Eugenia Essentials

The Magi’s Gifts-Part One: Frankincense

As Christmas approaches I started thinking about two of the gifts presented to the baby Jesus by the Magi: Frankincense and Myrrh. When I was a child, I always wondered what these two mysterious gifts were and why would anyone give these to a baby?  Frankincense has been revered since biblical times and was a [...]

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Palmarosa, a splendorous grass

I love the Latin name of Palmarosa: Cymbogon martini! It sounds like a happy hour cocktail that Bilbo Baggins might order down at the local Shire pub. While definitely not a drink, the essential oil of this lemon grass species has a lot to make you smile.

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Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)

While Jasmine and Rose are often referred to as the King and Queen of flowers, Ylang ylang should be called the Princess and an exotic one at that!  The blossoms yellow with long petals come from the cananga tree, native to the South Pacific, which can grow to over 60 feet. The essential oil is obtained [...]

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Rosemary is for remembrance

I spent this morning outside doing some due diligence among our plants, trimming, inspecting and weeding.  I’d been wondering what to write about for my next entry and as I ran my hands up the branches of the rosemary, marveling at the heady fragrance, I thought why not rosemary? Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a perennial shrub, [...]

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I Love Lavender!

I must have received a gift of perfume or soap with lavender in it at Christmas once, because every time I smell it, I am transported to my childhood bedroom. I’m looking out the window on a bright crisp winter day, where the sun glints off the snow. This is a powerful example of [...]

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