Following Spirits of May Citrus & Amber elixir mist, Hopi Botanicals “home” collection introduces Spirits of June -  Orange Blossom, a summery blend of Neroli, Sweet Orange, Tangerine, Green Mandarin, Myrrh & Ylang Ylang. Available for purchase in the Hopi Botanicals shop section at littlefeatherorganics.com

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

To London, Paris, New York & South Carolina… From Los Angeles, with Love.

Hopi Botanicals’ very first product available, Spirits Of May, is an all-natural mist made of a special blend of 9 different essential oils, pure grain alcohol & distilled water. A concentrated citrus-amber mist that only takes a few spritzes to freshen up a room, carpet, sofa, car, etc… It comes in an 8 Oz amber glass bottle and can be purchased online at www.littlefeatherorganics.com in the Hopi Botanicals shop section.

This is a special order which I was very happy with the results and so decided to add into the NOMAD collection’s “Traditional Shaman” chapter. (Background images from Cass’ blog Sex Savages on Wheels)

Succombing to CHANEL’s Jade nail polish. Thank you Kate ! – I’m so green, yes, I’m so green…

A sneak peek into the NOMAD – exclusive handmade – solid perfume amulet collection. A blend of exotic oils, amber essence and precious woods hand poured into one-of-a-kind vintage Navajo pill boxes. The perfume is offered in a custom leather medicine bag. Each bag is uniquely designed to accommodate the different silver and turquoise boxes. Stay tuned for a preview of the entire collection. Pieces will be available at A Child of The Jago (London) and in other select shops worldwide. For more information please contact info@hopibotanicals.com

Both Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and its close relative Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to “foam up”. Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

Unfortunately, both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also very dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving “healthy shining hair” and “beautiful skin”, soaps and shampoos containing sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity.

Although sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat less irritating than SLS, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting. This not only means it stays in the body tissues for longer, but much more precious energy is used getting rid of it.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations of SLS as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. National Institutes of Health “Household Products Directory” of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain SLS and SLES. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called “highly irritating and dangerous“.

Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products to the FDA. Reports include eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms and split and fuzzy hair. This is highly characteristic of sodium laureth sulfate and almost definitely directly related to its use.

So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium laureth sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple – it is cheap. The sodium laureth sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, SLES also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

This denaturing of skin proteins may even be implicated in skin and other cancers.

Perhaps most worryingly, sodium laureth sulfate is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of SLS is to mimic the activity of the hormone oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

Products commonly found to contains SLS or Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Soaps
Shampoos
Bubble-baths
Toothpaste
Dish washing liquid / soap
Laundry detergent
Children’s soaps / shampoos
Stain remover
Carpet cleaner
Fabric glue
Body wash
Shave cream
Mascara
Mouthwash
Skin cleanser
Moisturizing lotion
Sunscreen

The use of sodium laureth sulfate in childrens products is particularly worrying. It is known that, whether it gets in the eyes or not, skin application DOES lead to measurable concentrations in the eyes of children. This is known to affect eye development, and the damage caused in this manner is irreversible. If you have children DO NOT USE products containing sodium laureth sulfate or SLS – they will thank you for it one day.

Do not believe that just because a product is labeled as “natural” it is free from SLS or sodium laureth sulfate. Most common brands of “natural” or “herbal” shampoos and cleansers still use these harmful chemicals as their main active ingredient – check your labels! Dangers of Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Haschigh Fudge – This is the food of Paradise – of Baudelaire’s Artificial Paradises:  It might provide entertaining refreshment for a Ladies Bridge Club or a chapter meeting of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).  In Morocco it is thought to be good for warding off the common cold in damp winter weather and is, indeed, more effective if taken with large quantities of hot mint tea.  Euphoria and brilliant storms of laughter; ecstatic reveries and extensions of one’s personality on several simultaneous planes are to be complacently expected. Almost anything Saint Theresa did, you can do better if you can bear to be ravished by an ‘un évanouissment reveillé’.

Take 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, 1 whole nutmeg, 4 average sticks of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon coriander.  These should all be pulverized in a mortar.  About a handful each of de-stoned dates, dried figs, shelled almonds and peanuts:  chop these and mix them together. A bunch of cannabis sativa can be pulverized.  This along with the spices should be dusted over the mixed fruit and nuts, kneaded together. About a cup of sugar dissolved in a big pat of butter.  Rolled into a cake and cut into pieces or made into balls about the size of a walnut, it should be eaten with care.  Two pieces are quite sufficient.

Obtaining the cannabis may present certain difficulties, but the variety known as cannabis sativa grows as a common weed, often unrecognized, everyone in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa; besides being cultivated as a crop for the manufacture of rope.  In the Americas, while often discouraged, its cousin, called cannabis indica, has been observed even in city window boxes.  It should be picked and dried as soon as it has gone to seed and while the plant is still green. Sub ROsa

Your new obsession. Die Antwoord.

In order that the fundamental immaterial value of the zone belong to him and become a part of him, he must solemnly burn his receipt, after his first and last name, his address and the date of the purchase have been written on the stub of the receipt book.

“Believe me, one is not robbed when one buys such paintings; it is I who am always robbed because I accept money.” Yves Klein