Vanilla Amber Base

While looking for something in my art studio, I stumbled upon a perfumery experiment that I began back in May of 2006! 2 bottles of Vanilla Amber Base, one with a base of jojoba and the other a base of grain alcohol.

It has mellowed so nicely over time! While I've not searched out the recipe in my notebook, I know the blend contains macerated vanilla beans, benzoin, styrax and a host of other delicious aromatics.

I look forward to playing with this now that it is back on my aromatic paint pallet :)

Scent and Studying

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I've recently taken up a new challenge and that is learning Mandarin Chinese. I have been using scent to help me study and recall what I have been studying.

It has been long known that our olfactory sense has powerful ties to memory. For example, I have a bottle of Guerlain's Samsara perfume that I purchased while on one of my trips to Turkey. Whenever I smell it I am immediately transported, very vividly, to a moment in time where I'm eating kesari and mezes while overlooking the Bosphorus. I can even recall what I was wearing and feel the warmth of the sunshine on my face.

I have found this works for studying as well with Rosemary being a particularly good scent, as it stimulates circulation, which brings oxygen to the brain, hence improving its function. But this isn't limited to Rosemary. The big part of the trick is less the scent chosen (Samsara is a far cry from Rosemary ;) , and more sniffing the scent not only when studying, but also when recalling!

'What if you can't carry it in a bottle to your tests?' you ask. Scent your pen or pencil, wear a dab on your shirt sleeve, scent your hair, wear it well diluted as a perfume, etc ...

The nose knows and can help us remember what we know!

Choosing a Chinese name

I'm writing this blog while burning a candle scented with lovely 木薑子 Litsea cubeba (May Chang). Not only am I setting atmosphere, but I'm cleaning the air, literally!
candles-with-essential-oils-kill-bacteria

I have been taking Mandarin Chinese classes for several weeks now and I have decided to choose a Chinese name. That isn't as easy as it sounds. While there are relatively few surnames in Chinese compared to English, given names are usually quite unique and carefully chosen in Chinese culture.

For the most part, names are chosen to correspond with things like astrology as well as characteristics a parent hopes for their child to have (such as beauty in a girl or strength in a boy). But (and this is a big but) it is rather important to ask a Chinese speaking person if the name you are choosing works properly in Chinese! For example, you may not want to name your daughter a fox as fox spirits in Chinese are synonymous with beautiful women who suck men dry of life energy and money! LOL

There is a pretty good squiddo article on choosing a Chinese name:
http://www.squidoo.com/chinese-names

At first I was considering some names that would apply to characteristics I have, but after chatting with an old friend about this, I decided to take a name with personal characteristics I am working on developing and bringing into my life.

Hence, I have chosen the name 水静心 Shuǐ Jìng Xīn

再见 Zàijiàn

Triclosan

Today the newsletter I received from Larry over at Vermont Soap works and The Green Products Alliance, of which I am a member, was about anti-bacterial ingredient triclosan and its dangers. This got me too thinking about all those unnecessary anti-bacterial soaps, and other triclosan containing products on the market.

As if issues such as how nasty theses products are for your skin over time and how potentially damaging they are for your general health (terms such as neurotoxin and carcinogen come to mind) aren't bad enough, I would think the fact that the growing popularity and widespread (over)use of commercial anti-bacterial soaps/detergents, which contain triclosan, is adding to the growing, deadly epidemic of drug resistant bacteria would be incentive for the consumer masses to steer clear! Click here to read more about the issue.

Natural soap and water is an effective germ removing tool for the average person (basically unless you're a surgeon, its good enough ;) , and if the soap contains an essential oil such as tea tree, which has natural bactericidal properties (that due to enough natural variance per batch, do not promote the existence of superbugs), even the most squeamish germaphobe can cleanse themselves confidently.

Thai Lime Revisited

Right now I'm SO into the green citrus scents. I was walking home from
the pool earlier and given several leaves off of my neighbor's Thai
Lime tree. Boy was I in heaven while sniffing them for the
remainder of that stroll home!

I'm inspired to make a marinade by chopping and blending with green onion, garlic, lemongrass, grated ginger, vinegar, nam pla (fish sauce), and a bit of honey.

I have found that when out of fresh Thai Lime leaves - a drop, or even a diluted drop of Thai Lime (a.k.a. Kaffir Lime) leaf essential oil works fantastically!

Thai Lime

After my lemongrass experience in the garden last week, I found myself longing for one of my favorite citrusy scents .. Thai Lime a.k.a Kaffir Lime or Ma Krut (Citrus hystrix).

Imbued with its sweet tart spirit, I was inspired to prepare a fresh batch of Thai Lime Leaf Liquid Olive Castile Soap .It is on special through the month of August in honor of the season of Late Summer. Click here to order!

Lemongrass

This morning I made a division from my lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) plant. Crushing a blade between my fingers released into my immediate vicinity a most pleasant, sunny, refreshing aroma. It was a lovely garden moment, captured and preserved in my olfactory memory.

I have found that lemongrass essential oil truly captures the aromatic character of the actual plant.

Shea Butter Muscle Rub

With summer here I've been spending more time being physically active. Between swimming at the pool, taking Chen Taijiquan classes and hiking in Colorado, at times I've been left sore, stiff and in need of some caring for my body.

One of my favorite therapeutic pleasures is also one of the most simple .. a shea butter muscle rub. Not only is this creamy African treasure a nourishing moisturizer for the skin, but it melts easily on contact and has great slip and aids the process of achieving a deep muscle rub. Can be blended with a drop of essential oil, such as black pepper or rosemary, to provide additional aromatherapeutic benefits.

We feel good in many ways about the shea butter we offer! It is tested to exceed Grade A standards and is sourced from a Fair Trade Co-op in Togo Africa. Read more about it by clicking here.

* Note, shea butter is not recommended for use by people with tree nut allergies *

Horizons

As we bid farewell to the month of March and all of the dynamic transitions it brings with it, the blossoms of spring are already unveiling themselves here at A Little Ol'Factory. We are evolving, growing and expanding our horizons. Today, we very graciously thank Celia Lyttelton, author of The Scent Trail, for her contribution towards this quantum leap!

Capturing the blossoms' perfume

This morning, I picked a fresh batch of sweetly scented blossoms. They have gone into a mason jar, been covered with grape alcohol, and left to sit and infuse the liquid with olfactory bliss.

Those of you who don't have fresh citrus blossoms to infuse, can still enjoy this subtropical fun! I've found that Neroli hydrosol blended with alcohol (such as grain or grape), and other essential oils, if desired, makes for a nice light body spritz.

The sweet scent of citrus blossoms

As I took a stroll through the garden this morning, the air was humid and heavy with the luscious scent of citrus blossoms.

The sweet orange and myer lemon trees are just coming into bloom and delightfully perfuming the breeze. A lovely way to begin any day!

I've discovered first hand that if you don't have citrus trees in your garden, the fragrance of these fresh blossoms is amazingly true with that of the Bitter Orange Neroli Blossom Hydrosol that I've been importing from Spain the last several years and a fantastic substitute!

Pure Olive Oil Liquid Castile Soap - Now In Stylish Pump Bottles!

A Little Ol'Factory is happy to feature C.Z.'s pure 100% Olive Oil Liquid Castile Soap - now in stylish 16 fl oz pump top bottles!

Money saving Gallon Refill sizes are also available!

Click here for scent options and to place an order

Fair Trade and Fabulous - Shea Butter - Karité

Karité is one of the few economic commodities under women’s control in African savanna societies.

The co-op that our Shea Butter is produced through is made up of women from various ethnic groups, which each have their own languages and religious preferences. Everyone involved is encouraged to dress as they wish, speak their own languages, and practice their traditional beliefs. The women are not required to speak or write French, which is a prerequisite for employment in almost every organization in Togo.

These policies help to preserve local languages and cultures. This promotes and values the deeply embedded indigenous African knowledge of handcrafting Shea Butter.

Your purchase of our shea butter products, including soap wrapped in handmade papers supports these efforts and Fair Trade.