A Fig & Vetiver gift set from John Masters Organics: "Here for the holidays this trio contains our NEW Body Bar, Body Wash, & Body Milk with Fig & Vetiver. This new John Masters Organics scent is both earthy & fresh, perfect for bringing in the festive holiday spirit." $39 at John Masters.
I can’t believe it’s been nearly three years since I wrote a post about vanilla lotions, with suggestions for fragrance layering; but time has indeed flown, and the new year seems like as good a time as any to revisit some favorite themes. I still agree with my own recommendations from that earlier post, and now I can add another half-dozen ideas for products that feature vanilla, often mixed with other notes for results that may also appeal to the non-vanilla-lovers among us.
First, an option that’s traditional all around: Caswell-Massey Vanilla Orchid Hand & Body Lotion (above center), from the venerable toiletries company. Even though its name mentions the flower of the vanilla plant, this is a rich gourmand vanilla with a caramel note. If you’re really in the mood for some head-to-toe vanilla-bean sweetness, you could also try the matching shower gel, dusting powder, and Eau de Toilette. ($17, currently on sale for $12.75, at the Caswell-Massey website)
I have a weakness for certain high-end natural lines, and since I already loved certain skincare and haircare products from this company, it wasn’t surprising that I fell for John Masters Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Milk (above right). This light lotion is packed with antioxidant-rich oils, soothing botanicals like comfrey leaf, and extracts of vanilla, honeysuckle, blood orange oil, and grapefruit peel oil for fragrance. It smells like a Creamsicle…
Last weekend I raved about Anjolie Ayurveda soap, and now I’m back with a few more recommendations.
I’ve long been a fan of John Masters Organics haircare, so I was happy to notice that the company has introduced a small group of all-natural soaps. From one olfactory angle, John Masters Organics Birch & Cedarwood Cleansing & Shaving Bar reminds me of homemade birch beer; from another, it evokes fresh wood shavings in a carpenter’s shop. That might sound like a strange combination, but it works. And this soap really is gentle enough to use for shaving…
I’ve been using John Masters Lavender Rosemary Shampoo daily this summer, and it’s earned my loyalty through its combination of natural ingredients, beneficial results, and a fragrance that works as a quickie aromatherapy treatment in the shower. It seems to have improved the overall condition of my hair, and it’s made my morning ritual a little more pleasant in the process.
If you’re interested in natural haircare, a John Masters shampoo has a lot to offer: like the other products in the line, Lavender Rosemary Shampoo is made without sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, artificial color, paraben preservatives, or animal testing. Instead, its base of coconut-derived soap is enriched with herbal infusions, many of them certified organic…