Do all hyacinths smell alike? Yes…and…no. While all smell generally hyacinth-y, there are marked scent differences between the colors, for one. White ones have prominent galbanum & overripe banana/faintly pineapple sweetness; many pink ones have a delicious clove and cinnamon note. Pale yellow, salmon, purple and magenta blooms all have their little aroma idiosyncrasies, too. I love the odd cellophane note, reminiscent of childhood Easter baskets, some give off. Blue.. pale, deep, lavender-blue… ones all veer quickly into a bottom of the pond decay, as if asparagus were decomposing in it. All hyacinths eventually reach that whiffy point in their aroma lifeline, and that is when they become unpleasant. Not good models for perfume! This hyacinth perfume, made from my enfleurage extrait + plus accords composed of natural materials, was based on the scent of white & pink blossoms, leaning into the green , finishing in an elegant earthiness. Because I practice the art of enfleurage, and grow so many flowers, noticing the variations in scent is much the way an artist sees many shades of one color. Red is not merely red, but scarlet, carmine, vermillion, etc. What I love about this hyacinth perfume, besides its containing a genuine fragrant extraction of the flower (enfleurage), it’s a very emotional perfume.. a bit plaintive, like a song of Spring’s bittersweetness. #plantartist#enfleurage#olfactoryart#botanicalperfume#slowscent#greenbeauty#naturalperfume #indieperfumer#artisanperfume #fragrantpath#aromaticlife#jevaisaupif #tenderflowerperfume#smellthis#scentsy

In the quiet depths, still. Tender Flower is moving into this year slowly, as I follow my 🌟. It’s the only way, for me. I’m grateful that people passionate about TF understand and support this less usual way of doing a business. Outer pressure, from expectations cultivated by a destructive-to-human-and-nature economic system, is something I disavow. There are at times heart rending revelations about limits of humans & nature, when farming, something few people have to practically come to grips with, especially when their livelihood comes through it. At the same time, it is, at least the way I practice it, a sacred art, and one of the most beautiful experiences in life, to be privy to many of nature’s secrets, and work in a world of beauty every day. Each winter, it’s a new scenario of preparatory inner work related to Biodynamics, the bedrock preparation before a single plant gets planted, or product made. It’s impossible to assign an arbitrary timeframe to this work. The January newsletter, a shorter one, will be going out sometime soon. You haven’t missed it! Love ❤️‍🔥, Donna #biodynamic#biodynamicfarm#biodynamicskincare#greenbeauty#farmtoface#hyacinth#fragrantpath#jevaisaupif#botanicalperfume#indieperfumer#artisan#businessnotasusual #flowergram

Landscape of perfumery…. where to find me working to finish several new fumes, bringing Spring into the Winter… necessitating long periods of solitude. The real sniff tests happen on skin as bodily warmth and chemistry disperse volatiles rapidly in contrast to the touches de sentir. It takes from 6 to 36 hours to evaluate by nose each tweak to a perfume in progress. Natural materials perfumes are not all quick to dissipate, it depends upon the perfumer being able to create a structure. Though, OTH, why have longevity & volume of projection become the new determinants of what makes a perfume “good”? Let’s dig a bit deeper and learn (relearn) how to smell. #botanicalperfume#indieperfumer#jevaisaupif#scentscape#aromaticlife#fragrantpath#scentsy#naturalperfume#slowperfume#artisanperfume#ethereal#tenderflowerperfume#makingperfume#perfume#meditatingscent#smellthis#sillage

After weeks of being in a time out of the world zone .. or rather, “time in” the subtle worlds, it feels strange to write a post. What about, for one? As far as TF work, there’s been a deep immersion in the perfumery, requiring lots of solitude, sniffing, thought and careful building. The time quality is akin to hovering in between worlds of substance and spirit, and matches what is factually happening in these domains right now. Because “seasonal” is my life, perfume work really flows for me in this part of winter. The shape and details of this year are in formation, still… I can feel them, even have inklings for some things, yet am content to feel into the seeds of potential. Are you in a similar quality of time, I wonder? It’s a bit of a walk on the edge, with preparations for the next update needing attention! (If you want to be in the know, and haven’t subscribed, please do in the next few weeks, I don’t mention the dates here.) This image is of very fragrant rose sugar made last year, with fresh petals. This year, in rose time, I’ll try to measure the proportions, including the little trick to preserve it, so I can tell you with accuracy how it’s done. 😉 #rose#perfumerswhocook#fragrantpath#aromatica #aromaticlife#indieperfumer#bioynamicskincare#wholeplantskincare #roselove#plantextracts#jevaisaupif#smellthis#edibleperfume

Lately in my personal skin ritual, have been using a very special rose hydrosol that was stashed away for the first 2023 update. It was my favorite of all the distillations from the glorious rose harvest this year, and has a presence as if a rose were freshly opening to fragrant bloom in the early morning. Right now, life is a bed of roses for me, mostly leaves and canes with all the thorns. Nothing is one sided in life. You see beauty in the images of some accounts you follow, and may imagine, even enviously, that their lives are only such. You may be secure in your sense of spiritual and/or economic landing in the world, to a subtle point of smugness where you can’t see that others may be far from your given opportunities. One thing deep challenges have taught me, is none of us are truly free & happy unless all of humanity is, too. Be kind, be thoughtful.. give of yourself .. be helpful. The rose gives just because it is a rose. That is how the world lightens and is healed. Love, Donna ❤️‍🔥🥀❤️‍🩹🥀❤️‍🔥 #roselove#lightoflove#biodynamicfarm#distiller#biodynamicskincare#wholeplantskincare#plantlove#rosemagic#botanicalperfume#artisanskincare#indieperfumer#fragrantpath#aromaticlife#beautywalk

It’s a bit odd to be showing you something now unavailable (until the next update in 2023), but to complete the winter trio, here’s the Eos mist. This potent blend of hydrosols and fresh extractions was created to stimulate luminosity and cellular reparation, especially in winter. The newsletter will go out, possibly this week.. there was an email problem & my web person was sick. In case you really wanted verification, TF is genuinely a small business, working intimately with nature & the seasons, with me doing mostly everything, occasional web and garden help, my partner dispatching the mail and fixing things, sometimes building shelves and such. Black Fday doesn’t exist here, nor does Christmas hustle. Instead, an inward work comes forward, so there’s more to share, outwardly. Love, Donna #lightseason#biodynamicfarm#biodynamicskincare#botanicalperfume#greenbeauty#ilovemywork#botanicalbeauty#wholeplantskincare#distiller#hydrosols #artisanskincare#plantmagic#plantlove#farmtoface#farmtoskin

Catching the Light… It’s not “just” that TF plants are grown on site, Biodynamically. All the whole plant extractions also are potentized according to special medicine making methods of Biodynamic agriculture’s uber -origins, and by default from Eurythmy practiced daily in the apothecary. Inspiration even, for the formulas, comes through seeing into plants, nature cycles + human being/skin, in a spiritually detailed manner, details of the incredibly intricate ways the spiritual works into substance, nature, rhythms. Underneath that, also a long tuition in more traditional plant medicine/herbalism & healing arts; growing plants/various iterations of this farm, plus empathic communication with the elemental beings. It wasn’t possible over thirty years ago to see where this/my path was headed. So often it was daunting… and frustrating. How could all this, plus life as an artist come together in a form to share, to live that felt of a wholeness, that was mine to do? Knowing it needed to be this, nothing less, in order to fulfill, yet not ever knowing how and when was so very hard. Real beauty, wisdom and depth doesn’t come without trials. Late bloomers, take heart! When it comes together, perhaps akin to giving birth, the pain is but a faint memory in thought only. But ..it takes trusting your heart & inner voice, even when things seem not to go right at times. This is the Hibernal facial balm, from the recent (past.. sorry, shop is closed until 2023) update.. a potent concoction in the calendula focused trio.. rich enough for winter yet unencumbering. Its essence is light, as spoken by the plants to your skin. Winter is the time of Light igniting in the dark depths.❤️‍🔥 #skinlove#biodynamicskincare#radiantskin#plantmagic#greenbeauty#wholeplantskincare#botanicalmagic#botanicalskincare#ecoluxebeauty #biodynamic#plantmedicine#goetheanscience#plantsspeak#farmtoface

It wasn’t possible to show everything here that was part of the update before & during, but there was a trio of new products, centered on sunny, powerful calendula, which is still blooming in the gardens! This is Elemental Lip Balm, made with infused calendula + other botanicals, plus raw plant butters. There’s no beeswax or any wax at all. While the texture seems just a wee bit.. chunky? crumbly? .. at first, it melts on contact. A teeny amount works to plump lip tissue, impart a slight hint of color, and penetrates well while leaving a protective barrier. It tastes pleasant too.. anyone who’s received it care to describe? #biodynamicskincare #botanicalskincare#wholeplantskincare#greenbeauty#kissablelips #kissable#plantpower#artisanskincare#biodynamicfarm#calendula#farmtoface#radiantskin

Mood of repose and gratitude, post update. For awhile it felt like a wild Tender Flower packing party was going on here, with mountains of tissue paper, boxes, jars & bottles engulfing the apothecary! The Mr. made seemingly endless trips to dispatch everything, hopefully the last batch of US orders are arriving to you soon. I can’t thank you enough for being the best customers/supporters in the world. To keep this little Biodynamic farm going, not only its haven for plants , insects, birds and wildlife, but also the vital elemental beings, to continue the “research” into subtle realms, especially around scent & skin, this is with your kind interest and joy, using the products born from all of it. Thank you from my heart.💕 Donna #biodynamicfarm#farmtoface#wholeplantskincare#biodynamicskincare#botanicalperfume#indieperfumer#thankfulness#naturelove#plantlove#botanicalmagic#jevaisaupif#aromaticlife#fragrantpath#beautywalk#greenbeauty#