Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Jane

Okay, technically, THIS blend was the first to be developed for the Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume line (formerly known as Sankalpa Scents). After all, it is named for Jane Goodall, the recipient of 5% of our profits. Hopefully, having a Jane and a Janie won’t be too confusing!

At the young age of 22, Jane Goodall became the assistant of paleontologist and archaelogist, Louis Leakey in the jungles of Tanzania – a very unusual profession of a young woman living in 1957! She famously observed chimps eating meat, when they had previously been thought to be vegetarians. Further, she discovered that they used “tools” (grass stems, branches, etc.) to extract termites from their homes. This observation turned the anthropological world upside down, as it had always been believed that humans were the only ones who made and used tools. As Leakey said, in response to this discovery: “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man’ or accept chimpanzees as humans.”

During her subsequent education and observations, Goodall refused to refer to chimps by numbers, as most scientists did. She always named them, and maintained that we are closely related by bonds that extend far beyond genetic makeup.

In the years since her fieldwork, Goodall has established the Jane Goodall Institute (to which we donate 5% of our profits), and the youth-oriented Roots & Shoots. Goodall lectures around the country, sharing her stories of the deep connections between humans and the inhabitants of the jungles and forests. I was privileged to attend one of her lectures a few years ago, and was brought to tears by her words and her vibrant energy. She is truly a mother goddess protecting all the creatures (human or not) of this beautiful planet. (Read more about our donations, and JGI here. Or click here if you want to help JGI.)

Jane contains the organic essential oils of patchouli, ylang ylang, and a touch of lemongrass. It is the ultimate down-to-earth blend. The patchouli is a strong, grounding base, while the ylang ylang gives it a feminine note, and the lemongrass a touch of the exotic. This scent will help keep you focused, and allow you to open your eyes to the world around you. It can help you in situations in which you need sharp observational skills, or when you simply need patience, and a bit of a lift. And believe it or not, lemongrass and patchouli oils are often used as natural insect repellents! So if you really are going out into the jungle, this is the perfect blend for you!

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

(Photo credit: CBS/Landov.)

Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Janie

Welcome the first member of our Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume family (formerly known as Sankalpa Scents). Janie was named after Janie Crawford, the heroine of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I read this novel twice: the first time, in my 18th year, during my first term in college, and the second, when I was about 26, and had gone back to college after a long break. Both times, Janie’s relationship with nature made a major impression on me (as is true for most readers). She is genuinely in love with her environment, and connects to other living beings in a very primal way. At a young age, she correlates the relationship between bees and flowers with romantic/sexual love:

[Janie] was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation… Oh to be a pear tree – any tree in bloom!  With kissing bees singing of the beginning of the world!

Five Seed‘s Janie blend contains the organic essential oils of lavender, sweet orange, and ylang ylang. It is earthy, floral, sweet, and sensual. It is meant to help you open your senses to the world around. It will aid you in feeling connected with other living beings, bring out your inner vibrancy, and remind you of the sensuality of your inner Earth Goddess. It’s safe to say that you’ll be walking barefoot in the grass before the day is over, if you wear this feminine, earthy blend.

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

Top picture collage: Herbal Aromatherapy Perfume: Janie, Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God (Harper Classics), Halle Berry as Janie (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)

New Product: Sankalpa Scents

Our two debut scents: Jane & Janie. Yeah, we know – confusing!

There are two things I have wanted to primarily focus on here at 5 Seed: natural remedies (if only I could figure out how to ship liquids without getting in trouble), and aromatherapy products. These are two of my passions. With the help of some creative friends, I decided to create solid aromatherapy balms – which not only keeps me on the good side of the USPS, but it makes this item perfect for traveling, or just keeping in your desk or purse.

My sister (and her brilliant unborn baby) came up with the idea for the name (Sankalpa Scents). I was reluctant, at first, simply because I don’t wish to capitalize on the whole “yoga gimmick” movement. But I decided to go for it, and hope that my customers will trust that further commercializing yoga is not my sankalpa.

To back track a bit, sankalpa is Sanskrit for resolve, intention, will, purpose, and/or determination. According to Yoga Journal:

To make a sankalpa is to set an intention—it’s like a New Year’s resolution with a yogic twist. While a resolution often zeros in on a perceived negative aspect of ourselves…, a sankalpa explores what’s behind the thought or feeling… A sankalpa also praises the nobility of the effort rather than focusing on what you are doing wrong.

This description might give you an understanding of why I decided to use this name. Each one is meant to help you shift your internal focus to where you want it to be. Some are invigorating, some are motivating, and some are calming. They are meant to be used with strong intentions – a vision of the quality you wish to experience. Confidence. Peace. Joy. Love. Energy.

Each scent is named after a woman – real or fictional – who embodies the qualities that are enlivened and enhanced by the essential oil blends. We will list specific aromatherapy information for each blend here on the blog, and on the corresponding product pages.

The beauty of Sankalpa Scents is that you don’t have to believe in aromatherapy to use them. They can be used simply as solid perfume, rubbed on at your pulse points. The scents are always light and natural – never overpowering and artificial like commercial perfumes.

For those of you who wish to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy, you can not only use these as perfume, but can keep them in your purse or desk so they are available when you need to recenter, recharge, and rejuvenate. Simply rub a pea-sized amount into your palms, creating warmth which will enliven the scents in the blend you’ve chosen. Open your hands in front of your face and take a few moments to breathe the scent in, meditating on the quality you need at that moment (tranquility, energy, patience, etc.). You can also rub small amounts of this perfume balm into your temples or at the back of your neck to relieve headaches. When you’re done, simply wipe off your hands, or give them a quick rinse in the sink.

Having said all that, I do want to make sure you understand the potency of essential oils. They aren’t potentially toxic, chemically derived fragrances, but they are extremely potent natural substances. First of all, please click here to read more about this. Secondly, please be aware of your allergies. We cannot stress this enough. Essential oils are plant materials, so if you’re allergic to, say, oranges, then you will want to avoid all Sankalpa blends containing citrus oils, just to be safe.

Finally, if you are pregnant, the safest thing to do is to consult your doctor before using ANY product from any bath & body business containing essential oils. There are multiple reasons for this, but I’ll leave the explanations to the professionals. This doesn’t mean that essential oils are harmful or dangerous – it is simply wise to inform yourself about anything you use on your skin during pregnancy.

Please remember that all information here is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose any illness, nor dowe make any medical claims or guarantees about our products’ ability to treat or cure any disease. Remember, if you are pregnant, or are suffering from a disease or illness, please consult your physician before using products containing essential oils. We do not recommend use of Sankalpa Scents on children.