Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Jane’s Flower Oil: Handmixed Loveliness for What Ails You from the Owner of Grace Heaven Salon

Jane Webb runs the supergreen hair salon Grace Heaven in the East Village of Manhattan (or by appointment in LA), and I see her regularly to keep my crazy-curly tresses red and glowing. She uses only the most natural and toxin-free colors and hair products, and she’s extremely serious about that – her salon is a no greenwashing zone.

Jane has twice now gifted me with some of her unbelievable handcrafted oils. I took the first batch with me on my around-the-world travels, and it steadied and centered me when I was feeling (sometimes literally) adrift. I use the newest version on my whole body after my once-a-week super scrubdown, while my body is still warm and damp, and I use just a bit on my hair almost every day, to keep it in check and to tame my frizzies and ends. It is my very favorite beauty product of them all (well, that and my mascara!).

Jane says of her most recent blend:

Every batch is different and I choose the scents based on what resonates for me at the time. Lately I have been loving sandalwood recently and I like ambrette, neroli, rose, frankincense, lavender, sage, jasmine, helichrysum, geranium. I am always trying different purveyors and like any crop it depends on season, growing conditions, how it is extracted; these are all super critical issues.

I don’t always use [an oil] because it smells good. Sometimes the benefits of a certain element are so important that it must be included. I am not trying to be a perfumer but it comes with the territory and you never know what the end result is until you combine everything. What will top out, what will be laying in the background.

But once you become accustomed to the lushness, the true luxury of essential oils you will never be enchanted by a man made chemical based perfume again. What I love about it is the subtle but powerful way that it works on the emotions and the body. It is the life blood of a plant- truly the healing medicine of the planet.

Jane makes small batches of 15-20 bottles at a time, and she can tailor the oil to deal with certain issues. If you are interested in this incredibly healing (and wonderfully moisturizing) oil, Jane can be reached through her shop Grace Heaven salon, which is on 3rd between A and B, or at 212.253.5490.

Pacifica Perfume: Sustainable, Socially Responsible Scents to Savor

Avid surfer Brook Havey-Taylor founded Pacifica in 1996 to put her training in aromatherapy to work and share the scents from her travels. Now, the company boasts a line of over twenty fragrances that can be found in candle form, perfume solid, body creams, soaps and sprays. Pacifica is based in Portland, Oregon and practices carbon neutrality and cruelty-free production. The products are vegan and do not contain any animal ingredients, including beeswax.

I had the opportunity to speak with Brook and discuss natural fragrances. I have long enjoyed scents and as far as senses go, smell is one of my most adored, but these days I am hesitant to use any scents or oils that are not necessarily safe. What does it really mean to be safe or natural? Is there such a thing as truly organic perfume? How are natural ingredients such as patchouli and sandalwood being affected by the vast cosmetics and beauty industry? Brook thinks about these things and was happy to share some thoughts.

KJA: How natural is Pacifica and what does this mean to you?

BH-T: For Pacifica, I never claim that we are 100% natural. I use as many natural materials as I possibly can. My goal is always to create a safe and sustainable product, an ethical product, and an affordable product. At our company we provide a 401k and viable health and dental insurance plans to insure our workers are treated well. Our factory in Oregon is virtually waste free. Everything is recycled into candle production or donated to local women’s shelters. We use local box manufacturers for packaging the products and local printers which is quite rare. The only component of our products that is made overseas are the tins for our perfumes and some of our glass, though we are trying to find local suppliers. We are really focused on keeping the business viable and local. As a company we try to look at everything we do as whole.

KJA: So, are your ingredients organic?

BH-T: When it comes to the issue of natural or organic fragrance you have to be really careful in your language. Even essential oils contain synthetics at times. There are arguments against 100% natural – you are using water, land, affecting cash crops – and social issues come into play hugely. It’s coming more to the fore now, especially with palm and sandalwood (clk here for more info on this topic.) Our western craving for all things natural can be extreme.

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Shower for a Good Cause

One With Nature has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). For every Rose Petal Soap sold from their Dead Sea Mineral Soap collection, 10% of the sales will be donated to the cause. Wrapped in biodegradable artisinanally designed packaging, this 100% vegetable based, mild exfoliating bar is infused with skin-nourishing Dead Sea Minerals.

The soap is a triple-milled, contains 21 minerals, moisture-rich shea butter and contains no artificial fragrances, colors nor animal ingredients.  There are several other varieties in the Dead Sea Mineral Soap collection such as Lavender, Vanilla Oatmeal, Hemp, and Lemon Verbena.

One with Nature helps to fund research efforts and create public awareness with the non-profit environmental organization, FoEME (Friends of the Earth Middle East). It is the mission of this partnership to help preserve the Dead Sea.