The moment I fell in love with cooking was when I discovered the power of organic spices. I grew up in a house where vegetables were almost always steamed with a bit of salt, pepper, and butter. That being the case, I was not a veggie fan. Of course as I grew older, I learned that I’d have to find a way to enjoy what I knew to be an uninspiring source of nutrients.

Chili-based condiments have a nuanced world of their own. Often shelved away in the bottoms of pantries and pushed to the ends of recipe books, there are more variations of these spicy delights than one could imagine. Harissa paste is one such delicacy. Like many of the spice blends I’m familiar with, this harissa recipe uses cumin and coriander, but it shines with flagrant uniqueness because of its citrusy tang, hint of caraway, and unbeatable chili flavor.

Living a zero waste lifestyle is no easy task. Consuming less, getting rid of clutter, and eliminating packaging waste at home is one thing. Reducing waste for a company the size of Mountain Rose Herbs, a company with 200 employees operating in eight facilities, is a different story. We’d love to share how we strive for zero waste. It started with dedicated employees and a fierce commitment to environmental stewardship.

Besides being a practical skill to know, making your own soap from scratch is a fun way to express yourself creatively while producing something that's useful and great for your skin. By following this simple recipe, you can make basic unscented bars of soap, or customize them by adding organic herbs, flowers, essential oils, and other skin-loving ingredients.

Growing up, I had the unique opportunity to embrace herbal wisdom through the ancient Indian philosophy of Ayurveda. For a number of years, my family hosted Ayurvedic physicians who traveled around the world to spread this beautiful knowledge of wellness and balance. It was through this incredible learning experience that I began to understand that the best tools for facial care came from the herbal pantry. Triphala, one of the most common and versatile Ayurvedic herbal formulations, was used for this refreshing facial mask.

High quality botanical butters are incredible assets for body care. These luscious plant fats make exceptional moisturizers on their own and also as ingredients in a wide array of skin and hair care recipes. They give your creations a beautifully creamy, smooth, and substantial viscosity. Pressed from the inner kernels, nuts, or seeds of many different plants, these butters are solid at room temperature, making them ideal for thickening up body care formulations for lotion bars, lip balms, deodorants, hair conditioners, and more! All of the butters we offer may be used interchangeably depending on your preference, allowing for endless versatility.

I’m hardly being hyperbolic when I state that I think world peace could be negotiated over a plate of shortbread cookies and a cup of organic Earl Grey tea. In fact, I think I have solved some of my own most pressing concerns with just that combination. Now, this may all be owing to my Scottish heritage and my penchant for all things old-fashioned and steeped in tradition—I am, after all, just an antique girl living in a modern world—but I am not alone in my belief in the power of a good shortbread cookie!

Organic Spanish marjoram is a bright and camphoraceous essential oil that is distilled from the blooming aerial portions of Thymus mastichina. With a 1,8-cineole content around 50%, this oil can be used in similar ways to other camphorish oils like eucalyptus and rosemary. In addition to 1,8-Cineole, Spanish marjoram also contains camphor, α- and β-pinene, camphene, and borneol.

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day, in an effort to raise awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants. Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we’re dedicated to doing everything we can to further this important work. That’s why we build relationships with exceptional nonprofit partners like Wild Farm Alliance (WFA).

In aromatherapy, we are constantly talking about diluting essential oils in a carrier. But what is a carrier, and which should you choose? Here we’re going to cover the organic carrier oils that are most commonly used for topical recipes and massage.