I first heard about Clary Sage essential oil while we were preparing for the birth of our son. I now wish I had heard of this great oil sooner – it’s really nice in a diffuser for a quick pick-me-up.

Latin Name: Salvia sclarea

Family: Lamiaceae

Description: Clary sage is an herb that grows to approximately 1.5 feet high with large, hairy purple leaves with many small violet or white flowers. The essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and the flowering tops.

Countries of origin: United States, England, France, Russia and Morocco

Scent: Clary sage has musky, nutty, herbal top notes and floral undertones. It blends well with citruses and woody scents.

Properties: Clary Sage is a euphoric essential oil that can create an almost drug-like ‘high’. It has strong antidepressant properties, and is often used to combat depression, nervousness, anxiety and stress. Clary Sage is probably best known for its use in regulating menstruation and relieving menopausal symptoms. Midwives and doulas sometimes recommend using clary sage in massage oil during early labor. It can also be used to assist in meditation and promote vivid dreams.

Precautions: Non-toxic, non-sensitizing. Do not use during pregnancy. Do not use clary sage while drinking alcohol as it can exaggerate the effects of alcohol. Overuse of clary sage may cause a headache. Because it has estrogen-like compounds, it is not recommended with estrogen-dependent types of cancer. As with any new product, always test a small amount for skin sensitivity or allergic reaction. Do not use any essential oils undiluted on the skin.

Remember, the FDA has not evaluated the above statements. No claims are made regarding any medicinal value of clary sage oil. The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Further research should be done on each essential oil to determine its proper usage for each individual. Aromatherapy is not intended to be a replacement for care under a qualified health professional, but is to be considered a complimentary therapy.

“If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” - John D. Rockefeller

Latin Name: Citrus bergamia

Family: Rutaceae

Description: Bergamot is named after the city of Bergamo, Italy where most of its trade originated. The tree can grow up to 13 feet tall and bears small, inedible (because they are sour and bitter) citrus fruits. Bergamot essential oil is expressed from the peel of the almost-ripe fruit. It takes about one hundred fruits to make 3 ounces of essential oil.

Countries of origin: Italy, Mediterranean countries and United States (California)

Scent: Bergamot has sweet, lemony top notes with warm, floral and spicy undertones. It blends well with other florals and citruses. Some may recognize the scent as it is used in Earl Grey Tea.

Properties: Bergamot is called a ‘sunny’ essential oil and may help to reduce anxiety, depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The oil is cheering, calming and uplifting. Bergamot oil is also the go-to essential oil for treating urinary tract infections because it has antiseptic properties. Some also use it to regulate appetite or in facial creams to help with oily skin and acne.

Precautions: Do not use if you have very sensitive skin. With any new product, always test a small amount for skin sensitivity or allergic reaction. Do not use any essential oils undiluted on the skin.

Phototoxicity: Bergamot oil may cause photosensitivity, which means it makes the skin sensitive to sunlight. Exposure to sunlight or tanning beds after using products containing phototoxic ingredients can lead to irritation. It is best to avoid exposure to strong sunlight or tanning bed rays for 24 hours after using products containing this essential oil.

Vintage Body Spa products containing Bergamot Oil: Our Whipped Sugar Scrub in Lavender Bergamot is a calming blend of these two wonderful essential oils.

Remember, the FDA has not evaluated the above statements. No claims are made regarding any medicinal value of bergamot oil. The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

As we take today to remember those who gave their lives so we could be free, we offer up thanks and a prayer for those who serve today to keep us safe and free. God Bless all the members of our military and their families.

We’re such big fans of essential oils, I thought it might be fun to go through the alphabet of essential oils to teach you about their wonderful properties and for us to learn some things along the way! Today we’re starting with Anise, or Aniseed.

Latin Name: Pimpinella anisum

Description: Aniseed is a slow growing, annual herb from the parsley family which grows to about 1 1/2 feet high. The seeds are often used in flavoring, particularly in the liquor industry. The essential oil is steam distilled from dried and crushed seeds.

Countries of origin: Anise is native to the Eastern Mediterranean and western Asia regions. It is now widely cultivated mainly in Spain, India, Europe, Russia, Mexico and Egypt.

Scent: Anise has as spicy, sweet, licorice aroma.

Properties: Anise has been used to promote calmness and relieve stress. This is because one of its compounds is anethole, which is a phytoestrogen and is chemically similar to amphetamines. In the first century A.D., Pliny recommended anise to encourage milk production. Many aromatherapists recommend anise to ease menopausal symptoms. Anise oil has also been used as a cough expectorant and to ease dry coughs. Hunters and fishermen use anise oil to mask their scent and some say fish are attracted to the scent of anise.

Precautions: Anethole is an estrogen-altering compound, which may trigger hormonal changes or preterm labor, so this oil should be avoided by pregnant women. Anise may also cause skin sensitivity or irritation, so use caution.

“Nature gave men two ends – one to sit on, and one to think with. Ever since then man’s success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most” – George R. Kirpatrick

We are such big fans of the Sassimi spa wraps . They are so soft and uber-comfortable. When we learned they had released the Lanai collection, a group of loungewear we knew we had to offer them to our customers. Talk about comfy! The bamboo jersey blend has such an incredible feel, you won’t want to take these pieces off. They’re lightweight and pack so easily, you’ll be able to take them on vacation to wear poolside, or even as you relax at home. Bamboo, of course is an eco-friendly, renewable resource so you can feel good about your purchase while you’re enjoying its luxurious feel. Even though bamboo can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, you’ll find these pieces are very reasonably priced.

The Lanai collection has three pieces: a top, pants, and a robe. Wear them separately or together. You can also wear the pants or robe with any of the original spa wrap collection. Pieces come in a variety of colors, and they make a wonderful gift. How about treating mom this Mother’s Day and replace her old, worn out robe with some luxurious loungewear? This week only, through April 30th, enjoy free shipping on the entire Sassimi line!

UPDATE: 4/24/11 – Thanks to such a wonderful response, we have closed our call for product testers at this time. Everyone that has emailed up to this point will be contacted shortly. We will announce another call for volunteers whenever more are needed. Thanks to everyone who has emailed to participate!

We’re looking to expand our volunteer product tester panel – are you interested? We don’t test any of our products on animals, just humans, and we’re often looking for more people to test new product formulas and provide feedback. We use information gathered from the tester panel to decide whether or not we’re going to launch a new product or if it needs to go back to the lab for further tweaking.

If you’ve tested products for us previously, no need to sign up again. We’ve kept your name on the list and will be in touch when there is a new product ready for you to test. If you’re interested in joining the panel, please send an email to customerservice{at] vintagebodyspa (dot} com with ‘Tester Panel’ in the subject line. We’ll then send out a brief form for you to complete, so we know the best types of products to send. Each product sample will have an evaluation form for you to complete and send back.

There is no cost to join the tester panel. You’ll get to keep the sample product you’re testing and provide important feedback to help make our products the best in the marketplace. Thanks for considering volunteering to help us develop new products and product lines!

As many are wont to do this time of year, blog posts abound on lessoned learned in the past year. This is no exception. I’d reviewed and analyzed my year both personally and professionally and have been working for weeks on my 2011 vision board, goals and plans, though I hadn’t planned on sharing most of my review with the world. As one of my goals is to share more of my personal life with you just as I’d like to learn more about you, my readers and customers, fans and friends, I was inspired by @MichellePippin (a phenomenal coach and inspirational woman – I strongly recommend you read her blog and work with her if you are a business owner) and her honest and direct post on her 2010 and decided to do the same. I hope some of the lessons I learned can encourage you in whatever road you’re traveling in life – many of these lessons can be applied not just to business owners, but anyone working on a goal or dream. So without further ado, here’s a list of some of the things I learned in 2010.

I learned that all work and no play does indeed make me dull – especially when I let my spiritual and physical health falter by being too ‘busy’ with work. This year one of my words is ‘intentional’ – I will be intentional with my work, not wasting time on unimportant, unproductive or ‘busy work’ so that I can devote the time I want to and need to to my faith, my family and my own well-being.

I learned that I wasted too much time trying to ‘convince’ certain people to support me in my business. I won’t do that again – it is not my responsibility to convince others to believe in me – it starts with me and the dream God has placed in my heart, and if I’m the only one on the planet that believes in me (which I’m not) then that is sufficient. I learned that I do have some incredible supporters in my corner, and that I need to reach out to them when I’m faltering or in need of a little boost. I do need and will seek out in 2011 a small accountability group of likeminded business women to support each other in our spiritual and business walks. I need to have their support during tough times and I also need to use my gifts of listening and encouragement to help support sister believers.

I learned that it’s critical to keep investing in myself. The investment of attending Spark & Hustle was the best thing I could do – everything I learned there contributed to the greatest strides in my business to date. I will continue attending this incredible conference for years to come. Coaching is another key to my success which I had let falter – never again – the accountability and feedback are imperative to my success and I won’t be without a coach again.

I learned to give myself credit for the strides that were made in 2010, especially while working another full time job and having a complicated pregnancy and delivery. Consistent action steps, even the smallest of steps lead to big gains both personally and professionally, and ‘action’ is another word of mine for 2011. My work day may not be as long as others’ but it will be just as, if not more productive, as my actions will be intentional and purposeful. Along that vein, I will be growing a team in 2011 to help with the workload and provide greater products and services to our customers. I want to capitalize on my strengths and hire others with different talents to do the tasks that I’m not so skilled at (or have no interest in doing) but are necessary to running a business.

I have many plans for this next year and look forward to all the excitement and blessings it will bring. What are some of the lessons that you learned in 2010, and how will those lessons affect your 2011? Here’s to a wildly successful new year for all of us!

Are you looking for a unique gift idea to pamper that special someone year round? Want a way to remind them how much you care each and every month but don’t want to head to the store, purchase something and deliver it? Then let us save you time and money with the Indulgence of the Month Club! Available in 3, 6 or 12 month memberships, you simply choose how long you’d like to give the gift of pampering.

Each month your special someone will receive a box containing full sized goodies from Vintage Body Spa. The contents will vary each month. Recipients will also find additional treats some months, such as sample sizes of new or not yet released products. We’ll even handwrite a note with your personalized message. Each month’s gift will ship via USPS Priority Mail to be received mid-month and shipping is included in each membership’s price.

Purchasing an Indulgence of the Month Club membership is a great way to give the gift of pampering year round. Perfect for the spa enthusiast, the person who has everything, or the busy mom who needs to be reminded to take some time for herself. You’ll be the hit of the holiday when you present this thoughtful gift and will be remembered every time a new package arrives. Send as many months as you wish – every month brings new products and a new indulgence!