When seeking out natural alternatives to store-bought body care and wellness products, it can be hard to know how to create shelf-stable versions of store-bought staples at home. In fact, some of the most common questions we receive from our friends and customers relate to naturally preserving homemade botanical goodies.

While looking forward to a fresh new year, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the past and the lessons learned along the way. We had a blast creating a variety of botanically inspired recipes for you, from natural body care formulations to herbal remedies that will keep you well all year long. Here are seven selections from 2018 that really stood out:

Since prehistoric times, humanity has sought out scented botanicals to create perfumes for anointing the body and burning as incense. From ancient Egyptians using enfleurage of fragrant flowers to create unguents that would melt in the heat and sweeten body odor, to modern perfume houses and the dizzying array of creations they offer, scented preparations are an essential part of the human experience.

I love the scents of the holiday season. Nothing compares to the fresh, crisp scent of peppermint, or the warm, inviting, and spicy scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—nothing, that is, except the sweet scent of oranges mingling with spices and chocolate. That distinctive fragrance always evokes childhood memories of my mom and me handcrafting those lovely orange pomander ornaments, made by sticking cloves directly into an unpeeled orange in creative designs. It’s a beloved holiday tradition that I have carried over to my own family!

Many aromatherapists and natural wellness folks are familiar with a certain notorious essential oil blend of ne're-do-wells past, a mysterious potion based on a recipe that originated in the 15th century. According to legend, the concoction was created by a group of four thieves and grave robbers to protect themselves from contracting the plague while robbing the bodies of the ill and deceased. When apprehended, the thieves admitted to using the formula and disclosed the recipe in order to receive a less severe punishment for their crimes.

The holidays are almost upon us, so we’ve curated some of our favorite culinary and natural body care recipes to inspire your homemade gift giving this year. From homemade decor, to natural body care formulas, to kitchen staples, most of these DIY projects can be done in a day, and none takes more than a week. Even if you’ve put off your holiday crafting a little longer than you intended, there’s still time to whip up some botanical bounty to surprise and delight everyone on your list!

Natural wax candles are delightful accessories and tools for creating radiant spaces, especially as fall and winter bring chilly darkness to our days. These warm, flickering lights add natural ambiance and a calm, cozy feeling to any room. And while they serve a lovely mood-setting purpose in their own right, they can also be used to heat essential oils in a diffuser to fill a room with your favorite grounding fragrance, creating the perfect space for relaxing self care rituals.

Essential oils seem to be everywhere these days! Little known in the mainstream just a decade or two ago, these potent oils are now being featured by celebrities, in magazines, and even in big box stores. Essential oils can be a wonderful way to support health and well-being. However, there is quite a bit of conflicting information out there about how to use them. As highly concentrated plant-based aromatics, it is important to use essential oils safely.

Let's face it, essential oils are not cheap! They require a lot of plant material to produce a small amount of oil, so it's important to get the most out of your little bottles of aromatic goodness.

I absolutely love our organic sage hydrosol! This delightful aromatic is water-steam distilled from fresh culinary sage. It is uplifting, energetic, and grounding — all at the same time! It smells a lot like fresh sage leaves and is primarily made up of 1,8-cineole and camphor.

Considered a balancing astringent, organic sage hydrosol makes an excellent base for deodorant sprays and facial toners. It can be used as a single ingredient spray or blended with citrus notes, other culinary spice notes, or herby green notes.

Sweet, sublime summer! After many long months of rain and cloudy skies, I am ecstatic to finally enjoy some warmth and sunshine. From making tea pops to camping, there are so many enjoyable activities to squeeze into the short number of sunny months here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.