It's been so long..............

I have been waiting to have fresh St. John's Wort flowers again for 2 years.  Two years ago all my plants died so I replanted.  Last year the plants got really big but hardly any flowers so I think I got 4 ounces of oil from them.  Hardly enough to keep an herbal business running for a year.  This year they are in early and back with a passion!  I had already started an 8 ounce jar last week but here is what I pulled today:

And we have only just begun!  I filled a QUART jar and topped it off with the small jar I already started.

This should be ready after 2 weeks in the Kentucky sun.  If I get another quart (which I think I easily will) I will be set up well for the year!  And I saw this while I was gathering my flowers:

A ladybug napping on my clary sage, surrounded by yarrow flowers.  I will be distilling clary sage this weekend.  Probably right before I go to bed. 

And I need to gather elder flowers this week and run the lemon balm.  I am going to be busy!

Perfumes

Lately I have been on a perfume making frenzy.  I am working on an all natural amber because even the so called "natural" ones on the market have some artificial (and irritating) notes that I don't like.  So I decided to make my own.  Research isn't easy, amber recipes are a closely guarded secret, but I have come up with one that I like.  This will be a fabulous base note in other blends and will work as a stand alone fragrance.

I've also been learning about the perfume family called Chypres.  A basic blend is bergamot, oakmoss absolute, patchouli and labdanum absolute.  There is so much room for variations by adding petitgrain, jasmine, rose, citruses, sandalwood, etc.  So actually, I could blend my 3 favorite perfumes (eau de cologne, soft patchouli, and amber), add a little oakmoss and have a perfect perfume.  I also have some of my amber blend, mixed with choya loban and a little birch tar essential oil and it is smelling very deep, smoky, and sensual. 

I am having fun and I think I have several masterpieces in the works!  I'll keep you posted.