Adoration for cacao can be traced back to ancient cultures in Mesoamerica. Bitter beverages made from the crushed seeds of this voluptuous fruit were enjoyed with a belief that these pods had magical properties. Mildly stimulating with a pronounced twinkle of euphoria, cacao was reserved for sacred rituals and royalty.

With the nights getting a bit cooler, many of our friends and colleagues are starting to turn their attention towards growing luxurious beards for the autumn and winter seasons. Maintaining a beard using only natural ingredients can be daunting, but we’ve found that keeping your beard clean is a great first step towards maintaining a soft, healthy feeling beard.

Here in Eugene, Oregon, summer is in full swing. One of our favorite things to do after spending long days in the sun is to pamper our skin using a body scrub.

While most folks are quite familiar with shea butter, we've found that organic shea nut oil often gets overlooked. Much like shea butter, it makes an absolutely lovely addition to many body care products.

We are in love with this organic muscle rub highlighting essential oils that are not seen in many recipes. It has a soft floral top note and a pleasant herbaceous scent that is slightly balsamic. Applying a muscle rub after a strenuous day of work and play can ease grumpy muscles that may be occasionally sore.

I love this season of celebration. This time of year I'm often dreaming of chocolate truffles, forests covered in snow, and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Making special foods, festive treats, and gifts while singing along with my favorite songs brings a glow of happy cheer to my heart—but my favorite part of the holidays is seeing the joy and excitement in other people as they unwrap the gifts I have made for them! This year I decided to create a rich and moisturizing balm to soften the appearance of rough dry skin, using the scents of sacred resins and trees that are often associated with this time of year.

I love the feeling of cool mist on my skin, especially when scented with flowers and citrus and earth. As a teenager, I collected bottles of perfume and reveled in the transformative magic that aroma inspires. Soft honeyed amber, light fruity florals, and spicy evergreen woods set the mood each morning before I adventured out into the world.

Whether submerged in a forest-nestled hot spring, floating on the surface of a high mountain lake, or luxuriating in the warm lapping ocean, water is an essential element for physical and emotional well-being. Taking time to bathe in the ancient restorative power that water offers can be transformative, and sometimes this simple pleasure is the perfect medicine for whatever ails us. The sensuous comfort water provides connects us back to both our bodies and the Earth’s beauty.

If you find yourself plucking petals over whether or not you actually love Valentine's Day, it's good to remember that February 14 is a nice excuse to honor that special someone in your life. Why not reinvent the holiday by pampering your best friend or beautiful lover with pure herbal decadence?