Natural Perfumes?

Image: Chessalee

Question:
Hi Kate,

I'm beginning a search for some natural beauty products (specifically perfume and an exfoliating body scrub) for my wedding. I've found a bunch of great websites and looked at products through your site, but I don't want to buy a perfume without being able to smell it in person. Could you recommend any common stores that carry all-natural beauty products? Do any national chains such as Sephora or Origins have anything decent?

Thanks so much!
Regan

Answer:
Hi Regan,

Thank you so much for writing. Many perfumes contain nasty ingredients so I think it is great you are trying to find a natural alternative.

I agree with you that perfumes have to be tried in person! Almost everything I try turns sickeningly sweet on me after five minutes so I am very picky.

To answer your question, there are no chain stores that I know of that have a robust selection. I know origins (as a company) has a good environmental reputation and now carries an organic line of skin care products, but I am not sure what is in their perfumes. It is certainly worth a trip to their store to find out if there is one near you. The same goes for Sephora.

Personally, I am fond of Pacifica Perfumes -they have rich spicy scents and you can use their store locator to find a store near you.

However, my favorite natural perfumery is Aftelier. They are NOT cheap, but they have amazing floral solid perfumes which are sold in a refillable compact. Aftelier allows you to order samples online -which, if used sparingly, can last a long time and are much more affordable.

I am sorry I can't offer more advice. I am posting your question here with the hope some of the other readers will chime in with suggestions.

When you do find something you love I hope you will come back and share!

All the best,

Kate

P.s. On the exfoliant question my favorite (after lots of testing) is the JASON Apricot Scrubble - it does not leave an oily residue on your skin and has a great grit!

Seed Paper Problems

Image: Grow-a-Note (Made in USA)

Hi Kate,

I think you have a site worth sharing. One huge problem though is all of your plantable paper. From an environmental point of view, it's a terrible idea. Most of it is made overseas, and while it is made from recycled content, it is largely sweat shopped. But worse yet is the invasive species angle. Seeds from where ever the paper is coming from don't belong where the invites are going. (Ever look in a seed catalog and notice that they won't ship some seeds to some places? This is why). While it is a cute idea, seeds from China don't belong in Chicago.

I've been making handmade paper for 11 years and talked to many botanists along the way and you won't find one who thinks seeded paper is a good idea.

All the best...
Chuck

Answer
Hi Chuck,

I have reprinted your e-mail to me because you raise a very important point that I talk about in The Green Bride Guide, but have not mentioned on this site yet. Whenever you give guests trees, seed packets or seed imbued paper you should include a note about which region of the country they can be planted in. If your guest lives outside the plant's natural range the seeds should only be germinated indoors.

To find out which trees are native to your region type your zip code into the "buy a tree" page at the National Arbor Day Foundation.

For seeds, check out the map at American Meadows.

For seed paper, unless the company specifies the species, always advise your guests to plant your cards, programs, etc. in indoor pots. (This can be accomplished with a small "please plant inside" note on the back of the card).

While I am talking about seeds I want to mention that the same rule applies for birdseed as well. Many couples now toss birdseed instead of rice. If you do this, be sure to buy a seed mix that is native to your area. Seeds that go uneaten can germinate and wreak havoc on native species.

To tackle the sweatshop issue, whenever possible I suggest purchasing locally produced seed paper or fair trade seed paper. (You can find both in the eco-products section of this website). If you are not sure, contact the company directly before buying. You can also make your own seed paper using a simple paper making kit.

Bottled Water?

Hi Kate,

I know that bottled water is not eco-friendly, but it is so convenient. Is there a green option that makes sense?

Thanks,

Pam

Answer

Hi Pam,

Thank you for writing. I talk about bottled water in the Guest Comfort section of The Green Bride Guide, because your question highlights a common dilemma.

The following an excerpt from an entry I wrote for Get Married. It starts with a quick review of the environmental impacts of bottle water and offers a few green solutions. Hope it helps!

Quick Bottled Water Facts

Energy use - According to The Container Recycling Institute the amount of energy it take to make the 8.25 billion gallons of bottled water Americans drink each year could provide enough electricity for 250,000 homes or could fuel 100,000 cars.

Landfill space - Despite our best efforts, 4 out of 5 bottles end up in the landfill.

Image from www.blueorchidblog.com

Safety - Bottled water is actually less safe than tap water in most parts of the country. Tap water is regulated by the FDA but most bottled water isn't. One study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that almost one-third bottled water contains contaminants (including synthetic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic).

What You Can Do

Offer pitchers of water to your guests - it is more elegant, more eco-friendly and less expensive. Have your caterer add fresh slices of organic lemon, lime, or cucumber for a fresh summer taste.

Image from The Kitchn

If you want to give your guests bottle water, pick brands that use corn-based plastic like Belu and Biota or companies that are giving back, like Ethos (which donates five cents per bottle to charity). Whatever bottles you use - make sure someone is in charge of collecting and recycling them after the event.