There was a swirl of talk about oud surrounding me. I couldn’t stop thinking about this legendary Arabian perfume referred to as a “wish-fulfilling gem,” “prohibitively expensive” “royalty only” scent.
I finally purchased a small bottle which stopped me in my tracks immediately upon opening. The scent was familiar, yet otherworldly. In a primitive sense, I felt a closeness with the scent, like it was a part of me of which I was not yet consciously aware.
There was a warm note that smelled earthy, like honey and wood. But that gave way to the impression of something more--something sacred, sensual and mysterious in a surprisingly clean animalic note layered with tobacco and soft rain.
It was like a paradox imparting a feeling of comfort and the secrets of all the stars in the galaxy all at once.
I don't know how long I spent contemplating my little bottle of oud because this sacred fragrance really does make it feel as if time stopped.
I simply recall a non-linear string of moments in which intuition led me to blend this oud oil into a beautiful perfume aptly entitled Oil of Oud. I deepened the smokiness with a touch of tobacco before infusing a green freshness and vibrancy with Bulgarian rose. Of course I crowned the botanical fragrance with an irresistibly bright citrus note of uplifting bergamot--like sun after the rain.
On the skin, the non-projecting scent smells soft and well-rounded. It instantly elevates you, like that single fine accessory you were always seeking, but didn't know it existed.
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Valentine's Day is the time to treat our loved ones to little luxuries and that will make them smile! Check out 9 Valentine's gifts that will bring some sweetness to their day!
1. Top: Pure Rose Lip Balm--give a token of affection to your best friend (or yourself!) with this luxurious, subtly tinted natural lip balm made with rose essential oil. (naturalenyc.com, $16)
2. Pink Vetiver Perfume Oil--boost her mood with a botanical fragrance made of rose and vetiver essences, a scent blend said to be the most romantic in the world. (naturalenyc.com, $55)
3. Rose Quartz Cufflinks--dress him up in custom made cufflinks featuring with the stone that represents love, peace and harmony. (stephendevans.com, $28-$65)
4. Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles Kit--have fun and be creative together by making your very own delicious Valentine's Day chocolates. (uncommongoods.com, $34.95)
5. Rose Quartz Facial Roller--pamper her with this genuine rose quartz roller that tones and massages the skin. (naturalenyc.com, $28)
6. Sweet Rose Tea--commit to relaxation with this pleasant, stress-reducing rose petal tea. (amazon.com, pack of six for $22.95)
7. Rose Quartz Coaster Set--upgrade their table setting with four gold plated rose quartz coasters. (stephendevans.com, $60)
8. Custom Portrait Stamp--give a unique, personalized gift for which you will spend hours finding cool uses! (Saya Bell Stamps, etsy.com, $45+)
9. Valentine's Day Lip Balm Set--give her not just one, but four naturally flavored lip balms that set the mood (Pure Mint, Cocoa Absolute/Chocolate, Pure Rose and Cardamom). (naturalenyc.com, $35)
]]>If you feel more alert and focused when you're breathing in the scent of evergreen, it's because the uplifting aroma lifts “brain fog” by opening up the sinus cavity and increasing oxygen to the brain, giving a sense of well-being from increased mental clarity. It's no wonder that the respiratory tract is, in fact, the upside down mirror image of the shape of a tree! An effective way to obtain these respiratory benefits at home is to diffuse conifer and evergreen essential oils into the air. You will have peace of mind when friends and family who might be harboring colds enter your living space...and you'll be making your home smell holiday-ready without the use of synthetic scents.
As the winter season progresses and we tend to feel more tired and stressed from all the busy-ness, evergreen scents can also help by grounding and calming the emotions, providing energy and motivation to pull us through the holidays. Here are some new products that bring the evergreen forest to you with Siberian Fir and Canadian Spruce essential oils. You can add them to your self-care routine or give them as a gift to someone who appreciates the beauty and healing properties of nature.
An all natural soap bar scented with invigorating fir needle essential oil. Beautifully wrapped with festive paper to make a special stocking stuffer gift.
A natural lip balm that restores chapped lips with organic calendula extract, hydrating macadamia oil and natural vitamin E. Organic beeswax, stevia and evergreen needle essence add a subtly sweet, mood-enhancing flavor.
A roll on cologne oil that's good for you! Enlivening spruce and fir needle take you back to the forest as woodsy cedar lends a sense of strength and stability. Vetiver reveals a classic upscale, green note while a surprising touch of bergamot is sexy and irresistible. Free of synthetic ingredients of any kind. This cute 15 ml glass bottle fits in his pocket so he could take it everywhere.
Standing proudly at 4" high, this refreshing blue-green soap is infused with evergreen oils and naturally colored with butterfly pea flower.
5. To diffuse the scents in the air, I like this attractive diffuser and this set of respiratory essential oils. There are always people on my list that really appreciate these gifts during Christmas and beyond!
THANK YOU FOR READING...
I hope this information and new products benefit you! You can find them and more in the shop section of my website. If you have a question or want to share, please comment below!
]]>Not wanting to disturb my husband’s sleep, I went to the living room couch with my phone for a distraction from these thoughts that disturbed me at such a late hour. I was scrolling though a new age website about angels and a message with a green background appeared that said “You are a healer.” Researching health and wellness has been a pastime for years, but more often than not, the loved ones I tried to help weren’t interested; my attempts at intervention were unsuccessful. Moreover, I hadn’t even been able to solve one of my own issues despite years of trying. I started to wonder if I was mistaken about the talents and knowledge I thought I possessed.
Thoroughly annoyed at the green message about healing that popped up on my screen, I yelled out to the universe: “Yeah, right. Prove it!” But then I decided to try something new; although I often pray, I never directly asked God to be in my life. I said out loud, “Please God, come into my life. Let me know that you’re listening and give me a sign.” Exhausted by this dark night of the soul, I finally surrendered my destiny to God and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I received an unexpected phone call from a cousin who urgently wanted my advice on natural approaches to his health problem. “You’re the only one I trust with this sort of stuff,” he said. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; it couldn’t be that my request for God’s guidance the night before was actually being answered, right?
As I wrapped up the long discussion with my cousin about his healing options, as if moved by divine inspiration, he abruptly changed the subject and said, “Maybe there’s another reason I’m calling aside from my health issue. I was overcome with a strong feeling that I should contact you.” He added, “Maybe God is using my health problem to make me call, but he really wants you to know that he loves you and is looking out for you.” Speechless, I quickly ended the conversation and spent the rest of the day in gratitude for this miracle.
During the next few days, I received more confirmation that God really was answering my call for guidance. Out of the blue, I'd run into neighbors and acquaintances who “happened” to mention chronic health problems for which I just "happened" to have solutions. Messages from new clients asking for advice started pouring into my inbox. Without any knowledge of what I do aside from creating skincare products, it was rather odd that strangers were asking me about vitamins, supplements and dietary choices. Some requested that I create special formulas to heal specific skin problems. One person even wrote in capital letters, “PLEASE HELP ME.” Nothing like this ever happened before. At this point, there was no doubt that I was being guided to continue pursuing my interest in health and wellness.
Remember that personal health problem I mentioned? A few weeks after that difficult night I surrendered control to God, I found out that I was pregnant after five years of countless alternative and traditional protocols!
I have no doubt that my new doctor contributed to this outcome, but when I gave up control and surrendered to God, everything came together in a matter of days.
Turning to God may not sound modern and trendy. It might sound way cooler to credit my success to crystals, mantras, Energy Medicine, Kundalini Yoga, meditation, The Law of Attraction, Applied Kinesiology, Craniosacral Therapy, vitamins, acupuncture, cupping, Reiki, Mayan Massage, Palo Santo, Tibetan Bells, Floatation Therapy, aromatherapy, essential oils, Chinese herbs, Indian herbs, American herbs, Feng Shui or the miracles of modern medicine. There is a place for all of these healing tools and modalities and yes, I tried every single one of them.
The lesson I learned is that these gifts are created for us by God, but are not meant to replace God’s power. If you’re going through a time of confusion, consider directly connecting to the source. Just surrender, give your problems to God and ask Him to come into your life. I’d love to know what happens next.
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