Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Sveva

Each Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume is named after an earth-lovin’ lady. This one is named after Sveva Gallmann, daughter to philanthropist and conservationist, Kuki Gallmann. Thirty-year-old Sveva is no stranger to hardship. Growing up in Kenya, she lost her father before she was born, and her brother when she was three. As an adult, she started Four Generations, a program that helps African schoolchildren preserve their tribal history. She is also involved in her mother’s organization, the Gallmann Africa Conservancy.

A few years ago, in Marie Claire, Sveva said something that has stuck with me: “Coming back to the U.S., I am often shocked at the misery that Westerners feel sometimes. I have friends buckling under pressure and taking Prozac, feeling trapped by their jobs . . . depression, insecurity, anorexia. What strikes me about Africa is the resilience that keeps people moving forward even after the most brutal experiences. Look at Rwanda, and how they’ve rebuilt. People are ingenious in how they cope with life’s shortcomings.” This really puts life into perspective.

Sveva & Kuki Gallmann

Our Sveva blend contains the organic essential oils of patchouli, and sweet orange, and organic vanilla absolute oil. The blend of the scents is earthy, feminine, sweet, and vital. Patchouli oil is a balancing oil. In aromatherapy, it is sometimes used to repel negative emotions. Sweet orange oil is uplifting, and clears the mind. Vanilla oil is soothing and calming. This relaxing oil is the perfect complement to two oils that sweep the dust out of the mind, clarify thoughts, and dispel depression, anxiety, and negativity.

Don’t forget to read this important information about essential oils before making a purchase.

Picture of Gallman by Nell Freeman.

Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Butterfly

I’m so excited about this fragrance. It is my absolute favorite. A mix of ylang ylang and vanilla – perfect scent mates.

This Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume (formerly known as Sankalpa Scents) is named after Julia Butterfly Hill, who, in the late nineties, spent 738 days living in a 180-foot tall, 1,500-year-old California Redwood tree in order to save it from being cut down. Hill has become an environmental icon since then, inspiring others to stand up for what they believe in with compassion and gentle fortitude.

Butterfly contains organic ylang ylang essential oil and organic vanilla absolute oil. These two scents blend seamlessly into the most delicate, feminine fragrance. Not surprisingly, both these oils have similar aromatherapy properties. They are extremely soothing, allowing you to breathe deeply and relax. They are even used to help people fall asleep. Additionally, both are prized for their aphrodisiacal properties, and their ability to make people feel buoyant and cheerful.

The beauty of this blend is that each scent completely merges into the other. You can’t tell where one ends and one begins. And as the hours pass, the scent transforms, with the ylang ylang fading ever so slightly to let the vanilla take center stage. It is one of the best fragrance blends I have ever experienced.

Check out this wonderful, short clip of Hill from the Omega Institute.

Don’t forget to read this important information about essential oils before making a purchase.

Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Anne

This perfume blend is named after writer Anne Lamott. She writes with bald honesty about life’s struggles, has a deep faith in God, and describes the Northern coast of California in her books so beautifully that you can tell she has a great respect for Mother Nature. She believes “joy is the best makeup” – and I couldn’t agree more.

Lamott describes her struggles with self-esteem in many of her books. In one, she talks about her unruly, super curly hair, and how she finally made peace with it when she decided to turn the curls into dreadlocks. My personal favorite story about beauty is one that involves her late best friend, Pammy, described here:

…I got obsessed with something my best friend had said right before she died, when she was in a wheelchair, wearing a wig to cover her baldness, weighing almost no pounds, but very serene, very alive. We were at Macy’s. I was modeling a short dress for her that I thought my boyfriend would like. But then I asked whether it made me look big in the hips, and Pammy said, as clear and kind as a woman can be, “Annie? You really don’t have that kind of time.” I just got it. I got it deep in my being. And all of a sudden, two years ago, it began ringing through the chambers of my head again: You don’t have that kind of time.

Nothing puts beauty into perspective like that. And that’s why I love Anne Lamott so much.

The Anne blend is crisp, earthy, and pure sunshine. Both lemon and grapefruit oils are used to uplift the spirits in aromatherapy. Grapefruit also improves concentration and self-confidence. Ginger, a warming spice, fires up your inner heat, and gets you motivated!

Please remember that essential oils are potent plant substances. Please click here to read important information.

*Pictures above: Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Anne by Five Seed, Anne Lamott (AP Photos), Bird by Bird (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)

Natural Health: Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis) has multiple healing properties, which is why it is one of our favorite oils to use here at 5 Seed.

Aromatherapists claim sweet orange essential oil can lift the spirits, and generate creative energy.

According to Mountain Rose Herbs, its healing properties include: antibiotic, anticoagulant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal, calmative, diuretic, and  fungicidal. (Click here for the full list.)

Sweet orange essential oil has many health benefits for the skin, as well. It is packed with vitamins A and C, which can help to treat mild acne. Its slightly astringent nature helps the skin exfoliate and keeps the pores tightened.

We use organic sweet orange essential oil in our Orange Cocoa Moisturizing Cream. Check it out here.

The feedback has been very positive: “super creamy,” “lush,” “not at all greasy,” “divine smell!”

Please remember that all information here is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose any illness, nor do we make any medical claims or guarantees about our products’ ability to treat or cure any disease.

Essential Info on Essential Oils

Image from moonhaven.com.au

Essential oils are serious natural mojo packed into a tiny bottle. These plant essences are potent, powerful, and volatile.

Like any good natural beauty business, we love essential oils and use them in many products. What does that mean to you?

As a consumer, it is important for you to know a few things:

::Know your allergies! Some people have allergic reactions to essential oils, and this can largely be prevented by simply avoiding certain essential oils when you know your body finds them to be allergens. If you aren’t sure and decide to take a chance, make sure to use the product only on a small patch of skin at first, and slowly build up from there over the course of a few days.

::Most importantly, if you are pregnant, talk to your physician before using any products that contain essential oils. This is a warning found on every bottle of essential oil, and the safest route is to simply clear it with your doctor, first.

Most natural beauty product lines (from large companies to small businesses) use essential oils in their products, and the warnings are the same for all of them. Be wary if you buy products from someone who tells you that all essential oils are perfectly safe for pregnant women, or that they never cause allergic reactions. Essential oils are, for the most part, safe, and have been used for decades in beauty products, aromatherapy, and other natural healing/wellness venues. But it is important to be fully aware of what you are putting on your body.

When in doubt, ask your health care provider.