Aroma: The aroma is sweet with spicy and comforting notes that give the feeling of warmth and comfort – perfect for the holidays! It can work as a base to middle note in blends and doesn’t require much to be used.

Aromatherapist notes: This is another wonderful oil to use as an alternative to cinnamon. It’s one I use in personal antiviral blends for its high eugenol content. It also has a density more than water which is pretty interesting and works great as a middle to base note in blends.

Recommended applications: Diffusing and topical application using safe dilution ratios.

Blends with: Buddha Wood, Black Pepper, Black Spruce, Blood Orange, Virginia Cedarwood, Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Copaiba, Douglas-fir, Ginger, Ho Wood, Alligator Juniper, Red Mandarin, Nutmeg, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Scotch Pine, and Vetiver

Safety Data: This oil has the potential to be a membrane irritant so it’s not recommended for steam inhalation tents. It has a low maximum dermal recommendation from Tisserand & Young’s Essential Oil Safety of 0.15% so care should be taken if using topically. There is also a concern for potential blood clotting issues.
Other considerations:
• Not recommended for use in bath products due to potential for sensitization concerns.
• Do not place on broken skin.
California Prop 65 Statement: This product contains essential oil constituents on the CA Prop 65 list of toxic chemicals. This product conforms to the reporting requirements of California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986). We are conforming to the regulation by reporting the existence, or lack thereof, of ingredients deemed reportable by the above mentioned regulations via a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), in Section 15 “Regulatory Information.” Ingredients from Natural Food Sources (NFS) are exempt from reporting in accordance with Title 27, § 25501(a)

Shelf Life: About 4 years

A couple of months ago, our good friend, Lola King completed her final inventory for Be Kind Botanicals. It was both a blessing and bittersweet. She worked for close to a decade to provide the best oils she could find, even if it meant processing the plant material herself and having a distiller obtain it through distillation. When Marge heard the news of her closing Be Kind Botanicals, she jumped at the opportunity to snag some of her finest inventory before it was gone for good. We are delighted to present to you our “Be Kind” Collection, so that you can experience what Lola and Marge find to be some of the most exquisite offerings of essential oils from around the globe… New Zealand Lavender may be the top of the list. These are in limited supply and will only be sold in retail sizes.

GC/MS Analysis:
Lola’s Allspice

If you love the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and hints of black pepper, then you will fall in love with this wonderful CO2 extract, also known as Pimento Berry, used as a spice in food industries, (think bakery and sausage products, sauces, fish and meat dishes), in pharmaceuticals and in perfumery. The essential oil of Allspice can be quite strong, yet the CO2 is a bit more subtle leaving you with a smile and memories of autumns past.

Aromatically, Allspice shines when blended with other oils (especially the sweet citrus oils!) It would add a sweet and spicy note to any antibacterial blend, and is great for clearing the air. Possibly aphrodisiac … a great oil for the man in your life. A few drops in a massage blend would be warming and stimulating. It may also ease the pain of arthritis or rheumatism.

Julia Lawless, in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils says Allspice is useful for arthritis, muscle tone, stiffness, rheumatism, muscular and gastric cramps, indigestion, nausea, depression, nervous tension/exhaustion, neuralgia, coughs, and bronchitis.

Madeleine Kerkof, in her newest book, CO2 Extracts in Aromatherapy, states that additionally Allspice is anesthetic, analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, circulation promoting, rubefacient and a general stimulant. She adds it is warming to the mind and soul, invigorating and uplifting, offering backbone and comforting support.

Emotionally, Madeleine writes that Allspice CO2 is good for depression and stress, uncertainty, anxieties, when one has difficulty digesting challenging times, an oil for emotional, mental and spiritual exhaustion; being cold to the core.

Some may choose the distilled version of this oil because the primary component in Allspice is the phenol Eugenol (67-80% normal range) which research has shown to be an effective anthelmintic (used to destroy parasitic worms), anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, muscle relaxant, and insect repellent. I would think some of those properties certainly apply here, although to a lesser degree than the distilled oil because the CO2 normal range is 20-40%. This is also why the Safety concerns (below) are different from the distilled oil Personally we think that most ‘end users’ should not be using any essential oils

BLENDS WITH: Said to blend very well with Ginger, Geranium, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, and Ylangylang. Also blends well with West Indies Bay, Beeswax Absolute, the various spice oils, Guaiacwood, Rose Absolute, Spearmint, Vanilla, and many of the wood oils.

SHELF LIFE:

Approximately 2 to 3 years after you open the bottle. Storing dark, refrigerated, and decanting half full bottles into smaller, full bottles will extend shelf life.

CofA
Batch No. GE-58828
Batch No. GE-58856
Batch No. GE-59122 (Current Batch)

This newsletter contains:

Back in stock and new products.

Autumn Spice Sale.

Hallowe’en Sale October 31st.

AMAZON KINDLE COUNT DOWN on Marge’s books.

Our Clients Say: Comments and suggestions.

Blog updates.

Facebook tidbits.

Aromatic Quote of the Season.

BACK IN STOCK: Tis the season for restocking!

Recent arrivals from France:

Our long awaited Wild High Altitude Lavender —la crème
de la crème—also fresh distillations of
all three of our organic Lavandins, more Lavender Mailette, and (in
my opinion) our best value— Population Lavender. We are in process of
having all of these oils tested, but for now the GC/MS analysis on our website
is from the 2013 distillation. Also from our favorite producer, both
organic Thyme Linalol and rare Thyme Thujanol. Sourcing French Thyme
was a challenge this year, and the cost of the Thujanol chemotype has escalated.
Why? Because there was a drought in the high regions of Provence this summer. “But,” I asked, “Thyme thrives in dry weather, why is there a shortage?”
“Ah yes, the thyme did well. But the grass died, so the goats ate the thyme.”

We also were able to bring in a bit more Mastic. Amazing stuff!

New arrivals from Canada:

Organic Yarrow Hydrosol and more organically certified Wild Carrot Seed Hydrosol, as well as a new shipment of our organic Juniper Branch and Berry Oil and a small amount of healing Poplar Balsam Oil.

Just arrived this week, again from France:

Helichrysum Hydrosol, Wild Carrot Seed Essential Oil and new to us, Criste Marine Essential Oil, Crithmum maritimum, is commonly known as Sea
Fennel or Samphire or Rock Samphire. Reputed to be a powerful diuretic, said to
have both anti-oxidant scavenging and firming actions in skin care.

We also received a new supply of our Oxygen Barrier…for
those who purchase bulk sizes of our oils, this will help prolong their shelf
life.

NEW BLEND:

We have had a lot of requests recently for people wanting a
blend to support friends and loved ones in Hospice care. The name
that kept running through my head was Peaceful Crossing, a blend of
Frankincense CO2 for calming, centering and connecting with the Sacred, Atlas
Cedarwood, to calm anxiety and ease fears, Cypress, for comfort in times of
loss, Blood Orange, our sweet anti-depressant, Rose Otto for calming grief and
hysteria, and Spikenard, known for helping achieve inner peace, and releasing
fears and resentments, the oil of forgiveness. This blend was designed to
aid both the individuals preparing for the crossing, and the loved ones at their
side. Available undiluted to use in a diffuser or inhaler or in a skin safe
anointing oil (in jojoba oil) for topical use.

AUTUMN SPICE SALE:

Autumn seems just the right time to enjoy the gentle spices. Until our next newsletter, save 10% on 15 ml sizes of all our
seasonal spice oils: Allspice, Cardamom, Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Coriander, Ginger, Ginger CO2, and Nutmeg CO2. (Yes, the comment about our Allspice oil, below, is what prompted this spicy sale.)

HALLOWE’EN SALE:

On Friday, October 31st use the discount code TRICK and save
12.5% on retail sizes of all our essential oils, absolutes, and CO2
extracts. (Retail sizes are 2, 5 and 15 ml bottles.)

OR, on the full Hallowe’en weekend, from Friday the 31st
through Sunday night, November 2nd, use the discount code TREAT and save 10%
on almost all of our products.

Special books, kits, and bulk oils are
excluded from either sale.

ENJOY!

AMAZON KINDLE SALE

on both of Marge’s Books. It has been a year since we
released the Kindle version of

Essential Oils and Aromatics.

To celebrate, from November 1st through November 3rd save on both of our
books,

Essential Oils and Aromatics and
Essential
Waters. These are “countdown” sales. On Essential Waters,
save over 50% for the first 36 hours of the sale, then save over 25% until
the sale ends. Similar savings on Essential Oils and Aromatics.

OUR CLIENTS SAY:

Recently a Facebook group that shall remain anonymous hosted
a discussion of “which supplier do you prefer.” Amid all the MLM
recommendations from avid fans one message jumped out at me. Jennifer Berry wrote:

When I was starting out 20 years ago, I found an online
store called Nature’s Gift that was taking painstaking care to import
high-quality, 100% pure essential oils, and was sharing safe, accurate, and
useful information to enhance their use. In 20 years Marge Clark and her crew have never steered me wrong or sold me a bad product, and I’ve learned as much from their website as from any of the books
I’ve read. You will not be disappointed.

I shared that with Christi…it touched both of our hearts,
and we thank Jennifer, both for her lovely comment, and for letting us share
it with you.

Re Allspice Oil:

Dear Folks at Nature’s Gift,

I just wanted you to know that my recent
order, which included Essential Oil of Allspice, absolutely
rocked my world. The Allspice is very special and of exceptional
quality: It is all at the same time, sharp, warm, clear, deeply
spicy, exotic, familiar, and luxurious. I think it should be added
to the official list of aphrodisiac oils! I have long loved the
warm oils, but this one in particular, is of exceptional quality it
every way. The others I ordered were also of amazing quality (the
Ginger Root CO2, especially)….but that Allspice!! There are no
words! Sigh. Thank you.

p>This was my first order from Nature’s Gift, and I am
so pleased, you can be sure that I will be a regular customer.

Sincerely, Jacqui J

Now, it’s not often we get a chance to rock someone’s
world, so I thought we’d share this. I suggested to Jacqui
that next time she might want to sample Bay Laurel, since she loves
the warm spices. I think it will also appeal to her.

A Warming Blend

Dannie Lane, of AromaTherapeutics Medicinal Aromatherapy and
Massage shared this energetically (and physically!) warming blend last
winter. I thought it would fit in well with our Autumn Spice sale:

Ok, it’s cold out, very, very cold! This is Atlanta, we
should not have highs in the upper 20’s with wind chills in the mid teens!
Well I work out of my home and have some clients coming over this afternoon
so I want to make something warming, something to make the place “feel”
warm and welcoming. So I mixed up a blend of EOs that are energetically warm
to diffuse. The mix is:

In a 5ml bottle with a dropper top blend

Ginger 50 drops: strong warming oil, gives a feeling of comfort and warmth,
openness
Cassia 25 drops: strongly warming to the body, not as HOT as cinnamon gives
the feeling of comfort (I like how it smells when defused better then
cinnamon)
Allspice 10 drops: it smells good, and gives energy to the place/home.
Black Pepper 15 drops: soft and light, gives a gentle warmth to a room,
think of it as a warm hug.
Cardamom 15 drops: love this oil, warming, sweet and spicy, but gentle at
the same time, very uplifting to the mind
Lemon 13 drops: light and sweet uplifting to the emotions and the mind.

Add the EOs, one at a time, after adding each oil, swirl to mix and smell
the blend. When adding each oil, think of WHY you are adding it and what you
want the blend to do.

Warning!!! These are powerful oils, defuse for 10 to 15 min at a time and
stop for 30 to 45 min, then defuse again for 10 to 15 min. I would not let
the defused oil get on finished surfaces!

An Autumn Blend from 14 years ago:

My friend June recently contributed this lovely seasonal blend for the diffuser or lamp:

Autumn Forest Blend
I just put together a forest-type blend of 15
drops Black Spruce, 1 drop Atlas Cedarwood, 1 drop Galbanum and have
it in my nebulizer right now. Lovely, rather like the woods on a
late autumn afternoon after a rain. Woodsy but with a touch of
composting leaves, very reminiscent of childhood walks in New
England. It will be interesting to see how it mellows after a few
days. I might even try this in a bath, diluting it in some Jojoba
oil first, or try it for meditation. Most intriguing.

This transplanted New Englander gets homesick every
October… and this blend DOES smell like home!

Sleep Sweet Linen Spray from Chasa Cochran of Back to Square One:

4 fl oz vodka, 20 drops Green Mandarine (Citrus reticulata), 14 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), 6 drops Himalayan Cedarwood (Cedrus deodara), and 4 drops Blue Tansy (Tanacetuum anuum)… add essential oils to the vodka, shake well and spray your pillowcase.

BLOG UPDATES:

Most of our blog articles have been concerned with our newly
redesigned website. If you haven’t visited yet and have questions you
might want to browse some of the articles introducing it:

Some Screen Shots introducing the changes.

How to change your password (because the new site will assign you one at
random.)

Missing the alphabetical “Quick Order List”? We’ve added
one.
How to find and use it.

Also, Lisa, the talented graphic artist on our design team
has written a great TOUR of the new site.
Not on the
blog, but on the site itself, here.

And for a change in pace, “a day in the life” of Nature’s
Gift. A HUGE order from a hospice for a product we don’t normally make
in large batches.

See how we got it together here.

FACEBOOK TIDBITS:

Natural perfumer Christine Malcolm, of Santa Fe Botanicals
shared this wonderful
You
Tube video about distillation in France, Bulgaria and Hungary.

A wonderful blog article by Victoria of Bois de Jasmin about
the use of

Citrus oils in fine perfumery.

A published research study showing the effectiveness of

Marjoram, Lavender, Black Pepper and Peppermint on patients with chronic
neck pain.

Quote of the month:

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
(L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables)

To sign up for your own copy of the newsletter to be emailed to you, please click here.

Aroma: This essential oil has such a beautiful and peaceful smell. It is resinous, slightly sweet, warm, radiant, with hints of spicy undertones. It makes a wonderful base note for most blends and is truly an addictive aroma that I personally enjoy. When I say or write the words “Warm Aromatic Regards,” I instantly think of myrrh because it’s aroma is so friendly.

Aromatherapist notes: I am a big fan of myrrh as it can be very supportive for healing skin concerns and is a wonderful component in respiratory support blends. It is also fantastic for the skin in general! This is an essential oil that ages quite well and thickens over time. At times you may find that because of this, it may make the cap difficult to remove. A quick tip to help relieve this, is to use a Q-tip with a drop or two jojoba around the bottle’s neck. This will loosen anything on the glass as well as lubricate the cap when it is placed on the bottle alleviating the sticky resin and hardening of the myrrh in that area.

Recommended applications: Diffuse, topical application using safe dilution ratios, use in inhaler and steam inhalation blends.

Blends with: Allspice, Black Pepper, Black Spruce, Blood Orange, German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Cypress, Geranium, Ginger, Alligator Juniper, Lavender, Red Mandarin, Sweet Orang, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petitgrain bigarade, Scotch Pine, Virginia Cedarwood, and Vetiver.

Safety Data: Myrrh essential oil is contraindicated for individuals who are pregnant or lactating.
Other considerations:
• Do not place on broken skin.

Shelf Life: About 6-8 years

Certificate of Analysis:
Lola’s Myrrh

Aroma: The aroma of this beautiful oil is rich in woodsy tones, yet soft and supple with a hint of smokiness. It has a wonderfully balanced aroma that makes it very easy to blend with. It works most effectively as a fixative or base note in blends.

Aromatherapist notes: Buddha Wood Essential Oil is a beautiful, spiritual and practical oil that is steam distilled from a small tree native to Australia. Also known as Australian Desert Rosewood, it’s most widely known for its grounding abilities and chemistry when used in outdoor sprays. This oil is a wonderful base note and perfect addition to any meditative blends.

Recommended applications: Diffuse, topical application using safe dilution ratios, steam inhalation, inhaler.

Blends with: Allspice, Most citrus oils, Black Pepper, Cinnamon Bark, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Copaiba, Eucalyptus Ironbark, Geranium, Ginger, Ho Wood, Kunzea, Sweet Marjoram, Nutmeg, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rhododendron, Tea Tree, and Ylang ylang.

Safety Data: This essential oil is has no known safety concerns.
Other considerations:
• Do not place on broken skin.

Shelf Life: About 8+ years

Certificate of Analysis:
Lola’s Buddhawood

If, like I did, you read the latin name, and think “cinnamon” and expect a spicy aroma, you will be surprised and, perhaps, disappointed. But if you love the aroma of the “medicinal” oils—Tea Tree, Naiouli, then you will love this new addition to our collection.

Christi writes:

“Cheery and uplifting are two words that come to mind for this exciting new oil. If you like Tea Tree, you will *love* Saro! Initially it smells fresh and medicinal—think Tea Tree, Naiouli, Cajeput with an aroma reminiscent of all three. However, on the initial dry down, we detected a trace of citrus…yes, definitely lemony. A longer dry down gave us a slightly fruity/floral aroma. Reminiscent of Palma Rosa, but prettier.”

This camphorous oil is said to be highly anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and an immune system builder. It will be a great addition to any germkilling blend. It also acts as a gentle expectorant for respiratory blends. It will help loosen up a tight cough. Saro Oil is said to be anti-inflammatory and a valuable addition to a sore muscle massage blend (perhaps with a touch of one of the warming oils, ginger, or allspice?).

Energizing and uplifting it may help with anxiety and depression.

Since Saro is a fairly new essential oil and still being researched we would not recommend using it on young children, those with fragile health conditions, with epilepsy, or during pregnancy.

My French Mentor says he uses it interchangeably with Ravintsara, for its powerful anti viral effects.

GC/MS Analysis:
Batch No. MA-B270004
Batch No. MA-B270008
Batch No. MA-B270009
Batch No. MA-B270013
Batch No. MA-58976

Deeply resinous aroma, I fell in love with this new oil from my French mentor. Some sources compare the aroma of distilled Mastic to Galbanum, but I don’t detect that deep moist greenness. Other authors write that Mastic has a fresh, balsamic fragrance similar to pine. This more closely describes our oil. It is my understanding that when freshly distilled the oil has the deep green galbanum-like note described above, but as the oil ages it becomes rounder, richer and softer. An excellent anchor for lighter notes.

Mastic Essential Oil is anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, balsamic, expectorant, and diuretic. A warming oil, it is used to treat arthritis and bronchitis. When diluted in a massage oil it is a wonderful pain reliever.

Mastic’s fresh lightly woody aroma is an excellent breath freshener when used as a gargle or mouth wash. A 1985 study by the University of Thessaloniki and the Meikai University discovered that mastic can reduce bacterial plaque in the mouth by 41.5 percent.

It is often recommended for use in a room spray where its antiseptic and deodorant qualities both kill germs and freshen the air. It is also used as an insect repellent.

Mastic Essential Oil is used in skin care products to treat boils, cuts, wounds, and ringworm as well as an ingredient in blends for very oily skin.

Mastic is an amazing astringent. My French mentor taught me that it is a vasoconstrictor, and thus recommended for treating cuts and wounds to help stop bleeding, as well for treating varicose veins and spider veins. It is used in blends for decongesting the lymph and veins, and may also help decongest the prostate gland. I’ve read that it may be useful for an enlarged prostate, and to treat urinary tract infections as well as treating diarrhea.

Mastic can be used safely on children in an appropriately low dose.

Research indicates that both Mastic Essential Oil and Mastic Gum can inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. Read the paper here.

Certificate of Analysis:
Batch No. MO-B566020
Batch No. MO-58563
Batch No. MO-59165
Batch No. ES-59259 (Current Batch)

BLENDS WITH: Allspice, Bay Laurel, Beeswax Absolute, Benzoin Absolute, Bergamot, Carrot Seed, Cassie Absolute, Cedarwood, Cistus and Labdanum, Cinnamon Bark and Cinnamon Leaf, Cassia, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Coriander Seed, Fir Balsam, Frankincense, Galbanum, Guaiacwood, Hay Absolute, Lavender and Lavandins, Lemon, Lime, Nutmeg, Oakmoss, Orange, Osmanthus, Roses, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver, Violet Leaf, and Ylangylang. Mastic is said to be a really effective perfume fixative.

First, I want to take a moment to wish our friends celebrating the Festival of Lights a Happy Hanakkah!

Special Sales

As we approach the Holiday season, we are offering all of our Frankincense oils, Myrrh oil and Myrrh CO2 at 10% off normal retail pricing (this includes our six Frankincense Infused oils as well as our two Frankincense Samplers). Also on sale, our special Holiday Blends: Christi’s “ O Christmas Tree ”, Three Kings, and this year’s Christmas Bliss, a codistillation of various Fir Trees from the Rockies. (Sorry, we ran out of Holiday Joy!) And, to complete the sale items, our Frankincense and Myrrh Hydrosols.

We will be doing Flash Sales on some of our favorite Christmas Oils, so be sure to check our Facebook page and our homepage for the latest. Check often!

Back In Stock Products

After an absence of years, our beautiful Australian Rosemary A-Pinene.

More copies of Salvatore Battaglia’s Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, 3rd Edition, Vol.1. (This should be on your Santa list!)

More copies of Madeleine Kerkhof’s Complementary Care book.

Back in Stock, just in time for winter’s assault on our skin: Aloe Butter, Winter Repair Cream, and more Cleopatra’s Secret Radiance Creme.

More Palo Santo, restocking more of the same batch, at a slightly lower price. (Lower prices are a good thing and we love to be able to pass them along to you!) Also a new batch of Australian Blue Cypress oil, at a lower price.

On a FedEx truck, to be added back in stock as quickly as we can inspect and measure them back into stock: Black Cumin Seed CO2, Hops CO2, Orris Root, for our perfumers, Rose Hip Pulp CO2, Rosemary anti-oxidant to protect your precious lipids, and Sea Buckthorn Berry Pulp CO2. (We’ve restocked a long list of other CO2s that were getting low, but not quite out of stock yet.)

New Just in time for the Holidays, a seasonal spice: Allspice CO2.

Holiday Stress?

Our Staff Aromatherapists came up with some suggestions:

Practical, simple routines incorporating aromatics to reduce holiday stress

There are simple things we can weave into our everyday lives with little effort. By adding these activities to your routine, you can easily and effectively reduce the stress associated with the busy holiday season. Below are a few simple suggestions which you can seamlessly integrate into each day.

Try meditation by finding a few moments of peace during a break. Creating an inhaler for yourself with essential oils like Palo santo, Frankincense, Vetiver, and/or Rose can bring a subtle aroma of deep peace to your practice. If meditation isn’t for you, prayer has been known to have a similar mind-focusing effect.
Tidying the kitchen before bed allows for a simpler morning. Wipe the counters, load the dishwasher and set out your mug for your morning tea or coffee ritual. Make this even more pleasant by using a warmer or diffuser with bright citruses to lift your spirits without stimulating your mind too much before heading to bed. I’d suggest Lemon, Sweet Orange, and/or Spearmint essential oils, all happy and “Family Friendly.”
Needless to say, getting to bed early can have profound stress-reducing effects on your life. A good night’s rest is vital! Be sure to create a simple routine for yourself such as skin care, oral care and ensure screens are off 30 minutes before lying down. The blue light emitted by screens has been proven to interrupt the body’s production of melatonin and therefore disrupting sleep. To ease this process even further, the use of hydrosols such as Lavender or Roman Chamomile can be misted onto linens. If this doesn’t suit you, try a diffuser with a drop or two of Lavender, Green Mandarin and Vetiver to soothe and comfort your mind so you can settle down to restful sleep.

(More seasonal suggestions from Sue and Christina coming next week.)

Holiday Hours at Nature’s Gift

We will be open for business and shipping orders through Friday, December 21. Orders that arrive by noon on Friday will go out that day. We will be closed for the holidays on Monday and Tuesday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On the 26th we will return to work, but we will not be processing orders. Between Christmas and New Year’s we will be closed for inventory. Orders placed while we are closed will start shipping, in the order placed, on Wednesday, January 2nd. Thank you for understanding.

Win a Gift Certificate

Submit a review of your favorite Nature’s Gift products. Every 10th review received during the month of December gets a 0.00 gift certificate. NOTE: the link to write a product review is at the bottom each product page.

Holiday Decorating

Taken from P. Allen Smith’s Gardening newsletter…

1-2-3 Done! Cinnamon Pine Cones

This is a natural way to add a little fragrance to your holiday decorations.

Apply a few drops of cinnamon oil to each pine cone with a cotton swab.
Store the pine cones in a plastic bag for a few days.
Place the pine cones in a bowl and enjoy the festive scent of cinnamon.

Holiday Blends and Recipes

(from a decade old newsletter, this is almost always in our Holiday Newsletter, for our first-time readers.)

Pomander Ball Cleaner

(adapted from a recipe from Barbara Lucks)

Not only does this preparation clean but the essential oils disinfect and provide a natural, festive fragrance.

1 teaspoon Sweet Orange or Mandarine essential oil
a few drops of Clove Oil and Cinnamon Leaf oils
1 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons borax
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
2 cups hot water (to dissolve the soda and borax)

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to dissolve and blend the minerals. You can spray this cleaner onto a surface then leave it for 15 minutes before wiping it off, to give the essential oils’ antiseptic qualities time to work (makes 2 cups).

It will leave your house smelling like an old fashioned, clove studded pomander ball!

COLD Weather mouse invasion

Came across an old Email from Linda Isbell, who said that now the cold weather has hit, the mice are trying to take up residence in her kitchen. She’s found that not only does Peppermint Essential Oil keep ants away, it also discourages the mice. A few drops on cotton balls in the corners of her cabinets seem to have encouraged them to move on.

Winter Wonderland Blend

(from my friend Beverley, Principal of the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy ), a great blend for the lamp or diffuser. Just a wee bit energizing.

3 drops Juniper;
6 drops Black Spruce;
3 drops Cypress;
7 drops Balsam Fir;
6 drops Pine;
1 drop Peppermint;
1 drop Benzoin;
1 drop Vanilla. CO2

Christmas Carpet Refresher

I think I&rsqup;m going to make a variation of my friend Wendy, of Aromaweb ’s, carpet cleanser/freshener for the Christmas season.

Wendy’s recipe, with my variation: to 4 cups of Borax (20 Mule Team, in the Laundry Aisle) add 3 mls (or 60 drops) of either Holiday Joy Synergy or Balsam Fir Essential Oil. Take a spoon and mash up the little clumps that will form when the oil hits the Borax, stir until well mixed. If the scent seems too strong to you, just add a little more Borax. Before vacuuming, I walk around the house and sprinkle it by hand in the same manner one would sow seeds. Let it sit on the carpet for 10-15 minutes, or longer if you like, and then vacuum. This formula will cover approx. 1000 square feet, give or take a little. (I keep the fur family in another room until I’ve finished vacuuming. Don’t want them walking on the borax OR the essential oils!)

Mailing Deadlines, per the USPS

If you want your gifts delivered by Christmas

Canada, China, Japan, the Pacific Rim, Europe: International EXPRESS mail must ship by Dec. 15.

APO/FPO Priority Mail deadline: Dec. 18.

Domestic Priority Mail, including Hawaii and Alaska, deadline is December 20.

Domestic EXPRESS MAIL deadline is December 22.

Needless to say, the USPS does not guarantee delivery. Their disclaimer:
1. Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before December 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time and other conditions, including customs delays. Some restrictions apply.
2. For Priority Mail Express shipments mailed December 22 through December 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered or delivery was not attempted with 2 business days.

We, the team at Nature’s Gift, will get your orders shipped in a timely manner. That’s what we guarantee.

Our Clients Say

Psoriasis

I have been using the Pomegranate CO2 for just a few weeks, with 5 drops of Cade EO added to 15 ml. I saw results within days! I’ve had psoriasis since I was a teen-ager, and this is the best result I’ve ever seen. Thanks for the recommendation, Marge! -Allyn S

Molluscum contagiosum

Kristin writes: Some positive feedback regarding your Ravensara in Calophyllum. It has been effective for my adult son who had been waiting almost a year for his immune system to eradicate 7 or 8 molluscum contagiosum on his torso. With diligent use for several weeks, the last one is almost gone! Win-win!!

Arthritic Knees

A blog article about an event at the NAHA conference: Two women came to our booth, asking if I had anything for Arthritis. No Miracle Oil, not That’s Better, none of my normal remedies. But we did have some Arnica Massage oil, and some Mango Ginger 10% dilution. A scant palmful of the Arnica Massage oil, with a few drops of the Mango Ginger 10%, perhaps 1/4th as much. My visitor rubbed the concoction into her knees, and was able to spend the rest of the day painfree. I LOVE it when an idea works so well!

Quote of the Month

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!
—Hamilton Wright Mabie

Let Christmas not become a thing
Merely of merchant’s trafficking,
Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath
And surface pleasure, but beneath
The childish glamour, let us find
Nourishment for heart and mind.
Let us follow kinder ways
Through our teeming human maze,
And help the age of peace to come.
—Madeline Morse

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Hello June, how did you get here so fast?

June sales

Save 10% on retail sizes of all of our favorite wood oils, Australian BuddhaWood CO2, Atlas Cedarwood, Himalayan Cedarwood, Guaiacwood, from Paraguay, Chinese Ho Wood (even our Private Reserve Alligator Juniper!) and all our Sandalwood oils.

Also, for summer fun, outdoor specials: all forms of SkeeterBeater, Sunburn Soother, Trauma Oil, for the inevitable bumps and bruises, MuscleEase for over stressed muscles, After the Bite (because you forgot the SkeeterBeater), and even our already discounted Vacation Saver Kit.

New and not to be missed

The long awaited Third Edition, Volume One of Salvatore Battaglia’s Complete Guide To Aromatherapy.

Does this replace the Second Edition ? No, It does not cover the full scope of the Second Edition. What is DOES cover is an overview “Foundation” of how aromatherapy is practiced, both historically, and at the present time, and the largest, most complete Materia Medica of any book in my collection I announced its arrival on Facebook and one quarter of our initial shipment sold in 24 hours. We will be ordering more, but order quickly to avoid a wait.

New and long awaited back in stock products

We have never had such a long list of new products. Enjoy!

Amazing new oils imported from an artisan distiller in Italy. So many of you say you want the very best, artisan distilled, ethically harvested or organic. We have put our money where your mouth is with this beautiful collection of new oils. See our Italian Helichrysum (soulstirring), also available in a 10% dilution in organic Jojoba, a beautiful Italian Lavandin, Sicilian Oregano vulgare, an amazing light translucent blue and sweetly scented Yarrow, a true rarity, Cypress FRUIT oil, (sometimes called Templin), Totally new to us Dwarf Pine (Mugo Pine), and longlasting Norway Spruce. All of these beauties belong in our Special Reserve collection, but so far we have only added the amazing Yarrow. Just enter “Italian collection” in our search box to bring up the whole collection. Please note, some of these are only available in very small amounts, some we can make available in bulk sizes. Let us know if larger sizes would meet your needs.

Two new to us Patchouli oils that Christi said I had to buy. Cindi, the book keeper said “why?” and Christi said “they are beautiful!” so of course we had to add both these beauties.

Patchouli Dark, from Sumatra, amber in color, deep and dark in aroma, and Patchouli Organic, from Indonesia, the first Patchouli we have loved that came with Organic Certification. (As always, we are not certified resellers. If you need an unbroken chain of Organic certification we can not be your supplier. That’s the way the certification process works. But the oil was USDA certified organic when we unpacked it, and we certainly have done nothing to alter it.)

A versatile new Carrier oil.. Robert Tisserand says it’s his favorite. See why.

Back in stock after being gone for five years: Organic Balsam Poplar from Canada. We also restocked our traditional deep cobalt Canadian Yarrow oil.

Back in stock, more of our beautiful Myrrh from Somalia. and, from my French mentor, more Mastic oil (Pistacia lentiscus)…lovely gentle astringent. (We refilled some of his other oils, but they were not yet out of stock.)

New Hydrosols, all organic from France: Linden, Cypress, Sage, and St. Johns Wort. Back in stock Hydrosols: Organically produced Carrot Seed and White Sage.

Back in stock floral waxes!

REFORMULATED: Fresh Aire synergy and Reunité We sold off the old, and reformulated the new. It took a lot of tweaking and a lot of testing. We are delighted to make them available to you.

News on the Fragonia™ front…John expects a harvest at the end of this year. Because we have been so frugal with our supply we are now able to offer this rare and precious oil in small bulk sizes. Thank you for being so cautious with your use of it.

Blog Update

Facebook Snippets

We announced our participation in the June AromaBox from AromaGirls, LLC. (And we recommended this curated collection very highly.)

We shared a link from The Tisserand Institute giving a simple explanation of how CO2 extracts are produced.

A blog article about our Rhododendron Oil from Nepal, by the NY Institute of Aromatic Studies.

Lots of announcements of new products. Photos and product descriptions get announced on our Facebook page as we explore them. Following us on Facebook gives you first shot at new goodies.

A cross post from a Quora question I answered: What essential oils are good for anxiety ?

And lots of chatter about the new Battaglia book. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Edition, Volume one.

Our Clients Say

Sandy Barrett writes about our SoftHands Liquid Soap:

“Good Morning, Everyone! I know I’m not around much anymore, but had to share my new discovery. Early on in this journey, a good friend here made soap, and I started off buying hers. She then coaxed me until I was making my own. Then the grandkids started coming, and as the saying goes, “ain’t nobody got time for that!!”
Long story short, it’s been a rough winter on my hands, w/copious amts of hand washing and sanitizing. No amt of moisturizer was helping them recover from that assault.
A few days ago I was looking through NG’s site and noticed Softhands Liquid Soap and ordered a 16 oz bottle. It’s going to take awhile before these hands no longer look like old fishwives’ hands, but I had to share the instant relief from achey, dry, cracked skin. It feels wonderful!
My sense of smell is not quite up to snuff, as I recover from a MILD case of pneumonia. Normally I am not fond of the lingering odor of Castille soap, so was pleased to see it wasn’t an ingredient. My nose doesn’t register ANY odor from this, and Marge provides directions on adding your own favorite scent to it. So that’s my tip, if you’re like me and haven’t time to make your own, give NG’s liquid soap a try! Have a Wonderful Day!”

Steve Huanq wrote about Neroli and Petitgrain, “Thanks for always being a great source of quality oils. I am looking forwards to trying the Bitter Orange oil! Your Petitgrain is also wonderful for background work diffusing when I don’t want to dip into the Neroli ;). I save a few drops of ‘liquid gold’ because Neroli literally shimmers in the air to me and can turn around any dark mood.” I love this. Neroli is truly such a unisex floral.

Sheryl Karas, of MamaLoveOrganics wrote of our German Angelica Root, “You were right, Marge. This Angelica is awesome! Perfect for what I use it for and quite similar to one I used a long time ago. I know it IS expensive but I only use a drop or two at a time in my products. I JUST redid the math for my formulas and I had just barely enough leeway in the pricing to make it okay because I got a cheaper price on my bottles recently. So it’s okay, and it’s worth it! I use Angelica in my two MOST popular flower essence aromatherapy formulas: ‘Support for Troubled Times’ and ‘Releasing Worry and Fear’“. See her creations on her Mama Love Organics shop on Etsy is probably best: www.etsy.com/shop/mamaloveorganics

Joann from New Jersey wrote, “Also, want to tell you I found a new use for That’s Better when I recently had a sore throat. Applied some to the outside of my throat bye, bye sore throat. Blessings to all. Joan ”

I love the recommendations for new uses of our products! Thank you all for sharing.

Blends For Him: (from a 10 year old newsletter)

Years ago there was a woman named Cat on some of the soap and/or toiletries lists. I’ve not seen smiling typeface around in a long long time. Back around the turn of this century I snagged some of her formulas… If I had her email address I’d ask for permission to share them…since I don’t…I’ll apologize later!

Please remember… all of these will need diluting before using on the skin!

Vanilla Sandalwood
3 parts vanilla absolute
2 parts sandalwood e.o.
1 part patchouli e.o.
(if desired, add a touch of jamine or rose abs.)

Bay Rum
5 parts West Indies Bay (pimenta racemosa) e.o.
1 part orange e.o.
1 part clove or allspice e.o.

Dark Moon
2 parts myrrh e.o.
1 part sandalwood e.o.
1/2 part patchouli e.o.
touch jasmine abs.

Bay-Patchouli
4 drops West Indies Bay
2 drops Orange Oil
1 drop Dark Patchouli.

Forest Blend
3 parts fir needle e.o.
2 parts cedarwood e.o.
1 part juniper berry
1/2 part cypress e.o.
1/2 part patchouli e.o.

“Aromatic (or not) quotes of the month”

I’m thinking of one dear friend who will be reading this, who lost someone dear not long ago. I know she misses him a lot. And remembered a quote that helped me during a time of loss… Carly Simon:

“Life is eternal
and Love is immortal
and Death is only a horizon
and a Horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.”

In honor of our Patchouli and Sandalwood… the Eastern oils…

“A puff of wind, a puff faint and tepid and laden with strange odours of blossoms, of aromatic wood, comes out of the still night. The first sigh of the East on my face. That I can never forget. It was impalpable and enslaving, like a charm, like a whispered promise of mysterious delight…. The mysterious East faced me, perfumed like a flower, silent like death, dark like a grave.”

Joseph Conrad

And a third quote… one that is the “quote of the month” on a calender we were given… that seems to fit who and where we are today:

“Dedication: It is the effort of many that creates the ripples that can move mountains.” I wish I could send you the picture that accompanies this quote…a deep forest ravine, with a plunging waterfall. Ultimate serenity.

We all wish you a serene June!

Nature’s Gift October Newsletter

I can’t believe how long it has been since I’ve sat down and written a newsletter. I know the September Specials page became an “early Autumn” specials page because it didn’t go online until after the Equinox. I had aimed at October 1st for THIS newsletter, but I went to Minnesota to the Alliance for International Aromatheray conference instead. I will be sharing what I learned there on our blog, on Facebook and in this newsletter, as time allows.

This newsletter contains:

NEW and Back in Stock items
Clearance Sale
Buy One Get One
Special Columbus Day and Trick or Treat sales
Buy One – Get one Free – Autumn Sunshine
Client Feedback
Changes in progress
Blog Updates
Aromatic Quote of the Month

Enjoy!

NEW PRODUCTS:

Some of these are so new they are available ONLY on our new and special page. We’ll be adding them to the “main” website as time allows. ESSENTIAL OILS: English Lavender, Allspice Berry (wonderfully autumnal spice), Coffee Essential Oil…cold pressed from freshly roasted Arabica beans, SARO – Cinnamosma fragrans Baillon, amazingly healing new oil from Madagascar. HYDROSOLS: Tulsi/Holy Basil, amazingly powerful antiviral herb, Monarda – wild bergamot, powerful antibacterial, anti fungal. Exotic bath salts – Pearl Salts from Africa.

Back in stock:

Shea Soufflé and Baby Bottom Balm to soothe the skin, AromaStones finally arrived from the United Kingdom, Traditional Calophyllum from Madagascar, thick and green, Cornflower Hydrosol to ease red, tired eyes, Owyee Hydrosol, soothing anti-inflammatory, and, most important of all – the 2011 distillation of our memorable Wild High Alpine Lavender. Ethically harvested at over 1400 meters in the mountains of Haut Provence this is the benchmark of what Lavender essential oil should be, but so seldom is. All of these items are listed on our new and special page, some have been added back to their correct categories on the website. (We’re still working on them!)

Clearance Sale:

On our new and special page, until I have time to add them to our Clearance page — Our “copper free” helichrysum, reduced to 50% of its former retail price, Rose Hip and Spearmint Hydrosols and Expeller Pressed Macadamia Nut. Our lowest prices ever, so get these while they last.

Autumn Sunshine Synergy:

We discovered that over the years our Autumn Sunshine had morphed into something dark and smoky rather than the delightful spirit of Autumn that I envisioned. So Jim and I redesigned it. The newer version has received raves from those who received samples. It is featured on our New and specials page…but for those who prefer smoky and dark — we are offering a “buy one get one” sale. If you order the newly revised Autumn Sunshine, and request it in the comments section of your order, we’ll be delighted to send you, at no extra cost, a 5 ml bottle of its earlier incarnation. Just make the comment “BOGO” and we’ll send one of the older version while our supplies last.

Columbus Day Sale:

On Monday, October 10th (the celebrated Columbus Day) and Tuesday October 11th (the traditional Columbus Day sale, save 10% on most of our regular retail products: Essential oils, carriers, hydrosols, blends, synergies, skincare products. At checlcout enter the promotional code 1492 in the box marked Promo Code, and press apply. You should see the discount reflected on your screen. No discounts may be applied retroactively. If we have to manually make changes to your order, (ie, changing the shipping address or billing address, adding products, correcting the credit card information, etc.) the discount will NOT apply and you will pay full retail for the products ordered. (We count on receiving correct information the first time so our automate ordering system can work as designed.

Trick or Treat Sale:

On Hallowe’en, Monday, October 31st, 2011 we are having a special Trick or Treat Sale. Enter the code word “treat” without the quotation marks in the box marked “promo code” and press “apply”. You will receive anywhere between a 5% and a 15% discount. Only 5%? well, that may be a trick. 10, 12, 15% ??? a definite Hallowe’en treat. Please remember that our shopping cart is in California and runs on Pacific Coast time. If the discount is not reflected on your screen, go back and reapply, because we can NOT apply it retroactively. As always, kits, special books, bulk sales and clearance items are not discountable. No “double discounts” ever apply. Happy Hallowe’en from all the little ghosts and goblins at Nature’s Gift!

OUR CLIENTS SAY:

From Penelope Cansler, old friend and client from South Carolina:

Marge,
I just had to write. Earlier this week I made an order which included the new English Lavender. When my order arrived late yesterday afternoon (Friday, Sept 30), I immediately opened the lavender and fell in love with it. It is the most delicious lavender I have ever smelled! Isn’t it wonderful that besides smelling so heavenly, the lavender also has so many practical, helpful uses!
Thanks for stocking this one! Penelope

From the Bahamas, Charisee Smith wrote:

Hello Marge,
I’ve been using the clarifying soap for years and meant to commend you on a superb product a long time ago. I had extremely oily skin and breakouts were frequent and painful. Your products made a HUGE difference because the oil sheen vanished and so did the acne. I used to blot my face with tissue almost every hour because I could feel it and it was uncomfortable.

When I wrote asking if I could quote her, she replied:

Yes certainly you can quote my comments on the clarifying cleanser. By the way, my co-workers are always commenting on how clear my skin is. I was dismayed as the acne did not let up in the 20’s, 30’s and then 40 came and still no relief. So I was overjoyed when I found your site online while searching for essential oils. My only baby is about to turn 3 years and I’ve used your products for her as well. So thanks once again for your products, quick response and I hope your products will be here for a long time!!

We just love feedback like that!!!!

And Lisa Kadison recently wrote about our newfound vintage El Salvador Vetiver, “Closing the loop on the Vetiver El Sal — words can’t describe how deeply luscious this oil is! Thank you, Marge!”

Luscious indeed.

An anonymous comment on our blog article “ More on Molluscum contagiosum: ”

My daughter has been suffering from Molluscum for several months and have been to dermatologist twice to have them “burned off” only to have more appear and continue to spread. I was at my wit’s end when I came across this blog. I was skeptical, but was out of ideas. I ordered the Ravensara in calophyllum blend and within a couple of weeks – all spots have completely disappeared and I haven’t seen any new breakouts. We had amazing results and I felt the need to share. Thank you so much for this blog!!

Eleanor Siegal first commented on some of our products, and when I followed up to ask permission to quote her, shared a blend she’s been using:

Marge, I love your Cranberry Oil. It costs almost twice as the other suppliers that I tried, but it is 100 times nicer.

After some discussion about differences in quality, in both essential oils and carriers, she wrote the following:

Sure you can post my comment. And the following (not sure what word to use for outer vaginal skin—where toilet paper sticks—an embarrassing subject) for those of us with menopausal dry outer vaginal areas: I have been using an elixir of Cranberry, pomegranate, Tamanu with a few drops of seabuckthorn CO2 & frankincense CO2, rose geranium EO not only on my face on my menopausal dry outer vaginal area. Apply to clean DRY skin. It really makes a difference. Also have been using alcohol witch hazel infused with calendula flowers. I purchased your non alcohol witch hazel for this purpose as well. Eleanor

Changes Coming:

A lot of you have used the new “client feedback form” that we make available at checkout. For the most part we are delighted and gratfied by the comments and the ratings you’ve left. The consistent problem stated by so many of you has been the difficulty in navigating our website, the difficulty in moving between the website itself, with all the information about our products, and the shopping cart. The two just don’t interface well, and the sheer number and range of products that we now offer has totally outgrown the navigational system that I designed about 15 years ago. The good news? We are working with a very gifted web site designer who is coming up with wonderful ideas to bring our site’s design into the current decade. We’re excited and can’t wait to show you the results of her work. But it’s a long slow process. I’m not sure that it will be finished before the New Year. (And I’m not sure that we would want to cut over to a new system in the middle of the Holiday rush at any rate.) We appreciate your patience while we try to make your experience at Nature’s Gift easier and more intuitive.

BLOG UPDATES:

What can I say—there has been little time for Blogging this month. Since our August Newsletter, I’ve posted our congratulations to Christi for successfully completing the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy course. Christi went on to post one of her successful case studies written for the course, lessening painful periods via aromatherapy. (I’m hoping she will post several more of her case studies!) In September, I wrote of our memories of that dreadful September ten years ago. Earlier today I wrote my first memories of the AIA conference and shared one piece of valuable knowledge that I brought home…a study about postpartum depression and an aromatic blend that significantly eased it.

Charity of the Quarter:

Magdalene House/Thistle Farms, helping women rebuild their lives.

AROMATIC QUOTES OF THE MONTH

The dry scent of a dying garden in September,
The wind fanning the ash of a low fire.
What I love is near at hand,
Always, in earth and air.
— Theodore Roethke, The Far Field

“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.”
— Elizabeth Lawrence

Take time to watch the leaves turn…they’ll be gone before we know it!

To sign up for your own copy of the newsletter to be emailed to you, please click here.