Balsam Fir Needles

Balsam Fir, or Abies balsamea, is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree native to most of central and eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. It is popularly used as a Christmas tree, celebrated for its conical shape, green needles and fresh pine fragrance. Native Americans used Balsam Fir for medicinal and therapeutic purposes for […]

Thyme

Thyme, or Thymus vulgaris, is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, and is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. This woody herb has small, rounded leaves and pink flowers, and is related to oregano. It has a strong herbal flavor with floral notes similar to that of lavender or rosemary. Ancient Egyptians used thyme […]

Summer Savory

Summer Savory, or Satureja hortensis, is an annual herb in the mint family, with thick branched stems, narrow leaves and small white, pink or lilac flowers. It is related to rosemary and thyme and features a peppery flavor with notes of marjoram, mint and thyme. In addition to its many culinary uses, Ancient Egyptians, Romans […]

Sage Leaf

Sage, or Salvia officinalis, is a perennial evergreen subshrub with woody stems, grayish leaves and flowers ranging from blue to purple. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae and native to the Mediterranean region. Sage was used in ancient times to ward off evil and help increase fertility; the Romans considered it a […]

Rosebuds

Rose is the name of both the woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa and the flower it produces. Rose flowers vary in size and shape, as there are more than 300 species and tens of thousands of cultivars. The oldest remains of roses were found in a 34-million-year-old formation in Colorado. They are […]

Red Clover

Red Clover, or Trifolium pratense, is an herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa. This short-lived perennial is tolerant to drought and features three lobed leaves and a dense cluster of dark pink flowers with a paler base. Red Clover is widely grown as a fodder […]

Quassia Bark

Quassia Bark comes from the plant Quassia amara, an evergreen shrub from the tropics of South America with broadly winged leaves and vivid crimson flowers. The name “amara” means “bitter” in Latin and describes the plant’s extremely bitter taste. The bitter principle found in Quassia Bark and wood is used in Angostura Bitters, which is […]

Orris Root

Orris Root, or Iris germanica, is a rhizomatous member of the Iris family with dark purple flowers and sword-like leaves. It is mainly used as a fixative and base note in perfumery due to its flowery, woody fragrance that is reminiscent of violets. Orris Root is also the most widely used fixative for potpourri and […]

Sweet Orange Peel

Sweet orange, or Citrus x sinensis, is a hybrid between the pomelo and mandarin, originating from Southern China, Northeast India and Myanmar. Large-scale cultivation of the Sweet Orange started in the 10th century as evidenced by complex irrigation techniques adapted for orange orchards. It was considered a luxury food grown by wealthy people. Today Sweet […]

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice derived from the ground seed of an apricot-like fruit from the Myristica tree, a fragrant evergreen native to Indonesia. It is a warming spice with a distinctive, pungent fragrance and a slightly sweet taste. Nutmeg is used as a culinary spice in food and beverages all over the world. The essential […]