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Tools for Transformation: Product Reviews

by SageWoman Readers and Staff

Recently I received a great big box of goodies from Blue Moon Herbals. It's always easier to do a nice round review when I've got plenty of samples to work with. Debbi Quinn sent me at least one item from almost every line in the catalog! There's something for almost everyone in here.

Let's start with the oils. My favorite is the "Hana Aloha" ($14.99 for 2 oz.) from the Essences of Hawaii line. Suitable for use as a perfume, moisturizer, bath additive, or massage oil (diluted 1:3 in unscented oil), it's light and moderately slippery. The fragrance is potent yet subtle; a blend of pikake absolute, virgin coconut cream, apricot kernel oil, essences of lotus and hau flowers, with a charged amblygonite gem for meditation. If you've never smelled Hawaiian flowers, you don't know what you're missing, and I can't really describe the effect but it's a little like jasmine or freesia on a warm summer night, exquisitely sweet. The name means, "love work" and I'm sure it's good for that, but to me, the fragrance just says, "pamper yourself."

The "Blue Moon" oil ($11.99 for 4 oz.) is listed for similar uses. It contains rose, lavender, and vanilla for an odd spicy-musky fragrance with a faint floral tone. You wind up smelling sort of -edible. The description recommends it for relaxation and balance.

Then there are the moon potions and ritual oils ($18.00 for 1/2 oz.). They're intended for use as annointing oils (for people or objects), or for diffusing in a room or in a bath. Also notable is the instruction on the tag :Annoint pulse points with intent." You can use these as simple perfumes, but the crafter thoughtfully reminds the user that for more dynamic effects, will plays a key role. Magically speaking, these have an impressive amount of zip. Not so noticeable in the bag, but once I started opening thing up - ooo! "Moon Magick" has a very light, frisky scent blended from pure champaca oils, jojoba oil, gem essences of red calcite and dark opal, a charged fire opal, and a rosebud. Designed to create "a mood of Tantric sexuality for you and your lover," it puts a tingle where a tingle should be. "Sanctuary" is another instant favorite, with its penetrating spicy-citrus smell. It includes blood orange, lemon myrtle, lemon verbena, Tasmanian lavender (I didn't even know they had lavender in Tasmania!), ylang-ylang, tangerine, jojoba oil, essence of Kauai calcite, and a charged yellow spodumene; intended for aura cleansing for inner peace and calm. I'd use this one for setting wards on a room or house, too. That blood orange gives this stuff some serious kick; you won't have trouble from negative energy with this around. The tag for "Spellbound" says "for protection - a shield in a bottle," and I had to laugh because I've been calling Kamala's "Protection" oil by that name since its invention. This one blends ambergris, Indonesia patchouli, gem essences of amethyst and moonstone, and a charged lunar crystal; the patchouli makes it gloppier than some of the other oils. It has a powerful, rich, earthy smell like a freshly plowed field. Indeed, it's excellent for protection and is also very grounding; a fine choice for anyone working in stressful conditions, or for beginners who aren't secure in their ground-center-shield routine yet.

By the way, these mixed oils tend to separate; you need to shake them before use. I was intrigued to see that the Blue Moon oil, when held to the light, is pale yellow-green on top, lavender in the middle, and a brilliant crimson on the bottom -and that's just what I could make out through the cobalt jar.

Then there are the spritzers, which like the oils need to be shaken before use; they are mostly made from essential oils and floral waters in a distilled water base. Use as a body spray or for freshening rooms and linens. "Sensuous Sheets" ($8.50 for 4 oz.) contains rosewater, plus essences of ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and jasmine sambac; it has a light, smooth fragrance. "Ritual Mister" ($8.50 for 4 oz.) contains myrrh, frankincense, rose attar, Atlas cedarwood, patchouli, and sandalwood; it has a spicy, suggestive fragrance that creates a magical atmosphere. This is my favorite of the misters.

"Serenity" ($15.95 for 2 oz.) is from the Aura Mysts line; it contains Kashmir lavender, rose alba, jasmine sambac, Hawaiian ginger, Kauai holy waters, African tulip, ti, hila hila, naupaka, and glory bush essences with a charged amethyst Its very subtle fragrance clears negativity and facilitates a meditative state.

The "Blue Moon" oil ($11.99 for 4 oz.) is listed for similar uses. It contains rose, lavender, and vanilla for an odd spicy-musky fragrance with a faint floral tone. You wind up smelling sort of -edible. The description recommends it for relaxation and balance.

Some of the items are specifically bodycare products. "Healing Citrus Hand Crème" ($8.50 for 2 oz) is heavier than it looks and frankly smells like candy. I like it better for rough elbows and knees than for hands, because it's a tad sticky. It's made with shea butter, aloe, hazelnut and avocado oils plus mandarin, tonka bean and sweet orange essential oils.

"Sea Siren Bath Salts" ($10.99 for 8oz) features dead sea salts, jojoba oil, jasmine sambac, rose attar, sandalwood and neroli essential oils, rose petals and calendula. The fragrance is intensely sweet with a hint of spice- exotic and decadent. At one tablespoon per bath, the jar should go a long way. "Sweet Basil Soap" ($4.99 per 4oz bar) contains sweet basil, blue cornmeal and oats in a base of olive, coconut, palm, and jojoba oils with shea butter. But it doesn't smell like basil; it smells, quite distinctly, of anise or licorice. Go figure, it's still wonderful, billed for energizing and awakening. "Sage & Spearmint Soap" ($4.99 per 4oz bar) contains sage herb and spearmint oil in a similar base. This one smells exactly as it should, a confident yet not overpowering fragrance. Designed to invigorate and refresh, it also clears dull skin.

Most of this stuff comes sumptuously packaged. The oils and misters arrive in cobalt glass bottles, a delight to my collector's heart. Some of the bottles have beaded hemp ties around the necks. Several show up in metallic blue gauze bags with rose petals inside! The soaps come wrapped in decorative herbal papers. The bath salts are in a big clear glass jar to let the colors show through. If you're giving these as gifts, don't bother with a box and wrapping in some tissue paper. They're pretty enough on their own.

Okay now I smell like an explosion in a flower factory, but this has been one of the more fun reviews I've done. Blue Moon Herbals is a delightful supplier with a lot more information and additional products in their catalog and Website. For ritual bathing supplies, you won't find better; the other items are also superb. If you want to pamper yourself, or someone else, this is definitely the place to shop. (Note: a majority of the fragrances are very feminine, some neutral, few masculine.) The prices are also good, considering the quality of the ingredients and end products. Most Highly recommended.

- review by Elizabeth Barrette
SageWoman No. 58 - Summer 2002