Most of the time, those little sidebar ads on Google and Facebook are useless to me, and I find them easy to ignore. Once in while, however, something that actually does relate to my interests will show up, and I might even click though to the suggested website. Greenheart Shop was one of those recent clicks for me. I spent a few minutes browsing the website for this Chicago-based "eco-fair trade non-profit shop," and ended up ordering two scented body products by an "artisan" brand called Anti-Body.
All the products offered by Anti-Body ("anti-poverty, beautiful body") feature fairly traded ingredients, paraben-free formulas, minimal packaging, and fragrances blended exclusively from essential oils. I opted for the Petal line. (Other scents include Lavender, Lemongrass, and Patchouli Eucalpytus.) Anti-Body's Petal fragrance is a mix of geranium and ylang ylang, two notes that are often acquired tastes: geranium is sharp and greenish, almost more of a vegetal note than a floral note, and the oil of the ylang ylang flower can smell rubbery and a bit animalic. I can't think of any other body products that pair these two distinctive essences, but I've been enjoying the combination.
Petal Hand & Body Moisturizer is a medium-weight lotion whipped up from green tea, shea butter, cocoa butter, and other natural ingredients. (I'd suggest giving it a quick shake before using, just to make sure all these butters and extracts are completely blended.) It feels soothing on dry skin and leaves a light fragrance for several hours. Its scent is heavy on geranium's earthy leafiness; the creamy ylang ylang makes a more exotic supporting appearance after a few minutes. Petal Hydrating Fragrance Mist is packaged in an aluminum bottle with a spray dispenser, and its main ingredients include green tea and marula kernel oil. Thanks to the green tea, and the exclusion of alcohol, this liquid feels fresh and cooling when spritzed on skin (even if, for example, you've just shaved your legs), and it leaves a hint of moisture and scent. In the Fragrance Mist, the geranium scent is softer and just a touch rosy, and the ylang ylang is more delicate. It's a very pretty result, and it has a tonic effect on my mood. I'll definitely want to have a new bottle on hand for the sticky summer weather.
I haven't been able to learn much about Anti-Body, other than that the company is based in California and is dedicated to fostering fair-trade relationships with suppliers from developing countries. (The Anti-Body website appears to be under construction.) I'm continuing to enjoy these Petal products, however, so I'll be keeping an eye out for more information and other items.
Anti-Body Petal Hand & Body Moisturizer (8 oz for $12.95) and Hydrating Fragrance Mist (2 oz for $9.95) are available through Greenheart Shop. A matching Bath & Body Oil (4 oz for $11.95) is also available.
Sounds as if the ylang ylang could soften the sharpness of the geranium, which sounds lovely. I do like geranium scent by itself though, and have come around to liking the look of the flowers too. Where I grew up, everyone grew geraniums; the climate must have been perfect for them. My mother grew them everywhere and I found them very boring. Lately I’ve come to appreciate their gentle simplicity. The picture above is of geraniums in exactly the colour my mother often grew. She cultivated a white one too, many years ago when they were rare. Anyway, thanks for the post.
Thanks for your comment, Annemarie! I have early memories of geraniums, too: my mother used to grow them indoors, in large stoneware pots, so they’ve always been very “homey” flowers to me. More recently, I’ve come to enjoy their fragrance, too.