untamed fact #16 (lemon)
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untamed features
untamed fact #15 (vanilla)
The vanilla orchid is the only orchid that produces fruit, namely the vanilla bean. Vanilla is considered to be the most labor intensive agricultural product in the world (and the second most expensive next to saffron). Cultivation is challenging as most vanilla orchids must be …
mooning over calendula
I appreciated the healing nature and golden magic of calendula, sometimes called marigold, long before I began working with it in my massage and aromatherapy practices: calendula oil was the first thing a wise woman gave me to soothe my cramps when they paralyzed me …
the what & how of untamed alchemy
Mission Generate passion for the science, history, art, lore, and magic of using natural blessings including pure essential oils, herbs, aromatics, and food for the benefit of body, mind, and spirit. Celebrate nature’s gifts by sharing pure, premium, hand- and homemade aromatherapy, herbal, and magical …
untamed fact #14 (sandalwood)
Unlike many trees celebrated for their aromatic oils, demand and pricing for Sandalwood are so high that often the entire tree, including stump and roots, is harvested and steam distilled for its fragrance oil. According to some growers, it takes at least fifteen years for …
untamed fact #13 (poison is in the dose)
If you doubt the power of herbs and oils, consider this inspired example of nature’s fierce grace…. Many of nature’s most powerful blessings aren’t a part of our herbal apothecary because of their threat to life even with minimal ingestion–herbs like foxglove, poison hemlock, and deadly nightshade are …
mooning over rose
Ah, the ubiquitous rose! Symbol of purity, inspiration, beauty, devotion, elegance, fidelity, compassion, spirituality, sensuality, and, of course, love, the celebrated rose has enjoyed almost too much attention and adoration. Countless poems, novels, pictures, movies, and, yes, Valentine’s Day advertisements have alluded to the lore of …
untamed fact #10 (patchouli)
Whereas many essential oils have a shelf life limited to just a few years under even the best conditions, Patchouli actually improves with age. Many distillers, suppliers, and aromatherapists assert Patchouli has a twenty-year-plus shelf-life. Indeed, I wasn’t much of a fan of Patchouli until I encountered …
mooning over elder
On a recent wild-crafting hike, I came across enough Elder bushes at the peak of bloom to call forth memories of my Danish grandmother’s garden. The experience got me thinking about the lore behind Elder… Part of the honeysuckle family, Elder is considered sacred …
untamed fact #8 (pricing)
The price of essential oils often reflects the relationship between source material and yield. For example, it takes ~150 to 250 pounds of lavender tops to produce ~1 pound of lavender oil; it takes ~1,000 to 1,500 pounds of chamomile heads to produce ~1 pound …
aromatherapy for infants, toddlers & kids
Many parents are excited to employ aromatherapy with their kids hoping it will serve as a natural way to encourage wellness, address issues, and promote health. However, safe use is critical when entertaining solutions for children as aromatherapy in general, and essential oils in particular, are not without their risks …
