Often maligned, rosa multiflora is one of my favorite roses. Its presence each May perfumes the air at great distances. Did you know it was much used as rootstock in creating new rose cultivars? Or that it’s wonderfully medicinal? I’ve worked with this “ invasive” for decades and learned, through patient observation & Goethean Science, how to best extract it. While it can spread itself around, it’s not difficult to prune and curb, plus its hips are an important wildlife food source, the pollen is gathered by bees, also it’s a world for ladybugs, a hatchery. So much to learn about nature if we open our hearts and eyes. Rosa multiflora’s fragrance is sublime and powerful for such a tiny blossom: musk rose, fresh green apples, a hint of tea. #botanicalperfume#slowscent#artisanperfume#wildrose#greenbeauty #wholeplantskincare#farmtoface#soiltoskin#biodynamicskincare#biodynamic#indieperfumer

One dear customer, a sensitive artist/photographer wrote me a very moving note the other day. I don’t think I’ve ever shared any of the precious and often mind-blowing, thoughtful messages people send me about their perceptions and experiences (and amazing results!) with the Tender Flower products. I treasure them deeply, for it is very special when a person really sees .. you, your work, a work of art, a bird, a flower… “You are often in my thoughts, Donna, reflecting on the work you are carrying out and the many steps that are part of the creations you offer. It’s mostly the back end, and the invisible details, and all of these carry a charge, imbuing their spark and radiance into the next piece, the next steps” @elvira_piedra It’s true the back end is most of Tender Flower, layers and layers of details & processes far more complex than simply “planting”, “ harvesting”, “formulating “, “blending”. It takes most of my time, as well. Further, you only see snippets of time & space here, only certain areas of the farm and garden. For example, the production garden doesn’t make for great photos.. yet. I’m working on it, but that kind of work takes years. Often while working with the plants, slowly constructing perfumes, oohing and aahing over a blossom or butterfly , I think of you, too, all the wonderful people, customers, yes, but so much more than that, in this Tender circle. Love and deep thanks, Donna #biodynamic#biodynamicskincare#biodynamicfarm#farmtoface#radiantskin#plantmedicine#plantlove#greenbeauty#botanicalskincare#artisanskincare #botanicalperfume#indieperfumer#naturelove

For today I had planned to create and shoot a special floral photo in here, the potting shed, with its pretty earth plaster walls and dry laid brick floor. A special seasonal image, as I’d envisioned. But, guess what? I needed to distill more of the plants for Vernal Pool instead, before they quit their brief appearance. So after an hour harvesting for this co-distillation (and gasping at the overgrowth of overnight weeds while doing so), now I’m committed to Berthe, the still I’m using today, for the next 3 hours. Then it’s outdoors for the rest of this glorious day, to face those weeds and apply the first Biodynamic prep of the year. #biodynamicskincare#biodynamicfarm#hydrosol#distillation#wholeplantskincare#biodynamic#greenbeauty#botanicalperfume#springmagic#plantmedicine#wholeplantskincare#plantlove

A little olfactory experiment, written in enfleurage. There’s much more than your eye sees, you could liken it to underpainting. It’s far more than a random selection of flowers, too, but my perfumer’s thought process is reserved for future classes. I love to conduct a few of these experiments every year, to determine how I’ll work with certain flowers for perfumes. What are your dream flower perfumes? #enfleurage #flowerpoetry#scentpoetry#olfactoryart#fragrance#botanicalperfumer#naturalperfumery#indieperfumer#smellthis#greenbeauty#slowscent#jevaisaupif#flowerscent#springflowers#flowermagic

Slowly the potting shed garden is sending up plants. I really love this more austere and sparse period in Spring’s unfolding. The empty patches point to potential and bare spots are resting places. All the cold frames are crowded with seedlings, and soon the special Biodynamic composts will spread before planting begins. You’ll see more flower, garden, and plant process posts for awhile now, since I do all the things. There is nothing realer than growing your own plants for formulating and making products, instead of buying them in. Every bit of responsibility, and the limitations of nature and human being, become vividly apparent in ways that normally go unexperienced, unlived, non-applicable when a botanical business doesn’t firsthandedly produce its own plants. A very particular kind of groundedness through the entire cycle is only possible when you do. #biodynamic#biodynamicfarming #biodynamicskincare #wholeplantskincare#botanicalperfume#radiantskincare #greenbeauty#naturelove#grounded#botanicalskincare#plantmedicineretreat #elementals#springgarden