When seasonal shifts and everyday stressors take their toll on our vitality, we often look to herbalism to support our well-being. And while we love coming up with creative new formulations to keep us in good form, we frequently find ourselves turning to a few tried-and-true folk remedies to see us through times when our wellness is threatened. If you're looking to enlist your herbal allies to bolster your defenses, these three recipes are an excellent place to start!

For refreshing, pungent, and herbaceous aromas, the Myrtaceae family is an excellent place to start! These woody evergreen botanicals include allspice, manuka, clove, eucalyptus, and a true aromatherapy staple: tea tree. We offer three varieties of oils from this fragrant family of herbs, spices, and bushy shrubs, and putting these energizing essences to work in your scent stylings is an excellent way to brighten your day!

Anyone first starting out with essential oils is likely to have encountered lavender early on, either in a beginner’s essential oil kit or as an ingredient in simple fragrance recipes. Its captivating floral scent is easily recognizable and often found in blends designed to calm your mental state, cleanse your house or clothing, or support and refresh skin. However, as you continue with your aromatherapy adventures, you might find yourself asking questions like "what is lavender 40/42?" and "wait, you want me to cook with lavender oil?". With so many lavender recipes out there, it's important to understand your ingredients—and we're here to help!

Winter can be hard on the skin, especially the complexion. If you think about it, you literally “face” the blustery temperature and winds of winter, only to come inside to be abruptly met with warm, dry heat. This cycle can create quite a bit of turmoil for your skin, and it’s times like these that your largest organ appreciates some extra love and attention. This is what sparked the inspiration to create a DIY protective balm for the face (though I actually use it for the whole body).

Matcha tea is trending everywhere, from tantalizing treats such as cheesecake, lattés, and buttery shortbread, to skin nourishing facial masks and scrubs. What once started as a traditional cup of ceremonial tea has now become a cross-cultural phenomenon. Matcha is made from finely powdered, high-quality green tea leaves, and its healthful benefits, paired with its rich, earthy flavor, make it an intriguing addition to almost any kind of recipe.

When it comes to natural wellness and green living, there’s no escaping the buzz about essential oils and all their many uses—but where to start? These powerful plant essences demand respect, so we’ve put together some of our favorite resources to kick-start your aromatherapy adventures. For expert tips on how to put your pure essential oils to work safely and economically, read on!

Miso soup is an absolute must for me during the winter months. I’ll often make a large batch of it and warm some up for breakfast, cracking an egg into the umami-packed broth. It’s a common staple served at Japanese and Korean restaurants, often simply garnished with bits of tofu and chopped green onions. The two main components to miso soup are dashi and miso paste. Dashi is typically made with preserved fish and kombu, a flavorful and nutrient-rich seaweed. I decided to try making a vegan dashi stock using dried shiitakes along with my seaweed, and was pleasantly surprised.

Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love—love for a partner, for friends, or for family, yes, but it's also the perfect excuse for some self-love too. Simple to create, our plant-based recipes are perfect for pampering those whom we cherish. These sumptuous preparations are formulated to relax the body and mind, uplift the spirit, and incite feelings of closeness and love.

When the work day is done, many of us begin thinking about what to cook for ourselves and our families. On days that I’m hungry as soon as I walk through the door, I am always grateful when my meal is ready for me. It prevents me from eating things I otherwise wouldn’t or shouldn’t. With my busy lifestyle and Italian appetite, I’ve developed a real appreciation for slow cookers!

Scents surround us everyday, everywhere, but we often find ourselves lacking the language to adequately describe them. Those who craft fragrances for aromatherapy or simple enjoyment often borrow from the lexicon of music to characterize different scents, and familiarizing yourself with the concept of these "fragrance notes" can help you create harmony and balance in your own essential oil blends. 

If you filled your 2019 with natural self care sessions, DIY projects, and culinary experiments, you weren't alone! Plant-lovers like you from across America and beyond trusted Mountain Rose Herbs to keep their kitchens and apothecaries stocked with the highest quality herbs, teas, oils, and more—and we couldn't be more grateful! We know you're always on the lookout for new ingredients to fuel your herbal adventures, so we're sharing the year's greatest hits from our extensive selection of organic and sustainable offerings. Here are our 11 best-selling botanicals of 2019, along with helpful reviews from real Mountain Rose Herbs customers!