Understanding Aroma Notes for Essential Oil Blending: Base Notes

The art of essential oil blending is a delicate and thoughtful process that I often compare to the individual layers added to a painting. Just as each brush stroke on a canvas gradually builds on the layer of paint underneath to create a harmonious result, crafting essential oil blends applies the same principle. In the world of perfumery and essential oil blending, the three commonly recognized “paint” layers are known as fragrance notes, which encompass top notes, middle notes, and base notes. At the foundation of these blended layers, you will find base notes.

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Posted by Hailey

Brightening Berry and Honey Face Mask & Exfoliant


This year, I set out to create a natural skin care treatment for my dull and dry winter skin. So I took to my crafting space to work on a mask and scrub that was brightening and cleansing. After several iterations, I created one that I’m quite excited about, and I think you all are going to enjoy it, too.

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Posted by Jessicka

Herbal Irish Coffee

I love a good Irish coffee. The conundrum, however, is that I generally limit my daily caffeine consumption to a morning espresso and I don’t want whiskey for breakfast, so it’s hard to figure out when to have said Irish coffee. St. Patricks Day is almost here and I'll be getting together in the afternoon with my coffee-loving friends and family, which will include traditional, festive Irish coffee. Happily, my talented mixologist of a husband recently got inspired by a tin of Mountain Rose Herbs herbal coffee. I wasn’t sure what he was up to tinkering away in the kitchen, and then he came out with this creamy glass of pure ambrosia. Although I am not generally an all-caps kind of woman, this herbal Irish coffee recipe is, OMG SO GOOD. Bonus: I can drink a glass in the evening and still get a good night’s sleep.

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Posted by Heidi

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes for Dark & Light Hair

There has been a lot of buzz lately around DIY and natural hair care. In the previous weeks, we've shared no-poo recipes, DIY hair rinses, and fermented rice water treatments. A perfect pairing to all those homemade hair care products is having a dry shampoo to get you in between "washes."

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Posted by Jessicka

Nourishing Herbal Broths

 

I am a firm believer in broths for their gut-supporting, extremely tasty, and nourishing qualities. You can pack so much nutrition in each little sip. Adding a myriad of herbs to our broth base is the perfect vehicle for incorporating wellness into our modern lives.

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Stir Fry Sauce: Oyster Sauce & Hoisin Sauce Substitute + Stir-Fry Recipe

We are big stir-fry and Asian food fans at my house, and I love a really good stir-fry sauce. But I struggle with the high fructose corn syrup and the way-too-many-preservatives-and-ingredients-I-can’t-pronounce problem in most bottled sauces. Also, the presence of seafood and/or gluten are issues for my vegetarian and gluten-free family members. And finally, for many households like mine, it’s hard to get through an entire bottle before the contents spoil. All of this means I refuse to purchase pre-made stir-fry sauces and the oyster or hoisin sauce that is so common (and delicious) in my favorite Asian sauces. I wanted to create an easy-to-use substitute that packs in the umami goodness I love about these sauces.

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Posted by Heidi

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Made with Agar

I like inclusivity in food, and my friends and family group includes omnivores and vegetarians/vegans, as well as people with food allergies, autoimmune diseases, religious restrictions, etc. I love to feed my people, so I’m always experimenting, which is how I found myself going down this agar-agar as a replacement for gelatin rabbit hole, and then one thing led to another, and I got curious to know how much agar is the right amount for the best mouthfeel in vegan gummies (welcome to my brain). I made elderberry juice gummies, which were tasty and a fun way to get an extra boost of vitamins and minerals. Then I discovered apple cider vinegar gummies—I love these little ACV morsels!

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Posted by Heidi

Guide to Evergreen Essential Oils



Many of us associate certain smells with the holiday season—from the sweet smells of spiced cookies to minty diffuser blends, to the most characteristic winter aroma: evergreens! Even for those who don’t celebrate Christmas, the bright woodland scents are welcomed by many this time of year. One of the questions most often asked of Mountain Rose Herbs this time of year is the difference between evergreen essential oils. We pride ourselves on our wide selection of organic essential oils, but so many options can make it harder to choose.

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Posted by Jessicka

Tea Tasting Terminology + Printable Tasting Cards

In the worlds of fine wine or artisanal cheese, you’re likely to encounter terminology that can seem foreign to those who are not waist-deep in the art of vinification or caseiculture. Tea-tasting is similar in that tea connoisseurs use a unique language to describe the subtle nuances that you can find in a quality cup of tea. Fear not tea-enthusiast friends—I'm here to help you decode the descriptive terminology used in professional tea-tasting!

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Posted by Hailey

Chia Seed Pudding Recipe With Pumpkin Spice

I will admit that I was a latecomer to the pumpkin pie spice trend. I still have not had a pumpkin spice latte, for instance. I have been starting to come around though. My turning point came after I tried one of our very own blog recipes, pumpkin pie spice roasted mixed nuts. Ever since that day, I have felt the undeniable pull towards this seasonal favorite. As the days grow shorter and cooler, the warming spices seem to offer the perfect comfort and sense of wellbeing. Naturally, I wanted to celebrate the arrival of pumpkin spice season this year with a recipe variation!

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Posted by Maia

Are My Herbs Irradiated?! Learn About Irradiation in Our Food System & How to Avoid It

Irradiation of food is a topic that is increasingly showing up as a point of concern for Mountain Rose customers, so I want to take a minute to talk about this timely subject. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of food irradiation in 1963 to kill bacteria, molds, insects, etc. in wheat and flour. Today, the FDA has approved irradiation for fruits, vegetables, eggs in the shell, spices and seasonings, sprouting seeds, poultry, crustaceans and shellfish, and red meats. Food irradiation involves exposing foods to one of three different types of ionizing radiation: gamma rays from cobalt-60, x-rays, or electron beams. The FDA uses this technology to improve food safety and extend storage and shelf life. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organics Program (NOP), which oversees the nation’s organics labeling, prohibits the use of irradiation to treat organic products because the process alters the natural state of food. These two opposing views present consumers with something of a conundrum.

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Posted by Heidi

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Understanding Aroma Notes for Essential Oil Blending: Base Notes

Learn how to craft well-balanced and long-lasting aroma blends by understanding the foundation of essential oil blending: base notes!
WRITTEN BY Hailey

March 18, 2024

Brightening Berry and Honey Face Mask & Exfoliant

If you're looking for a natural skin care treatment to brighten dull and dry winter skin, this face mask may be for you!
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

March 15, 2024

Herbal Irish Coffee

If you love Irish coffee but don’t want the heavy caffeine dose that comes with it, try this delicious cocktail with Mountain Rose Herbs herbal coffee.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

March 11, 2024

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes for Dark & Light Hair

Learn how easy it is to make and use natural dry shampoo to freshen up oily hair with no single-use cans required! Our shampoo powder recipes are just a stir and a shake away.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

March 8, 2024

Nourishing Herbal Broths

Homemade herbal broths are easy to make and offer a flavorful way the enhance the flavor and nutritional value of soups, stews, sauces, and more.
WRITTEN BY Alex Queathem Payne- Guest Author

February 7, 2024

Stir Fry Sauce: Oyster Sauce & Hoisin Sauce Substitute + Stir-Fry Recipe

This gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly stir fry sauce is a perfect substitute for oyster sauce or hoisin in your favorite Asian dishes.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 31, 2024

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Made with Agar

Want the gut-supporting benefits of apple cider vinegar but don’t like the taste? Try these DIY apple cider vinegar gummies made with agar-agar.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 20, 2024

Guide to Evergreen Essential Oils

One of the most commonly asked questions this time of year is the difference between evergreen essential oils. Explore blending tips and aromatic notes for 10 common woodland oils.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

December 15, 2023

Tea Tasting Terminology + Printable Tasting Cards

Do you love tea and want to train your palate? Are you looking to articulate the finer aspects of your favorite teas? Check out this helpful guide to enhance your tea-drinking experience.
WRITTEN BY Hailey

November 30, 2023

Chia Seed Pudding Recipe With Pumpkin Spice

Try this decadent chia pudding recipe for a healthful start to your autumn mornings.
WRITTEN BY Maia

September 26, 2023

Are My Herbs Irradiated?! Learn About Irradiation in Our Food System & How to Avoid It

Food irradiation is common in mainstream food production in the United States. So what is irradiation and how does it affect your herbs and spices?
WRITTEN BY Heidi

September 8, 2023