it's going to be fabulous! Saturday it will be from 10am to 10pm, and on Sunday it will be from 10 am to 6pm.

I'm making final preparations for my Maker booth where I'll be demonstrating perfume blending.

Check out Makerfaire.com for more info! Be sure to come by my booth in the crafts section and say hello!

EGCG Swag Bags are coming!

2008-10-10T16:52:00.001-07:00

The Swag Bags are coming soon!

Swag Bags are the perfect way to choose your holiday gifts. Sample items from 10 different EGCG shops including perfume, balms, soap, scrubs and lotions.

Starting Oct 15 you'll be able to purchase them through the EGCG Etsy Shop. Hurry, because they are limited edition you'll want to get one before they sell out!

New Perfume - Autumn Spice

2008-10-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Autumn Spice

This perfume is my entry in EGCG's Iron Chef Challenge. The EGCG challenge for the month of September was to create an item with these ingredients: Orange, Spice and Vanilla.

Autumn Spice begins with a blend of four orange essential oils--Wild orange, Blood orange, sweet orange and orange juice. Then come the spices! Nutmeg, cardamom, clove, black pepper and turmeric blended with a soft vanilla base.

It's available both in my Etsy shop and on StephanieKNaturals.com!

Interview at The Rebel Perfumer

2008-09-11T19:30:00.001-07:00

Diana Rajchel, fellow natural perfumer, interviewed me for this months installment of Perfumery Without Pretention over at The Rebel Perfumer. Or Le Parfumeur Rebelle, but either way it has great reads and lots of blogs links, so check it out!

In the eye of the beholder

2008-09-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

A lovely painter named Silja recently made a request on the Etsy forums. She asked for pictures of eyes so she could paint them. I responded to the call, and before I know it she sends me a link to this result:

Already it is featured on The Chic & Green Blog. You can see more of her beautiful work at 5erg's blog or her Etsy shop.

Natural Materials: Sandalwood

2008-09-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

Sandalwood... ahhh... my favorite oil. It's not only a pleasure to sniff, but it is fantastic to work with in oil blends. It must be used consciously and in small amounts, and it is one oil I will always treasure.

Sandalwood

Source - Santalum album from India, santalum spicatum from Australia, santalum austrocaledonicum from Vanuatu and New Caledonia
Plant parts used - heartwood (interior wood, not branches and twigs)
Aromatic extract- Steam distilled essential oil, sometimes also a solvent extracted absolute

Santalum album from India is highly prized for its exquisite aroma. It is warm and sweet, a deep earthy and woody scent with vanilla-like overtones. Mysore, the "City of Sandalwood," produces oil that is considered the best quality of all sandalwoods. Unfortunately the area has been, and continues to be, overharvested. Consequently oil from Mysore is very expensive.

Santalum spicatum is a sandalwood similar to santalum album that grows in Australia. Its aroma is similar but spicier. Australian sandalwood also may be solvent extracted for a higher yield. This absolute is stronger in scent than distilled oil, but it is not as delicate.

Santalum austrocaledonicum is harvested in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Its fine aroma is close to Indian sandal, and many find it the best replacement for Indian sandalwood. This type is the one I've been using in my perfumes. It is sourced from a company that has been planting sandalwood trees for years to offset the harvested trees.

Currently there are plantations in Australia, Vanuatu and other areas, but the claims of sustainability are dubious. Trees must mature for up to 60 years for the highest yield of oil and for the oil to be of the best quality. Wild-harvesting will continue until these plantations mature and yield enough wood to keep up with its demand. Until such a time, natural sandalwood oil will be something of a rarity.

My Approach to Natural Perfumery

2008-05-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

If five years ago you had told me that I'd be a perfumer, I'd have rolled my eyes. Truthfully, and please don't hate me for saying so, but I despised perfume at that time.

Why then did I go into perfumery? My reason for loathing perfume wasn't an aesthetic one--I have chemical sensitivities. Inhaling chemical-laden perfume can make me very, very sick. For many years I had to avoid fragrance in all its forms. When I discovered essential oils did not make me sick, an incredible world opened up to me.

My mother used the oils for aromatherapy, but I blended them for scent. Every new oil I acquired became a new realm of possibilities.

Some natural perfumers strive to be accepted into mainstream fine perfumery, but I am happy to make it something altogether different. Naturals are worthy of being elevated to the status of a fine French parfum, but the two are different enough that direct comparison is not really fitting. Natural perfumes don't share all the properties of modern mainstream perfume, but most naturals perfumers and perfume wearers like it that way.

But as long as we're comparing, the thought of bringing back naturals to the mainstream is quite exciting. It feels like I'm helping to revive a lost art. Aside from rose and perhaps a few others, no one of my generation knows what a natural even smells like. It's like eating a ripe, fresh strawberry when all you've ever known of strawberry were Fruit Roll-Ups. One's first whiff of an exotic flower or a rich resin is like an epiphany. For me, it's pure bliss.

Featured in Wickedly Chic!

2008-05-11T13:50:00.001-07:00

Fantastic news! Stephanie K Naturals is featured in Wickedly Chic's Indie of the Week! I am so honored by the fantastic review she gave me. Thank you Liz!

Wickedly Chic Indie of the Week

Nubi the Herbal Gerbil

2008-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Anubis, but most people call me Nubi. My human Stephanie invited me to come and write about plants, herbs and cooking. I'm not yet much of a cook, but I really love organic food and experimenting with fresh home grown herbs.

Today I want to tell you about some lovely and delicious plants growing on the porch, although my human seems to think they belong to her.

See? This baby lettuce is mine all mine!

We planted green onion and coriander seeds. Apparently in some places the plant is known as coriander too, but here in Texas the plant is known as cilantro. The spicy leaves are popular in Mexican dishes, while the ground seeds are used as a spice in many cooking styles.

Coriander seeds also yield an essential oil that Stephanie loves to use.

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Earth Day, here are some super-easy ways to be a little kinder to our planet by reducing waste.

Get the bigger package
Sure those single serving items are convenient when you're on the go, but there's a great deal of unnecessary packaging that is wasted. Instead of little bags of snacks, get the large package and put a serving in a container you'll reuse. Refill a bottle or thermos with your favorite drink, and you'll save the small bottles from having to be recycled.

Freecycling
It's the embodiment of one man's trash being another's treasure. The Freecycle Network and Craiglist's free section are two popular ways to connect with local people and give new life to items that would have otherwise been trashed.

Recycling
It doesn't take much more effort to put it in a recycling bin than it does the garbage bin, but if you save you recyclables you'll see how quickly it adds up. Did you know that unlike paper, glass can be recycled virtually an infinite number of times? Don't forget about recycling that glass!

These are only a few small changes that can make a big difference over time. Check back here for more simple tips and ideas for greener living!

StephanieKNaturals.com is now online!

2008-02-12T00:15:00.001-08:00

Hello and welcome! It brings me great pleasure to announce that my website, stephanieknaturals.com, is officially open!

You can now purchase my items directly through the website with our secure shopping cart. Even if you are not ready to purchase, do go ahead and register to subscribe to the SKN Newsletter.

Don't worry, we aren't going to flood your inbox, but you might like to know if we ever have a special sale. *wink wink*

So please have a look around, and if you see anything that could use some improvement, don't hesitate to let us know! I hope you have a great experience here and come back soon.