courtesy stock.xchng, mishahu

If the gardenia were to represent the essence of girliness, then jasmine would surely represent the essence of Goddesses. It evokes a sense of connectedness to the universe, mystery, joy and well-being. Jasmine has been noted for centuries for its uplifting and stimulating effect as well as its ability to help reduce anxiety and apathy. Although similar in scent to the gardenia, jasmine – a night blooming flower- flaunts its olfactory complexity, inviting you to take another whiff, and another, and another, without ever revealing all its secrets. Even the name, Jasmine, traces back to the Persian (via Arabic) yasmin, which translates as “gift from God.” The jasmine flower, of which there are over 200 species, is revered in cultures all over the world. It is a member of the olive family and is one of my favorite flowers of all time.

A great jasmine fragrance perfectly balances the subtle nuances of the fruitiness of its nectar with the soft, slight muskiness of the flower.  When you breathe it in, there’s just enough scent to leave you wanting more, and when you exhale, it disappears again. It’s elusive and captivating and never powdery or overpowering.

So, when Theresa Hellings, one of the co-founders of Healing Seed, e-mailed to let me know she was sending me some samples to try (which included a jasmine-scented body lotion), I tried not to get my hopes up…this only led to my being even more ecstatic when I received my products and discovered that Healing Seed does Jasmine brilliantly. The silky cream, made with only natural and organic ingredients, was much richer than I anticipated given the consistency, which is that of a lotion. After I massaged it onto my arms and legs it sunk in quickly and my skin was moisturized, not sticky. Like perfumes, as scented products dry on the skin their scent can change, so it took about ten minutes for the scent to really open up. It actually took me by surprise as I was doing some apartment tidying and found myself suddenly wondering what that lovely smell was, only to realize it was the lotion! Even better, the scent lasts for hours.

How could this be that an all-natural lotion, one that is only $14 for 8 oz at that, could be so fabulous? After all, jasmine flowers are so delicate, they can’t be made into true essential oils, as the process requires steam distillation, the heat of which would destroy the flowers. Additionally, the heating that occurs during the production of essential oils often denatures the end product, which can result in the final oil having a different scent from the original botanical. The process of extracting jasmine oil is not only delicate, but also expensive; it takes about one thousand pounds of flower (about 3.6 million blossoms) to produce one pound of oil. Many companies opt for less expensive versions made by using chemicals to distill the jasmine essence. Others simply use synthetic fragrances- ick! I checked and this is NOT the case with Healing Seed. No dyes, no synthetic fragrances or chemicals of any kind.  They use only pure, natural jasmine oil from France as well as jasmine blossom extract (and a slew of other beneficial natural extracts) in their products. There is also a hint of mandarin oil which serves to enhance the delish factor. Perhaps it’s the minimalistic, fully recyclable packaging or the fact that they invest in their ingredients and employees rather than their advertising, but however they manage to keep their prices so reasonable, I’m not complaining.

So at this point, theoretically, I could stop. I would buy the lotion purely for the scent alone. Even if it was fifty dollars a bottle. Even if it was just an okay moisturizer.

But here’s the thing, the one key ingredient around which all of the Healing Seed products are based, the ingredient they’re named for, in fact, is the amazing and super-nourishing hempseed oil. They grow, harvest and process their hemp sustainably on their own land and treat their employees like family. What’s so great about hempseed oil? I could try to paraphrase but I think their website says it perfectly:

“What makes this remarkable oil exceptionally nutritious is its composition of essential fatty acids (EFAs), protein and other key vitamins and minerals… More than 75% of the EFAs in hempseed oil are poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), known for their excellent emollient, lubricating and healing properties. Hempseed oil contains Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, as well as gamma linolenic acid (GLA) that combines to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antioxidant and moisture-balancing properties in what is considered to be the perfect ratio of 3:1. This unique EFA profile is the perfect balance for absorption through the skin and will compensate for the lower ceramide levels that deplete naturally with aging, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles.”

In layman’s terms, it’s just about the most perfect oil for hydrating, nourishing, defending and strengthening the skin.

This brings me to my final joyous proclamation: Healing Seed make a whole line of products. They are all under fifteen bucks, all natural and organic, all made with the miraculous hempseed oil and all simply divine. They are not all, however, jasmine scented, which would make me a little sad, except that they all smell wonderful too! The shampoo and conditioner smells like fresh oranges infused with a hint of the jasmine. And, although I would never, ever pick English Daisy as scent of choice, its use in the face wash and moisturizer is perfectly soft, subtle and disappears quickly. The cleanser left my face clean but soft, and the moisturizer was light enough for my oily skin, but felt rich and nourishing. Apparently, English daisy oil is supposed to help relieve nervous tension, stress,and mild anxiety, and it is gentle enough for the most delicate skin. That’s reason enough for me.

NOTE: Nearly every source I looked at in my research on jasmine oil noted that it is best to be avoided during pregnancy until the final four weeks, after which is can actually assist in prepping for delivery both physically and emotionally. It’s easy to forget that not all natural ingredients are necessarily good for us at all times. So, I’m currently working to compile a list of all essential oils that should be avoided during pregnancy along with a counter-list of those that can be beneficial. If you are pregnant you should never hesitate to consult with your doctor regarding product ingredients or supplements.

Healing Seed products are available at:

Healing Seed’s Website

Select Whole Foods

and Coming Soon to Butterfly Effect

Resources:

http://www.organicessentialoils.in/jasmine_absolute.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine#Gallery

http://www.anandaapothecary.com/aromatherapy-essential-oils/jasmine-essential-oil.html

http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/aromatherapyduringpregnancy.asp

http://www.northdaysimage.ca/aromatherapy_mothers.html

http://www.ninemonths.com.au/oils-to-avoid/

http://www.ninemonths.com.au/aromatherapy-for-pregnancy-and-labour/

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/pregnancy/aroma1/index.php

http://store.naturalnirvana.com/fawawiendaoi.html

Shayna Teicher

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.