The Natural Beauty Workshop

Arabian Fragrance Oils

Photo by Aisha J

We are excited to introduce our new line of Arabian Fragrance Oils at From Nature With Love!  These finely crafted Fragrance Oils posess deep, complex scents, making them ideal for perfumery and fine product formulation.  They would be wonderful for adding delicate scent to creams, lotions, body powders, and other cosmetics.  In perfume Oils, solid perfumes, body mists, or colognes, Arabian Fragrance Oils will truly shine.  Our collection of Arabian Fragrance Oils contains nine unique aromas, each special in its own way.  Take a look at the wide variety of Oils we currently have available.

• Abal: Our Abal Arabian Fragrance Oil has a light but sultry amber aroma. An exotic combination of sweet, fruity and floral notes complete this exquisite fragrance oil.
  
  
• Isra: This rich, musky fragrance oil is named Isra in honor of the legend of the winged horse journey that the Islamic prophet Muhammad took.  Isra Arabian Fragrance Oil combines the rich, grounding aroma of amber and sandalwood with sweet and exotic floral top notes. Isra is both feminine and masculine and can be incorporated into both very gender-specific products as well as unisex formulations.
  
  
• Jannah: In Arabic, Jannah means garden or paradise. Our Jannah Arabian Fragrance Oil is a beautiful floral that is perfectly married with a rich amber fragrance. Hints of citrus complete this stunning fragrance oil.
  
  
• Motia:  Our Motia Arabian Fragrance Oil beautifully captures the fragrance of Motia Attar. This rich fragrance combines the warmth and depth of sandalwood with the sweet and narcotic aroma of fresh jasmine petals. Unlike other jasmine fragrances, Motia Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma.
  
  
• Musk Ghazala:  In Arabic, Ghazala means gazelle.  Musk Ghazala Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a warm, graceful, exotic musky aroma that is also softly spicy and floral.
  
  
• Rose:  We are very proud to offer this outstanding rose fragrance within our new collection of Arabian Fragrance Oils as it so beautifully captures the aroma of a fragrant, fresh rose. This fragrance also conveys a hint of sandalwood. Unlike Rose Essential Oil or other rose fragrances, Rose Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma.
  
  
• Ruh: In Arabic, Ruh means spirit.  Ruh Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a very deep, grounding and earthy amber fragrance. Peaking out are lively sweet and floral top notes that help to round out this very unique fragrance.
  
  
• Safa:  Safa means pure in Arabic.  Our Safa Arabian Fragrance Oil possesses a complex, light, sweet, fruity, warming amber aroma against a backdrop of beautifully floral nag champa. Unlike other nag champa fragrances, Safa Arabian Fragrance Oil is slightly more mellow and more well rounded in aroma. 
  
  
• Sandalwood:  Our Sandalwood Arabian Fragrance Oil beautifully captures the fragrance of sandalwood. This soft fragrance is rich, warming, grounding and sweetly woody. Sandalwood is loved by both men and women, and can be incorporated into both very gender-specific products as well as unisex formulations. In comparison with our traditional Sandalwood Fragrance Oil, our Sandalwood Arabian Fragrance Oil is a bit softer and more mellow in aroma.

Since their aromas are very powerful, we recommend diluting them in order to evaluate their aromas properly.  Their complex aromas are likely to become distorted at full strength.  Try diluting a few drops into a teaspoon of plain carrier oil to experience their aroma fully.  In formulations, undiluted Arabian Fragrance Oils can be added at a ratio of 2 - 5%.

For more information on our Arabian Fragrance Oils, visit the Arabian Fragrance Oils product pages on From Nature With Love.

Photo by Mathias Mazzetti

Coconut & Plum Whipped Body Butter

This beautiful mixture has such a lovely, subtle scent, and such an inviting color that I nearly licked the whip clean after my test batch.  I know that some folks delight in powerfully scented products, but for me, there is nothing quite as special as a formulation that smells wonderful without any added aromatics.  This recipe doesn't contain a drop of Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil.  The natural aromas of Virgin Coconut Cream Oil and Plum Oil provide this body butter with a delicate scent that barely kisses the skin after use.  In a word, it's dreamy.

I used Ultra Refined Cocoa Butter and Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil as the bases for this body butter.  This special Cocoa Butter yields very little aroma, perfect for formulations that don't work well with Cocoa Butter's usual strong chocolate scent.  Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil might just be my favorite natural skin care ingredient ever.  If you've ever smelled it, you'll understand why.  Our Virgin Coconut smells just like a freshly cracked coconut.  It's light, and moisturizing, and slightly astringent.  Binding the fats are two plant based waxes, Carnauba and Plum Jojoba Esters.  Carnauba is a super stiff vegetable wax.  In fact, it is so hard that you just need a tiny bit to harden this recipe.  Plum Jojoba Wax Beads give the butter a gorgeous plum/pink color, but if you'd prefer a 100% natural butter, switch the Plum Jojoba Wax Beads for White. 

Coconut & Plum Whipped Body Butter
Makes about 6 ounces by volume, and about 5 1/2 ounces by weight

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil
• 2 ounces Ultra Refined Cocoa Butter
• 1 ounce Plum Kernel Oil
• 1/2 ounce Carnauba Wax
• 1 ½ teaspoons Plum Jojoba Wax Beads

Directions

In a double boiler over medium-high heat, combine the Cocoa Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, and Waxes.  Heat these ingredients gently until they have fully melted.  Make absolutely sure that the Waxes have melted completely, than add the Plum Kernel Oil.  Remove the mixture from the heat.  Place the double boiler into a pot of ice water, and whip continuously, and vigorously until thickened.  This may take several minutes, even if you are using an electric mixer.  It may be helpful to move the boiler in and out of the ice bath to control the thickness of the mixture.  Be sure and keep the mixture from sticking to the sides of the boiler.  When the mixture has thickened to where it has become thick and fluffy (like frosting), spoon it into your containers.  Allow the mixture to set in the containers completely before using or handling.  This could take several hours.

Usage & Packaging

Whipped Butters, like this one, look wonderful in our Clear PET Jars.  This formula should be fairly stable, so you can expect it to remain fresh for at least 2 - 3 months.  If you'd like, you can add 1 ml of Vitamin E T50 to help keep the oils and butters fresh. 

If you like the cute cupcake stand pictured here, you can get one of your own at Whitney Smith Pottery.

Join From Nature With Love on Google Plus!

We're pleased to announce the launch of our very own page on Google Plus!  Like our page on Facebook, we hope that our Google+ page will serve as source of news, information, and lively conversation for the thousands of users in the Google+ community.  Add From Nature With Love to your circles to receive the latest updates and helpful links from our growing family of web sites. 

Our blogger, Emmy, is also using Google+.  Add Emmy to your circles to find out what she's working on behind the scenes of The Natural Beauty Workshop.  

Interested in joining Google Plus?  Click here to sign up. 

Papaya Smoothie Sugar Scrub

This tropical scented sugar scrub uses Honey Granules and Coconut Milk Powder to enhance its cleansing ability.  Tiny Jojoba Wax Beads give it a touch of color, and Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil makes it rinsable.  We scented it with our mouth watering Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil, a luscious mix of papaya and cream fragrances. 

Papaya Smoothie Sugar Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Turbinado Sugar
• 2 ounces Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil
• 1 tablespoon Coconut Milk Powder
• 1 tablespoon Honey Granules
• 2 teaspoons Tangerine Jojoba Wax Beads
• 1/4 ounce Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil

Directions

Combine the Coconut Milk Powder and Honey Granules in a medium sized mixing bowl.  Add the Water Dispersible Apricot Kernel Oil and mix well, making sure to break up any clumps in the dry ingredients.  Add the Papaya Milk Fragrance Oil, followed by the Turbinado Sugar and Tangerine Jojoba Wax Beads.  Stir the mixture well, dispersing the ingredients evenly throughout the mixture.  Transfer to jars. 

Usage & Packaging

This scrub looks great in our 2 oz. or 4 oz. Flat PET Jars with White Caps.  To use, gently massage the scrub over wet skin in a circular motion, then rinse.  This scrub should be used as a body or foot scrub.  It would not be suitable for the face.

Detoxifying January Facial Mask

At the beginning of each year I find myself craving a fresh start, or more accurately, a reprieve from the indulgences of the holiday season.  After two months of snacks, sweets, and heavy meals, my system needs a break.  While my insides are being treated to a bounty of fresh vegetables and healthy foods, my skin could use a little refreshing too.  I designed this detoxifying recipe with January in mind.  Cosmetic Clays, Sea Veggies, and Mineral Rich Coral Calcium are used to cleanse and purify your skin, while soothing Cucumber Oil and Cistus Hydrosol gently tone and pamper it.  

Detoxifying January Facial Mask
Makes one serving

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon French Green Clay
• 1 teaspoon White Kaolin Clay
• 1/2 teaspoon Parsley Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Coral Calcium
• 1/2 teaspoon Bladderwrack Powder
• up to 1 teaspoon Cucumber Oil
• up to 1 teaspoon Cistus Hydrosol
• 2 drops Cypress Essential Oil
• 2 drops Geranium Essential Oil
• water, as needed

Directions
Mix the dry ingredients together in a small, clean bowl.  Slowly add the Cucumber Oil and Cistus Hydrosol, adding just enough to form a smooth, spreadable paste.  If you prefer a thinner mixture, you can add a little spring water as needed.  Add the Essential Oils, mix well, and use immediately.

To Use
It can be helpful to steam your skin a little before starting a detoxifying facial like this.  Do so gently by wetting a clean wash cloth in hot (but not burning hot) water, and laying it over your face for a few minutes.  Apply the mask as soon as you remove the cloth.  Leave the mask on for about 10 minutes, than rinse it off with warm water.  After rinsing, use your favorite toner, and plenty of your favorite moisturizer, as the clay can dry your skin a little.

Natural Beauty Resolutions

The New Year is upon us, and everywhere you look shops and department stores are peddling vitamins, exercise equipment, gadgets and gizmos designed to help make self improvement quick and easy.  If only it were so simple.  The truth is that self improvement is a life long journey.  It's made of countless small decisions and everyday choices.  You can't purchase it in a box, and you can't realize its benefits overnight.

However, as long as the road of self improvement can be, it's a walk worth taking.  Taking care of your body and soul is a worthwhile ambition, and a commitment that can positively affect your life on a daily basis.  Taking good care of your body means treating it with love and respect, which can lead to increased self esteem, and an increased feeling of well being and contentment.  It's not just about shedding pounds or looking prettier.  It's about leading a happier life, one healthy choice at a time.  If you are a long time reader, you know that here at The Natural Beauty Workshop, we believe that good health is the best beauty treatment of all. 

The New Year is a great time to resolve to making healthy changes, or to reaffirm your existing commitment.  Here are some suggestions for healthy resolutions to make for 2012.

• Eat Whole Food: Try sticking to a diet of whole foods, including fresh vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed ingredients.  Filling up on nutritious food can help keep your body running efficiently, increase natural immunity, and can even result in added energy.
• Clean Out Your Cupboards: Give up your least healthy food.  Some usual suspects are soda, alcohol, fast food, and processed snacks.
• Daily Exercise:  Whether this means walking your dog around the block an extra time every day or joining a gym, getting a little (or a lot) more exercise can improve your health, reduce stress, and build confidence.
• Give Up Chemical Beauty Products:  This is a challenge I am very familiar with, and not always an easy one.  Just remember, what you put on your body can be just as important and what you put in your body.
• Implement a New Beauty Routine:  Treating yourself to facials, taking the time to style your hair, or paint your toes can increase more than just your vanity.  Pampering yourself can help improve self confidence and self esteem, which are essential to success and happiness.
• Stress Reduction: Taking the time to quiet your mind on a regular basis can improve your mental and physical health dramatically.  Whether you choose to reduce stress through meditation, yoga, or long quiet walks, clearing your mind is essential to whole body health.  Learn about stress reduction techniques here.

Back in 2007, when this blog first started, I made a New Year's resolution to switch all of my commercially made cosmetics to either natural or handmade products.  Within two years I achieved my goal.  My natural beauty stash was a great reward, but the education and experience I received along the way was an even better one.  I've learned that the best resolutions are the ones that you make not just for a year, but for a lifetime.

This year, I'm resolving to take more time for personal beauty.  I have a tendency to indulge in a casual look most days.  Though there is nothing wrong with jeans, tee shirts, and tousled hair, I've learned that I feel much better about myself when I take a little time to pick out a special outfit, apply a touch of eyeliner, and a dab of lip gloss.  My resolution doesn't end there.  I intend to keep myself pretty and pampered all year long.  That means more pedicures, more facials, more scrubbing, tubbing, and moisturizing.  Doing all of this at home makes it affordable, and customizing my treatments by blending them myself makes them more effective. 

What are your resolutions for 2012?  Whatever they may be, we'd love to hear about them, and to take that opportunity to wish you success!  Share your resolutions with us in the comments below. 

Highlights From The Natural Beauty Workshop 2011!

We asked our Facebook and Twitter communities to share their favorite discoveries for handmade skin care, hair care, and soap making over the past year.  We wanted to know what techniques and ingredients were your very favorites.  Here's what we found out.

Regine said, "I learned to make cream soap and salt soap. Love it."

Cream and Salt Soaps are two variations of conventional cold processed soaps.  Cream Soap is often made by whipping a cold or hot process soap that contains a few special additives.  Salt Soap or Salt Bars are cold process or hot process soaps that have salt added to them at trace.  These super hard bars are exfoliating, and so pretty!

Photo by Life Soap Simple

Meredith said, "Thanks to your article on milk baths, I finally made some using some yogurt and honey powder, and they sold right away. Everyone is loving them."

Milk Baths are a favorite of mine.  They are so easy to make, and they make bath water feel so soft and luxurious.  What a treat! 

@AshantiGirl said, "invested in "the tank" and a bigger pot to make soap. Also discovered that org. argan + unrefined cocoabutter = awesome shampoo ;)"

Argan Oil is so fantastic for hair care.  It's chock full of stuff that your hair will love, such as omega 6 & 9, vitamin E, phenols, carotene, and squalene!

@BathingNymph said, "Adding honey at trace in hot process soap. It starts to burn, and you have to be careful, but it creates a wonderful scent."

That sounds absolutely delicious!  I can almost smell the honey caramelizing in the soap pot!

Photo by Oasis Bath Soap

Rain said, "I was actually brave enough to start experimenting with not just scents and colors in recipes like have since I started but I actually have been messing with different oils and waxes (which could come out awfully or actually work nicely)."

Way to go!  Experimenting is the best way to flex your creative muscles when it comes to handmade bath & body.  Keep up the good work, and don't be afraid to give new ingredients a try. 

Delisa said, " I started putting my cp soap in the oven after pouring into the mold."

That's a great trick!  Moving from cold process to hot process soap making is so neat, definitely something that every soap maker should try. 

@WMCraver said, "Making and using my own lotions and soap. Shea Butter."

I remember making my first lotion.  It was such a thrill to see the oil and water come together into a whipped bowl of fluffy cream.  Shea butter is great for making creams, lotions, and soaps!

It sounds like it has been a very creative year for Natural Beauty Workshop readers and our customers at From Nature With Love.  You can see some of the amazing projects our Flickr Photo Group contributors have made this year, (and in previous years) by checking out the slideshow above.  

We've been busy too!  In the past year, we've added tons of new and exciting ingredients to our product line.  Here are a few of my favorites!

• Egg Oil: This cholesterol enriched oil can actually reinforce hair and skin! 
• New Rainforest Oils, Buiriti Oil, and Pracaxi Oil
• Plum Kernel Oil:  This skin nourishing oil has the most delightfully fruity aroma.
• Our Newest Fragrance Oils!
• Two great new books for our online bookstore: Beauty Masks and Scrubs & Soapmaking The Natural Way

We published a ton of cool new recipes here on The Natural Beauty Workshop in 2011.  Here they are again!

1. Coconut Sugar Scrub
2. Creamy Rice & Coconut Scrub
3. Fun & Fruity Facial Masks
4. Rosemary & Honey Conditioning Hair Spray
5. Herbal Scalp Massage Bars
6. Laundry Soap by Life Soap Simple
7. Warming Massage Bar
8. Handmade Perfume Oils
9. Chamomile Face Wash
10. Milk Baths
11. Deep Cleansing Mud Masque
12. Bath Bombs
13. Ocean Breeze Bath Bombs
14. Mango Lassi Skin Smoothing Scrub
15. Everyday Facial Cleansers

We even posted a few fun craft projects! Remember these?

• Aromatherapy Hot Water Bottle Covers
• Hand Carved Labels for Bath & Body

We also launched our new & improved Instructor Program on FNWL, which includes our amazing Instructor Directory, making it easy for teachers and students to engage one other.  Botanical Origins, our newest web site also launched this year, offering environmentally responsible home goods and sustainable products for bath & body! In addition to all that, we made two Natural Beauty Workshop videos showing you how to make two of our most popular Body Care Craft Kits!  Check out our YouTube Channel to view our past videos and to subscribe for new ones. 

We can't wait to see what you all come up with in 2012.  From all of us at From Nature With Love, and The Natural BeautyWorkshop, Happy New Year!

Recipes for the Coffee Lover

There is nothing so intoxicating to certain people as the smell of freshly roasted coffee.  Bring that heavenly aroma into your handmade bath & body collection with the following recipes.  Not only will you be enraprured by your favorite smell, your skin will be treated to a blast of antioxidant rich emollience.  

Energizing Facial Mask

Start off with this nutrient packed mask made with Green Coffee Oil, Acai Berry Oil and Sea Clay.

Coffee Bean Blends & Solid Sugar Scrubs

Coffee's rich aroma blends beautifully with some unexpected scents.  Try out these strange combinations with our miniature solid scrubs!

Double Java Lip Balms

Coat your lips in a protective layer of fragrant Coffee Butter and Hazelnut Oil.

Mochachinno Massage Melts

These pretty little solid massage bars are made with yummy Coffee Oil and delicate Babassu. 

Cafe Almond Sugar Scrub

Roasted Coffee, nutty Almond, and spicy Ginger come together in this exfoliating sugar scrub.

Good Times at The Customer Care Desk

Kelly, one of our hard working customer care providers spends a good deal of her day answering the phone, responding to emails, and generally holding down the fort at the From Nature With Love customer care desk.  She literally responds to hundreds of questions over the course of a work week, and somehow always remains cheerful and enthusiastic.  We couldn't be more thankful to have such a sweet and sunny person to work with.

Recently, Kelly encountered an equally adorable customer.  Their email exchange went something like this:

 

Cheryl:

How I love thee FNWL apricot fragrance oil! Let me count the ways...

Hi there. I'm just writing to find out when you think the apricot fragrance oil will be back. I love it, as you can see! Happy holidays, and please tell those elves to get cranking on the apricot fragrance oil! Bath bomb lives are depending on it! 

Kelly:

To love a fruit 'tis a mighty fine thing. The aromas and colors remind one of Spring. For the sweet smell of apricot in bombs for the bath, please be informed that new stock we do have! :o)

Thank you so much for the email / poem! It certainly put a smile on our faces this morning. :o) We actually just received our new stock of apricot fragrance oil and it is now available on the website! 

Cheryl:

YOU are my hero, as I will attest, bestowing a gift on the apricotless! 
Heh heh. Thank you for making my day (and knowing how to play). You rock. 

 

And just as quickly as the cuteness began, it was over.  We must have the best customers on Earth.  Thank you all for being so darn loveable.

Creating Gluten Free Cosmetics: Ingredients to Avoid

I'm happy to be part of a lively community of creative people in my new home town of Austin, Texas.  One of my favorite groups of creatives is the food blogging community.  I've met amazing folks who love to cook, can, and bake, and it is striking how many of them, for one reason or another, stick to gluten free diets.  A friend of mine, who writes a great blog on living gluten free, recently posted an article on Twitter that immediately caught my interest:  Gluten in Cosmetics: A Threat to People with Celiac Disease? 

I have become pretty familiar with the challenge of finding gluten free foods and recipes, but for some reason, the idea of gluten in cosmetics had not crossed my mind.  Now that it has, I see that it makes perfect sense for those suffering from celiac, or those choosing to keep gluten-free for other reasons, to seek out personal care products that are gluten free.  After all, what goes on your body, goes in your body.  Isn't that the whole reason this blog exists?  Inspired, I began researching what ingredients are typically used in cosmetics that contain gluten.  Although it is a very long list, most of these ingredients are not used in DIY skin care.  In fact, there are very few ingredients or products carried at From Nature With Love that pose a risk.  

DIY Skin Care Ingredients / Products That Contain Gluten

• Body Exfoliants Sampler
• Facial Exfoliants Sampler
• Geranium Rosehip Facial Cleanser Kit
• Oat CO2 Extract
• Oat Flour, Fine
• Oatmeal, Course
• Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Powder Base
• Oat Starch
• Organic Oat Flour, Fine
• Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookie Kit
• Shea Butter Shampoo Base
• Skin Nourishing Blend Melt & Pour Soap Base
• Wheatgerm Oil
• White Chocolate Facial Kit

DIY Skin Care Ingredients that May Contain Gluten

• Coconut Milk Powder (Contains Maltodextrin)
• Oat Straw Powder 
• Oat Straw Tops
• Powdered Oat Straw Extract

What About Fragrance Oils?
Synthetic Fragrance Oils (as well as Flavor Oils, and Floral Waters) are made up of thousands of different components, so it's important to ask your supplier about gluten content.  Luckily, the Fragrance Oils at From Nature With Love are all gluten free!  So are our Floral Waters and Flavor Oils.

A Word on Vitamin E
Vitamin E Oils and Vitamin E Antioxidants can sometimes be sourced from wheat, so be sure to ask your supplier about its source.  We are working on verifying that the Vitamin E products carried at From Nature With Love are Gluten free, but so far, the only one that is certainly gluten free is our Vitamin E (T50).  We'll keep you updated as the other products are confirmed. 

Creating Gluten Free Cosmetics
We plan to publish several more articles in the Creating Gluten Free Cosmetics series, on topics such as ingredient alternatives and gluten free recipes.  If there is a related topic that you are hoping to learn more about, or a specific recipe that you would like us to include, please let us know!  As always, we welcome your inquiries and suggestions. 

We Welcome Your Feedback and Questions
Not sure if a specific ingredient carried contains gluten?  Please feel free to contact us with any ingredient questions you may have.  If we don't have the information on hand, we'll do our best to find out for you.  Have you found an ingredient on our site that contains gluten, but isn't listed here?  Please let us know!  We welcome your help and expertise.

New Fragrance Oils at From Nature With Love

Our newest Fragrance Oils at From Nature With Love are simply superb!  I enjoyed reviewing and describing them nearly as much as I will enjoy using them up!  Along with my descriptions, I've given some ideas for how to use these Fragrance Oils.  While my ideas are dandy, I would love to hear yours!  Have you used any of our new Fragrance Oils yet?  How did you use them, or what do you plan to use them for?

Fragrance Oil: Dark Kiss BBW Type
This Bath & Body favorite combines a sophisticated blend of dark vanilla and musk with burgundy rose, Peony, and amber.  It's topped off with light plum, sweet rasperry and bergamot.  Our Dark Kiss BBW Type Fragrance Oil is a great choice for body mists, solid perfumes, or perfume oils.  It would also be wonderful in a body cream or lotion.

Fragrance Oil: Frosted Ginger
A light twist on classic ginger, Frosted Ginger Fragrance Oil is soft and subtly spicy.  Frosted Ginger Fragrance Oil would do nicely in a whipped body cream or a sugar scrub.  Also try using Frosted Ginger in your perfume blends.

Fragrance Oil: Mahogany Suede
Mahogany Suede Fragrance Oil has a spicy, masculine aroma that blends a soft base with light citrus and exotic woods.  Mahogany Suede Fragrance Oil is great for use in mens' products.  Try using this manly fragrance in shaving soaps, body lotions, or soaps.

Fragrance Oil: Peace
Peace Fragrance Oil begins with the aroma of sweet vanilla and smoky incense blended with green herbs and warm spices.  Peace Fragrance Oil would be wonderful in soaps, lotions, or perfumes.  Also try our Peace Candle Fragrance Oil to use it in your home fragrance recipes. 

Fragrance Oil: Secret Wonderland BBW Type
Our Secret Wonderland BBW Type Fragrance Oil is a delightful blend of fruit and floral aromas.  Creamy sandalwood, coconut and white amber are blended with delicate gardenia and jasmine, then topped with the sweet scent of wild berries.  Use this yummy scented Fragrance Oil to scent just about anything!  It would smell wonderful in soaps, scrubs, body butters, and perfumes.

Fragrance Oil: Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin
Rich pumpkin blends wonderfully with the scent of carmelized sugar and warm cinnamon.  Reminiscent of a pumpkin creme de pot, our Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Fragrance Oil is deliciously tempting.  I have a feeling that Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Fragrance Oil would make an unbelieveable soap!  It would also be great in body butter.  Don't forget to try out our Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle Fragrance Oil as well.  It would smell wonderful in candles, wax tarts or reed diffusers!

Now is a great time to try out our new Fragrance Oils!  Don't forget to use discount code, NBWS4277 at checkout to save 7% on qualifying items!

A Question For Our Readers

We have an important question for our Natural Beauty Workshop readers. What was your favorite handmade beauty or soap making related discovery of 2011? What ingredient or techniques did you start using (and loving) for the first time this year?  

Did you start using a new oil in your cold process soaps?  Maybe you learned how to make salt bars or whipped soap?  Have you discovered a new favorite Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil, or a go-to facial ingredient?  

Let us know.  We are dying to find out, and would love to put together a post on all of your favorites. 

Trial and Error

For every finished recipe that makes it onto The Natural Beauty Workshop, or into a kit on From Nature With Love, there are countless test batches and tinkering that go on behind the scenes.  Often, readers ask me adivce on formulas that they are working on, and more often then not the answer I give them is experimentation.  Trial and error is the only way to know if a recipe really works, or if a theory you have is sound.  

Can you create an all natural lotion using floral wax instead of beeswax?  Will Roasted Coffee Oil really smell nice when paired with Mandarin Essential Oil?  What would happen if I used Jojoba Wax Beads instead of Beeswax?  There is only one way to find out, and if you learn to take a little joy in this side of your work, it can open up a whole new world for your recipe formulation.  Imagination is a wonderful thing.  I could spend hours lost in a world of scents and colors, toying with what combination to whip up next, but unless I'm willing to put in the leg work, which can sometimes be boring, frustrating, and downright tiresome, all the imagination in the world would be useless.  

A friend of mine, who also happens to be an amazing musician, told me once that you have to write a hundred songs for every one that you keep, and that he thought of the failures as a process of elimination.  For every combination of melody and rythm that didn't work, he got one step closer to finding one that could make your heart sing.  It's the same with many creative processes, and cosmetics formulation is certainly one of them.  

So my message to you all this morning is to embrace experimentation.  Take a chance, and whip up something you haven't tried before.  At times, trial and error can be sorely disheartening, but when those moments of success come along, you will feel brilliant.  

Introducing Botanical Origins

We're excited to announce the addition of Botanical Origins to our family of web sites.  Botanical Origins will offer a line of ethically produced and environmentally friendly retail products for home and personal care.  The site has launched with its wonderful line of Monoi based personal care products, wonderful for skin care, hair care, and natural beauty.  We'd like to encourage all of our readers to pay a visit to our newest web site, Botanical Origins, and we hope that you will continue to visit as our product line expands.  Welcome, and thank you!

Thank You!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, The Natural Beauty Workshop would like to thank each and every one of our blog readers for making this website great. Since the blog's launch, we've posted over 500 articles, more than 75 of which contained recipes!   Over the years we have received over 1 million views, thousands of comments, and boatloads of email.  The response that our readers have given us has made the experience incredibly rewarding.   We've been viewed by readers in countries worldwide, and are proud to have been able to contribute to the online natural and handmade skin care community in the United States and abroad!

Thanks so much, readers!   We look forward to providing you with plenty more recipes, articles, and feedback as time goes on.  Speaking of feedback, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Share your Thanksgiving stories in the comments below.