The Humble Herb
CBD balms of distinction
Essential Oils
Essential oils are the real deal. They are highly concentrated, natural plant-based aromatic 'oils' that offer a wealth of benefits when used in skincare, personal care, spiritual and other wellness and mindfulness applications.
Essential oils are produced by steam or water distillation from the leaves, bark, petals, buds, needles, wood, seeds, fruits or roots of aromatic botanicals.
There are a multitude of oils available, some are valued for their aroma, others claim to have powerful beneficial properties. We select those that work in harmony with our CBD & your body.
Bergamot
Citrus aurantium bergamia
Aromatic description:
Citrusy and possesses a beautifully complex aroma with underlying floral and bitter characteristics.
Claimed benefits and uses:
Soothing Skin
Enhancing wellbeing
Acting as an antiseptic
Anxiety & stress
Fact:
Earl Grey tea is flavoured with Bergamot rind
Plant part used:
Citrus rind
Country/area of origin:
Italy
Calendula
Calendula officianalis
Aromatic description:
Woody and musky
Claimed benefits and uses:
Rich in anti inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties.
Good for skin care
Fact:
It is known as "flower of the rains"
Plant part used:
Flowers
Country/area of origin:
France
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
Aromatic description:
Sweet, spicy, slightly fruity and herbaceous
Claimed benefits and uses:
Invigorating
Stimulating
Assists with aches and pains
Anti bacterial and anti-fungal
Fact:
Also known as 'Cilantro' and 'Chinese parsley'
Plant part used:
Leaf
Country/area of origin:
Middle East and Southern Europe
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Aromatic description:
Warm, sweet, woody and spicy
Claimed benefits and uses:
Stimulating and warming
Soothe aches and help lower inflammation
Anti-oxidant
Fact:
Named after the Greek word “zingiberis” meaning “horn shaped” the oil is also called the "oil of empowerment"
Plant part used:
Root
Country/area of origin:
China
Neem
Melia azadirachta
Aromatic description:
Earthy, rich and musty
Claimed benefits and uses:
Anti-inflammatory
High levels of antioxidants, including carotenoids that help protect the skin from oxidative stress and free radical damage
High in important fatty acids and vitamin E
Antibacterial
Fact:
The Swahili name is 'mwarobaini' meaning ‘of forty’ due to the common East African belief it can cure 40 diseases.
Plant part used:
Seeds
Country/area of origin:
India
Rose geranium
Pelargonium graveolens
Aromatic description:
Floral, sweet, rosy and green
Claimed benefits and uses:
Antimicrobial
Antifungal
Antiviral
Soothing and relaxing
Skin balancing
Fact:
Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) - graveolens means “highly scented” in Latin
Plant part used:
Flowers, leaves and stalks
Country/area of origin:
Africa
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
Aromatic description:
Spicy, smoky and woody
Claimed benefits and uses:
Joint and muscle discomfort
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Antibacterial
Stimulating
Fact:
In 1280, Marco Polo described turmeric and was impressed that it exhibited qualities very similar to that of saffron.
Plant part used:
Root
Country/area of origin:
South East Asia and India
Black pepper
Piper nigrum
Aromatic description:
Reminiscent to freshly ground peppercorns, but it is a bit more complex with hints of green and perhaps a hint of floral. Crisp, fresh and peppery.
Claimed benefits and uses:
Easing aches and pains
Stimulating circulation
Detoxing /Boosting immunity Enhancing alertness
Fact:
Black pepper accounts for 20% of the monetary value of the worlds spice trade.
Plant part used:
Peppercorns
Country/area of origin:
Indonesia
Camphor
Cinnamomum camphora
Aromatic description:
Fresh, intense and woody. Its aroma is somewhat eucalyptus-like
Claimed benefits and uses:
Relieve irritation, itching, and pain. As an ingredient in different products, it can also help ease inflammatory conditions.
Hot and cold action reduces muscle and joint discomfort - cooling nerves then warming area to assist circulation.
Fact:
Only harvested from trees that are over 50 years old
Plant part used:
Bark
Country/area of origin:
China
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus
Aromatic description:
Fresh, crisp & clean.
Claimed benefits and uses:
Anti-inflammatory qualities
Antiseptic
Purifying & cleansing
Immune-booster
Fact:
First used by the Aboriginal people of Australia, who referred to is as “kino” and used it to heal most wounds, Eucalyptus leaves were made into infusions and used to treat body pains, colds, sinus congestions, and fevers, hence the nickname Fever Tree.
Plant part used:
Leaf
Country/area of origin:
Australia
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Aromatic description:
Intricate floral, rich and intense
Claimed benefits and uses:
Anti-microbial
Anti-inflammatory
Deeply relaxing and soothing
Fact:
The Lavender plant has more than 30 species and close to 500 known varieties but
Lavandula angustifolia is known as 'True Lavender', this species produces the most recognised and celebrated scent
Plant part used:
Flowers
Country/area of origin:
United Kingdom and France
Peppermint
Mentha piperita
Aromatic description:
Sweet, refreshing menthol
Claimed benefits and uses:
Soothing and cooling
Antimicrobial
Muscle and joint discomfort
Fact:
The plant gets its name from Greek mythology. The legend says that Hades had an affair with a nymph named Minthe. When his wife discovered this she turned Minthe into a plant that would be constantly trampled on. Hades added the calming scent to the plant to remind others of her presence.
Plant part used:
Leaf
Country/area of origin:
Europe
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
Aromatic description:
Powerful, fresh, herbaceous, slightly medicinal
Claimed benefits and uses:
Reduce inflammation
Reduce joint/muscle discomfort
Antibacterial
Antioxidant
Assist circulation
Fact:
The ancient Greeks would burn dried rosemary as an offering to their gods.
Plant part used:
Leaves and flowers
Country/area of origin:
Mediterranean
Ylang ylang
Cananga odorata
Aromatic description:
Sweet, floral, fruity
Claimed benefits and uses:
Antiseptic
Antifungal
Antibacterial
Fact:
Ylang ylang actually means “flower of flowers” and is one of the key ingredients used in the legendary perfume, Chanel No. 5.
Plant part used:
Flowers
Country/area of origin:
Indonesia, the Philippines and Polynesian islands
Cajeput
Melaleuca leucadendron cajeputi
Aromatic description:
Campherous but possesses a fresh, uplifting, fruity quality.
Claimed benefits and uses:
Acting as an antiseptic
Acting as a pain reliever
Toning skin
Aiding focus
Fact:
It has a long flowering season and can flower at almost any time of the year and is often grown as a tree in parks and on roadsides
Plant part used:
Leaves
Country/area of origin:
Malaysia
Clove bud
Eugenia caryophyllus
Aromatic description:
Warm, spicy, rich, sweet and herbaceous
Claimed benefits and uses:
Cleansing
Promotes mental energy and concentration
Invigorated skin appearance
Soothing sore muscles
Management of pain and anxious energy
Fact:
The clove tree holds a special symbolism in Indonesia; traditionally, when a child was born, locals would plant a clove tree, linking the child's life to the life cycle of the tree
Plant part used:
Clove bud
Country/area of origin:
Indonesia
Frankincense
Boswellia carterii
Aromatic description:
Woody, earthy and spicy with a fruity nuance.
Claimed benefits and uses:
Said to stimulate immune system and circulation
Anti-inflammatory
Soothing skin
Fact:
Derived from the milky white sap that is secreted by the Frankincense tree. The tree’s sap droplets are allowed to dry and harden then scraped off to be made into the oil.
Plant part used:
Tree resin
Country/area of origin:
Africa and the southern Arabian peninsula
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Aromatic description:
Zesty, exotic, uplifting and refreshing
Claimed benefits and uses:
Antibacterial
Fungal infections
Soothe sore muscles
Fact:
First appearing in East Indian, Sri Lankan and Chinese medicine, the oil was most famously used to treat fever, earning the name ‘fever grass’.
Plant part used:
Leaf
Country/area of origin:
India
Patchouli
Pogostemon cablin
Aromatic description:
Warm, woodsy and musky, yet slightly sweet
Claimed benefits and uses:
Soothing and anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Fact:
King Tut had 10 gallons of patchouli oil buried with him in his tomb
Plant part used:
Leaves
Country/area of origin:
Native to tropical regions of Asia, and is now extensively cultivated in China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
Tea tree
Melaleuca alternifolia
Aromatic description:
Warm, fresh, spicy , medicinal and woody
Claimed benefits and uses:
Antiseptic
Antibacterial and cleansing
Antiviral
Antifungal
Soothing and skin calming
Fact:
During WW2, producers of Tea Tree Oil were excluded from signing up to the army until there was enough of the ingredient to supply all soldiers’ first aid kits and hospitals
Plant part used:
Leaves
Country/area of origin:
Australia
Some of our ingredient oils and their values
Frankincense is a calming oil, useful for people with anxious and obsessional dispositions.
Geranium is used to lift one’s spirits and reduce tension.
Lavender oil is a calming and relaxing oil.
Lemongrass is a revitalising essential oil.
Eucalyptus oil is a cooling oil, that is renowned for being stimulating, refreshing, clearing, purifying and regulating.
Patchouli oil is often used in skincare products as it is a superb tissue regenerator and helpful in the re-growth of skin cells
Some of our ingredient oils and their values
Bergamot essential oil has an uplifting and rejuvenating effect.
Tea tree is widely used for its antibacterial, antiseptic and stimulating properties.
Peppermint essential oil is cooling when hot and warming when cold.
Ylang ylang’s relaxing and stimulating properties make the oil famous for its calming effect on the mind and body.
Calendula supports the skin’s natural ability to heal itself.
Vitamin E - The hidden hero in our balms.
Vitamin E helps to maintain healthy skin & strengthen the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
Due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin E in cosmetics helps to protect the formula from oxidation. It also reduces the action of free radicals caused by the sun's rays and the action of pollutants. So therefore, Vitamin E prevents premature ageing of the skin.
It is also known for:
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Contributing to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
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Supporting the immune system.
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Maintaining healthy skin.
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Increasing red blood cell count.
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Reducing the risk of vitamin E deficiency.
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Improving kidney function.