Wholesome Waters

As the weather warms, freshen your face, freshen the air, and cool the skin with the potent aromatic waters known as hydrosols. Produced similarly to essential oils, through steam distillation, hydrosols can be misted directly on the skin without dilution, and are gentler than essential oils themselves, although they still naturally bear anti-inflammatory and antiseptic benefits. Because they contain water-soluble beneficial compounds, hydrosols also make excellent bases for or additions to water-based products for custom development.

How do our growers and distillers make our hydrosols? Pristine plant material is exposed to steam to create essential oils. Once the steam cools into water, the molecules of essential oil float to the top. The two are separated, and the water left behind is hydrosol. The scent of these hydrosols is similar to that of the essential oil, but more delicate. (In fact, due to this delicate nature, hydrosols should be refrigerated or preserved for storage.)

We offer more than a dozen hydrosols. A few to try:

• A guardian of health for mind and body, rosemary has an aroma that lifts the cloak of melancholy, restoring a sense of well-being. Rosemary Hydrosol [Nos. 719 and 729, organic] is an excellent tonic for sluggish skin, as it stimulates microcirculation and balances hydration and oil production. Blend with Rose Geranium, Lavender, and/or Rose before using.

• Lovely for anyone, any time of year, Rosewater [No. 701] has been used throughout the ages to restore radiance to skin. The most precious of all flowers, rose represents earthly passion and divine enlightenment. There is no need to add anything to enhance rosewater, but it can bring beauty to medicinal scents and soften heavier herbals. Ours is certified organic and sourced in Bulgaria, where the finest rose oils and rosewaters are produced.

  
• From Northern California, Rose Geranium Hydrosol [No. 707] is excellent for relieving the discomfort of hot flashes from mid-life changes. It balances the skin and calms redness. Excellent paired with Peppermint Hydrosol [No. 717] for a summer cooler.

Sampling is strongly recommended before purchase as we do not accept returns on hydrosols.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: GINGER

Ginger is a wonderful essential oil. We have three kinds: Ginger Ecocert Organic from Madagascar [Prima Fleur No. 133], Ginger Wild steam-distilled from the root from India [No. 230], and CO2-extracted Ginger Total from Nigeria [No. 510]. The scent of all three is spicy, but there are delicious nuances that make each different. Fresh ginger tea has been shown to reduce gastric secretions and capsules of dried ginger are effective in reducing motion sickness. Ginger oil can be added to food or added to make spicy perfumes.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: THYME

A manger herb, thyme, along with rosemary, bedstraw and pennyroyal, are used in home decorations. These fragrant herbs had a pleasing antiseptic fragrance the kept the bed of the baby Jesus wholesome, free from vermin. Thyme is a symbol of bravery and associated with Jesus, as he would have to endure much suffering and have to be courageous and patient. The essential oil can be used to fragrance your blends, spray on your decorations, use in your skin care and add to the festive mood. We have Thyme CT borneol [Prima Fleur No. 232] and Thyme CT linalool [No. 181].

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: GALBANUM

Galbanum (Ferul galbanifera) gum extract is a natural fatty gummy resin, and the essential oil is steam-distilled from the resin. It has a strong green odor and is used as a fixative in perfume and incense. Its anti-inflammatory qualities make it a wonderful aid for poor circulation and can be used in hot compresses for most pain relief. Since it is antiseptic and antimicrobial, wounds are more quickly healed. It has soothing properties, especially on aching hands, feet or joints. The essential oil [Prima Fleur No. 200] is used in skin products for revitalizing aging skin and in body care products to warm.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Premier Skin Care: GOTU KOLA & CYPRESS PORE REFINING CLEANSER

Gotu Kola & Cypress Pore Refining Cleanser [Prima Fleur no. 1202]  includes a natural fruit acid complex with sugar cane, lemon, and orange extracts, which form a high-quality AHA complex that is less irritating than those found in comparable products. Ecocert Greenlife certified, this complex has been proven effective at minimizing the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and fine lines. AHAs encourage the cell renewal process to be more like that of younger skin. The result is a fresher, smoother face with more even skin tone. These natural acids don't irritate or cause photosensitivity or redness like other anti-aging ingredients such as Retin-A.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

 

 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: LITSEA CUBEBA

Litsea cubeba (May Chang) is a small tropical tree with lemon scented leaves and flowers and small berries which resemble peppers. Organoleptic Description of Oil: A pale yellow liquid, clear, not-viscous, intensity 5-6, taste, tart, and irritating, with a tart lemon-fresh and fruity odor. The scent of May Chang has been compared to lemongrass and lemon verbena. It is most valued for its antiseptic properties when used externally in skin care.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

 

 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: SPIKENARD

Spikenard is a deep dark oil both in color and depth; an aromatic rhizome. The botanical name has its roots in the Hindu word “jatamansi” which means: lock of hair. Its use goes back in several cultures and religions. Medicinally, it is part of the Ayurveda, and is considered to calm the nerves and promote awareness and strengthen the mind. 

Spikenard is a perennial herb of the valerian family native to the Himalayan region around Nepal and Bhutan. Also called Indian root or wild licorice, spikenard is a very warm and wet herb that lifts the spirits and clears the airways. The balsamifarus smell is an immediate indicator that it helps the lungs. It is anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, expectorant, carminative, antibiotic, and anti-sclerotic. 

Our wonderfully intense Spikenard Essential Oil is used in skin and body care products to rejuvenate the skin. We offer Prima Fleur No. 390 from the cultivated root in Tibet, or Prima Fleur No. 392 from Nepal.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: MYRRH

Myrrh is a resin extract, and one of the most ancient extracts used in medicine, ritual, ceremony, and sacrament, dating back as far as 4500 B.C.E. The Egyptians used this precious oil for embalming the dead as well as for beautifying practices. One of the Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture, myrrh is mentioned in the Bible dozens of times, most often as a gift or the base oil in ointments and salves. In fact, it was so commonly used during the time of Christ that the Greek word for “ointment” and the Greek word for “myrrh” were the same: muron. It is known that Chinese, Egyptian, and Indian herbalists used myrrh as an inhalant and for religious sacrament more than 4,000 years ago. Today, myrrh is still considered special and is used in meditation, massage, and perfumery.

Our Myrrh Essential Oil [Prima Fleur, No. 196] is from Ethiopia obtained from “tears” of resin exuding from incisions made in the bark of a small tree of the Burseraceae family that is native to Yemen, Somalia and eastern parts of Ethiopia.  It is extracted by supercritical fluid extraction with natural carbon dioxide. It takes 11 to 16 kilos of raw material to yield 1 kilo of product. When soil, elevation, temperature, and rainfall conditions are conducive, testing the viscosity and stickiness of freshly exposed sap predicts the resulting resin’s quality.

 

In perfumery, myrrh is a rich deep base note adding dry, woody, balsamic properties. It is also a fixative, and extends the scent qualities of any other oils with which it is combined. Myrrh has been used to treat many conditions and is said to strengthen the immune system, fight viruses and bacterial infections, and act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. Skilled herbalists, Ayurvedic practitioners, and Chinese doctors use Myrrh for winter-related conditions, including cracked skin, colds, coughs, sore throats, and chest infections as Myrrh is soothing, drying, and restorative. 

 

Myrrh is best blended with lavender, frankincense, sandalwood, geranium, sage and citrus oils. It is an excellent base in exotic, spicy blends with evergreens, patchouli, spice oils, and heavy florals. 

 

For more information on how to order from our Premier Product line, please visit our website. For questions, or to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com  or call (415) 455-0957.
 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: SOLALEVA

An exclusive blend of palmarosa, lavender, sandalwood, bisabolol, geranium, neroli, roman chamomile, sarsaparilla ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6059.

Ingredients in bold are certified organic. For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom formulation with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact:  sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: REJUVENATION

An exclusive blend of neroli, rose, and lavender developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6038.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: PURIFYING

An exclusive blend of cypress, ylang ylang, and lavender ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6032.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

 

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: SENSITIVE

An exclusive blend of Rosa damascena, ylang ylang, lavender, spikenard essential oils ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6031.

Ingredients in bold are certified organic. For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact: sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: FLEUR DE L'ORANGE

An exclusive certified-organic blend of neroli, lemon myrtle, pink grapefruit, orange ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6079.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: DEEP PORE

An exclusive blend of myrtle, lavender, and carrot seed ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6030.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: BESO DEL LUNA

An exclusive blend of geranium, lavender, tanancetum annum, and sandalwood ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6081.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

An exclusive blend of blue chamomile, calendula, rose, and sandalwood ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6049.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil Blend: ANTI-ACNE

An exclusive blend of tea tree, niaouli, lavender, and blue chamomile ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6043.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: VETIVER

Native to South India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, vetiver is of the Poacceae family that includes grasses and plants characterized by their elegant underground root systems. The two-year wait time for the roots to mature,  plus the arduous work of planting, pulling up the roots by hand, and washing, cleaning, parsing, and drying them before the steam distillation procedure can even begin is testament to vetiver essential oil’s value. Our Vetiveria zizanioides ~ Prima Fleur Vetiver Essential Oil [No. 218] ~ is from Java, where the plant is called akar wangi, meaning “fragrant root.” Good quality, mature dried Javanese vetiver root yields from 1.5 to 2% essential oil. Oils derived from older roots have higher specific gravities and optical rotations than younger roots and produce a richer and fuller quality of oil.  

Adaptable and sturdy, the vetiver plant is widely used to make fragrant blinds, shielding the sun’s rays and infusing homes with earthy notes. Fans formed from the roots and embellished with embroidery are dipped in water and wafted in front of the face to provide blissful relief from Southern Asia’s heat. For more substantial needs, the plant can be used as material to make thatched huts and floor mats. Vetiver also provides excellent protection from soil erosion. 

Yet the true treasure of this tufted grass is the essential oil derived from the root. In folklore, vetiver oil is used to increase financial abundance. In more common ritual, inhaling the oil is said to protect the body from menacing energies, including physical illness. Vetiver is employed in massage and aromatherapy for its grounding influence, to calm the central nervous system of one who feels “uprooted.” When used by a skilled practitioner, vetiver can be prescribed to increase blood flow and reduce muscle pain. Vetiver essential oil acts as a moisturizing humectant for dry, irritated skin and is found in cosmetics, soaps, and natural perfumes as a fixative. 

The main constituents of vetiver essential oil are vetiverone (bitter earthiness), vetiverol (sweet woody odor), and zizanol, an insect repellent. The oil blends well with lemongrass, grapefruit, evergreens, frankincense, myrrh, rose, and sandalwood, and is used primarily as a base note with tenacity and a richly distinctive masculinity.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com or call (415) 455-0957.

 

 

Winter Remedies

We're suffering one of the worst cold and flu seasons in years. Don't forget about the wonderful therapeutic benefits essential oils can provide. The herb lemongrass is a traditional ingredient in soup used against coughs and colds; we like our Lemongrass Essential Oil [Prima Fleur No. 145] for wiping countertops and handles (use a drop on a damp cloth). For inhalation and massage, Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil [No. 216] may help improve respiratory conditions such as cold, flu, sinus infection, and bronchitis. Wild Saro oil, also known as Mandravasarotra Essential Oil [No. 376], is uplifting with herbaceous, lemony, and fruity notes. It helps infectious states and is fabulous for inhalation for sinusitis, rhinitis, and asthma. In Malagasy, mandravasarotra means "what keeps evil away." Ravintsara Essential Oil [No. 163] is well known as both a defender against winter maladies and a soothing detoxifier at the end of a bout of flu or cold. Use it in diffusers, baths, chest rubs, and room sprays.

Prima Fleur Essential Oil: COFFEE SELECT

Coffee Butter is the cold pressed oil from roasted coffee beans (Coffea arabica) with other vegetable oils. Coffee Butter has an exceptionally smooth and elegant skin feel and may be used in skin care preparations. The CO2 is a great addition to rich perfumes and blends, especially mixed with smokey or floral odors.

You can use Prima Fleur Coffee Select [No. 342] to make a nice solid perfume – it mixes well with vanilla, citrus and spicy notes like cardamom. Or you can use coffee in an SPA blend as a fragrant astringent that is stimulating. Coffee is said to fight wrinkles if you place it directly in skin care products.

For information on our Premier Products and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com or call (415) 455-0957.