Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease, For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.” Don't you just love Keats's poem? I always think of it it when walking over the fields in Scarisbrick, inhaling the rich scents of Autumn, and watching the skeins of geese heading for Martin Mere. I started thinking of essential oils (never far from my mind), and wondered what would be the appropriate aromas for the season. Here are ten that sprung immediately to mind, listed in alphabetical order: Bay, Benzoin, Bois de Rose (Rosewood),Cardamon, Cedarwood, Clove bud, Ginger, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Sandalwood. What do you think? Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Summer Offers on new creams and gels

The picture shows four of our luxury creams and gels. There are two new ones and two that you might already be familiar with, and they're all on offer for the summer. NEROLI, made from orange blossom, is one of the most beautiful, fragrant and expensive oils you can buy. It also stimulates circulation and the regeneration of skin cells, so makes the ideal ingredient in skin preparations. We have put this wonderful oil into a non-greasy gel, which is now on offer for an amazing £4.50 for a 60ml jar. ALOE VERA AND SEAWEED EYE GEL helps reduce the fine lines and wrinkles in the delicate skin around the eyes. Aloe Vera is well known for its gentle healing and moisturising properties, while Seaweed is rich in minerals and a good source of vitamin B12. These are just two out of our extensive range of skin care products. Have a look at the full list on the main site. Finally, it is with some trepidation that I mention our AFTER SUN GEL, which is also on offer. When I recommended this on the blog last year it rained for the following two months, but hey, I'm not (very) superstitious, so here goes ...

Oil of the Angels

Here's a quote from the wonderful Julia Lawless on Angelica archangelica 'It strengthens the heart, stimulates the circulation and the immune system in general. It has been used for centuries in Europe for bronchial ailments, colds, coughs, indigestion, wind and to stimulate the appetite. As a urinary antiseptic it is helpful in cystisis, and is also used for rheumatic inflammation.' As if that wasn't enough, this amazing oil smells nice too. It finds its way into soaps, perfumes, colognes, and is even used as a flavouring agent in food and alcoholic drinks, especially (hic) liqueurs. Cheers! Organic Angelica Seed oil is the latest addition to our range. Why not give it a try?

Forget Wrigley's

I don't know about you, but the smell of spearmint always takes me back to childhood days, and the trayful of confectionery, in strident colours, containing a multitude of fodder for browsing schoolchildren. Cavity-inducing chews, often pink, as I recall, gobstoppers and gum were there in proliferation, and the odour of spearmint was predominant in this symphony of smells. Spearmint (mentha spicata) was used by the ancient Greeks as a restorative and to scent their bathwater, according to Julia Lawless in her Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Julia goes on to say that this oil can be used in skin care, to relieve catarrhal conditions, aid digestion and to calm the nervous system. So there you go - it's not all chewing gum and toothpaste.