June 16th, 2010
I get lots of questions about Ylang Ylang…how do you say it and what does it smell like? And the most burning question for me personally~what does it look like??
Ylang Ylang (sounds like EE-layng EE-layng or alternately YUH-layng YUH-layng) is a strong heady, exotic floral scent reminiscent of narcissus, jasmine or neroli. (Though some may find it too sweet and strong on its own, the grapefruit in our fragrance strikes the perfect balance.)
Ylang Ylang is native to the Philippines and the literal translation is “flower of all flowers,” a real tropical beauty that reminds me of trailing orchids. Folklore has long purported its aphrodisiac effects. Additionally, aromachology and aromatherapy experts recognize its stress relieving, calming properties.
I must share my favorite ylang ylang quote from my clever friend PR Maven Jef Tingley: “If ylike ylike ylang ylang, then you will love my friend Rachel’s fantastic bodycare line. I was fortunate enough to be a tester nose on some of these delighful fragrance blends.”
**Special thanks to TopTropicals.com who generously allows usage of their beautiful ylang ylang images for educational purposes. Photos of this gorgeous, exotic flower are rare and difficult to come by!
Tags: Aromachology, Aromatherapy, Grapefruit Ylang Ylang, Home Fragrance, Home Fragrance Philosophy, Jef Tingley, PR Maven, Ylang Ylang
Posted in Aromachology, Home Fragrance Products | No Comments »
June 9th, 2010
Scent Layering Is For Home Fragrance Too!
Most women are familiar with the concept of scent layering in the context of personal fragrance. Remember the first gift set you received with soap, lotion, powder, shampoo and cologne all in the same lovely scent? Or for men—soap, aftershave, deodorant and cologne?
Wow, that takes me back to a wonderful girlhood memory of Christmas morning and Tinkerbell, LOL!
Each layer adds a subtle hint of fragrance, a long-lingering whiff of your signature scent surrounding you in delicious luxury. That same concept works wonders in our homes!
Based on a home fragrance philosophy that is all about layering, our combination of handcrafted soaps, soy wax candles, embellished sachets and Room Refresh® sprays creates harmony throughout personal surroundings—home, office and travel.
Tags: Gift Sets, Home Fragrance Philosophy, Scent Layering
Posted in Handmade Soap, Home Fragrance Products, Spa Lifestyle | No Comments »
June 2nd, 2010
Researching Mood Led Me to Aromachology
Scientific research has proven that the sense of smell affects mood—easy to understand since aromas are processed by the same part of the brain responsible for memory and emotions. This phenomenon called aromachology*, as defined by The Fragrance Foundation, is the scientifically observable influence of smell on emotions and moods.
During my days as Director of Marketing for Mood Spa, I did tons of research on everything that affects mood. When I started my own company, I knew that I wanted to create fragrances that set a mood of balance. I love to be in a great mood, all of the time! Based on my research, I know it’s possible to stack the deck in favor of being in a great mood even though many things in life are outside of our direct control. Fragrance is one of the easiest ways to accomplish this goal.
So when I formulated our five fragrances, I used the principles of aromachology. Each mood-balancing fragrance contains components that both calm and energize. You take from it what you need at the time! This concept is very effective in a group dynamic like families, offices or spas where one person may feel exhausted and need a pick me up and another may be keyed up and need to relax. You can set the mood for your life, your loved ones, even a meeting. Go choose a great mood!
*Similar to aromatherapy but without the therapeutic claims
Tags: Aromachology, Aromatherapy, Mood, The Fragrance Foundation
Posted in Aromachology, Bath & Body Products, Home Fragrance Products, Set the Mood For Your Life, Spa Lifestyle | No Comments »
May 26th, 2010
People often ask me why I chose soy wax when I created our candle line. Or, what are the benefits of 100% soy wax candles?
I have never made a paraffin candle. I knew from the beginning that soy wax was the way I wanted to go. It was gut instinct, it fit my philosophy and I’ve never looked back!
Unless labeled otherwise, candles are made from paraffin, an imported byproduct of the oil industry. Buying soy candles supports American farmers, creates U.S. jobs and helps reduce our nation’s dependency on crude oil. As an added bonus, soy wax burns longer and cleaner than paraffin wax.*
*According to the Iowa Soybean Association
Tags: 100% Soy Wax Candles, Eco-Friendly Sustainable Candles, Soy Candles, Vegetable Wax Candles
Posted in Eco-Chic, Green Living, Soy Candles | No Comments »
May 19th, 2010
Room Refresh® Spray is Easy to Use Safely
Safety education is a high priority to us at Barcelona Bath & Body. Room Refresh® was not formulated for use as a body spray and it contains quadruple the amount of fragrance that would be skin safe. Avoid contact with eyes and skin.
This is an alcohol-based product that is extremely flammable, so you’ll need to store it away from flame or heat. Also, do not spray it in the vicinity of an open flame—for example, a stove, cigarette or candle.
Spray this product into the air rather than aimed at the floor. An excess amount of this product could make a floor slick.
Avoid direct contact with fabric as discoloration may occur. This product was not formulated specifically as a linen spray. Some of our customers have reported that they enjoy using it in this way. If you decide to try this (at your own risk), here are some recommendations: test in an inconspicuous area and wait for it to dry thoroughly before making a decision; spray on mattress pad rather than sheets or expensive outer bedding like comforters and duvets.
Avoid spraying directly on finished surfaces such as wood furniture, sealed concrete, etc. as alcohol may discolor or react with stained, varnished or sealed surfaces.
With this product knowledge, common sense and a measure of caution, any adult can enjoy Room Refresh® sprays responsibly.
Tags: Home Fragrance Mist, Room Refresh, Room Spray
Posted in Home Fragrance Products, Room Refresh® Sprays | No Comments »
May 12th, 2010
Candles = Great Gifts ~ Votive Tapas Set
Both men and women consider candles to be an always-acceptable and highly appreciated gift for a wide variety of occasions including holiday, house warming, hostess/hospitality, thank you and adult birthday gifts.*
*According to information and surveys cited by the National Candle Association
Tags: Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Soy Candles
Posted in Home Fragrance Products, Soy Candles | No Comments »
May 5th, 2010
Soap is created by a chemical reaction of oils and alkali. (In other words, you can’t make soap without oils and alkali—commonly referred to as lye; water helps facilitate the process, though technically you don’t have to have it to produce the chemical reaction that creates soap.) The method we use to make our soap at Barcelona Bath & Body is called cold-process and some people refer to this type of soap as natural soap or lye soap.
Some people are concerned when they hear the word lye due to some misinformation that has circulated on the internet or even flashbacks to their Granny’s lye soap that reportedly took their hide off; but all true soap is made with lye. I have to believe that my grandmother made a nice bar of soap as no lore like this exists in my family. I suppose that soapmaking is like cooking, where neither recipes nor cooks are all created equal. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Handcrafted Soap, Handmade Soap, Lye Soap, Natural Soap, Olive Oil, Shea Butter
Posted in Bath & Body Products, Handmade Soap | 4 Comments »
April 28th, 2010
Everyone wants to get the most use out of the candles they buy. Here are a few simple tips:
To avoid fire or injury: Trim wick to 1/4 inch before each burning. Keep flammable materials including matches, wick trimmings or dust out of the wax. Never leave a lit candle unattended or in reach of children or pets. Don’t spray flammable liquids like hairspray and room spray near open flame.
Burn candles on a level, sturdy heat resistant surface in a draft-free (not under ceiling fan or air conditioner vent) area away from flammable items like draperies, bed linens, papers etc. for no longer than 4 hours. Do not move while lit or if wax/glass are hot. If the melt pool (shown above) gets deeper than 1/3 inch, extinguish and trim the wick.
To achieve maximum burn time, let melt pool reach the edges of the candle glass each time you burn your candle (takes about 3.5 hours for Grande Candles, 1.5 hours for Votives). If you don’t have time to achieve a full melt pool (shown in this photo), Room Refresh® is a better option.
Visit www.candles.org/safety_rules.html for a comprehensive checklist of candle safety precautions.
With respect for fire, knowledge, common sense and a measure of caution, any adult can enjoy candles responsibly.
Tags: Candle Safety, Maximum Burn Time, Melt Pool
Posted in Soy Candles | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
In my town, we have Captain Crud Day once a year where you can take all your residential hazardous materials, aerosol cans, paint, chemicals, batteries, pharmaceuticals, electronics–basically everything that I don’t want to end up in the landfill but is not accepted in our weekly recycling pickup. The other 364 days of the year, the other option is to drive 20 miles or so to Fort Worth to one of the county facilities. But there are all kinds of rules. You have to make sure you take the waste to the correct facility because they specialize…not easy. I combine this errand with other errands nearby to reduce my carbon footprint and save time, which means I’m always storing recyclables.
So when I run across businesses who make recycling easy for me, I’m thrilled! For example, Interstate Batteries accepts all kinds of batteries for recycling and has many convenient locations.
Home Depot has a great national program to recycle CFL lightbulbs. I love this because I don’t have to worry about storing fragile burned-out glass bulbs that could break and cause me to have a little mercury cleanup project on my hands between now and the next Captain Crud Day! Now if they only would accept the 4 foot regular florescent bulbs, I’d be even more thrilled!
My friend Elaine Capers and her husband Murph own the Grapevine, TX franchise of Rapid Refill. They put out really high quality recycled ink and toner cartridges that are satisfaction guaranteed at a fraction of the cost of new ones. But in addition to that, they reuse and recycle ink and toner cartridges from the public. So if you need ink, stop by to see them and be sure to bring your empties!
And I love stores like Sprouts Farmers Market and Target who reward me for using my own bags by giving .05 cents credit per bag saved. (Target actually has several great new recycling initiatives I’m excited about.) CVS also has a Green Bag Tag program that pays $1 after every 4th time you bring your own bags and have them scan your tag after you purchase the tag for about $1. Sure, I do it regardless but it makes a statement about their values and I think we all enjoy doing business with companies whose values are similar to ours. As an owner of an earth-friendly business, I know I do!
So today on Earth Day, I say “Thanks!” to all the companies making it easier for the average person to do the right thing when it comes to recycling.
Tags: Earth Day, recycling
Posted in Green Living | No Comments »
April 20th, 2010
As earth day approaches, I’ve been thinking about people in my life who inspire me to “go greener” as well as companies who make it easier for me to do it.
My sister got my attention at family gatherings by asking if discarded items would be recycled and if the answer was no, she’d take the items with her to recycle at home. Call me competitive, but I don’t like the answer to ever be no at my house, LOL! I’m really fortunate to live in a place that accepts plastic #s 1-7 as well as glass, aluminum, steel and paper. When my husband and I moved into our first home and I got into recycling, I read that in 2002 our town diverted 3,545 tons of recyclable materials from area landfills. That’s significant! I knew I wanted to be part of that and I’ve never looked back.
My friend Audra Lewandowski, eco-chic interior designer and founder of ASL Design, is so passionate about green living that she started her own expo called Southlake Green Day. This well-attended event has been embraced by the community and her third annual expo will be held in March of 2011.
My friend Rodney Geisler, home energy specialist and founder of Home Energy Doctors, was the first person to introduce me to CFL floodlight bulbs. Sure, I’d seen and bought the typical corkscrew bulbs for my pantry, entryway, hall and laundry room, but what an impact to be able to replace my recessed lighting in my living room, kitchen and Barcelona Bath & Body workshop!
Rodney does a fantastic 25-point home energy check-up to diagnose home energy loss. Then he gives you a workup of everything you need to do to treat the energy loss. I love that he’ll do all the work if you want him to, but he’ll empower you with all the knowledge to do it yourself if you’re DIY-inclined. After his check up, I had out my caulk gun to seal beneath gusty window casements, gradually replaced all those bulbs and my husband got in on the act with weather stripping the front door.
Today, I’m grateful for all the points in my life where inspiration and friendship meet.
“I can trust my friends. These people force me to examine, encourage me to grow.” -Cher
Tags: Earth Day, friendship, Green Living, recycling
Posted in Eco-Chic, Green Living | No Comments »
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