Newsletter

Spring is now upon us and it's that time of year for the Spring Festivals and weddings. Be sure to get your order in plenty of time, as March- May is a busy season.

We have on order several new unique trims in many colors and styles to dress up our designs. You can take the option of adding one of those trim to your piece.

Jewelry -

We now have added a special Necklace/earring set made especially for our young Lasses. Delicately interwoven bands form small hearts. The actual size of each piece is about .50" x .50" They are perfect for anyone who like small jewelry The earrings are suspended on surgical steel fish hook earwires. The pendant is on an 18 inch cable chain. All the pieces are cast from lead free pewter

Celtic Rose has decided to add a line of fragrances for both men and women. To start off the line we will be introducing two fragrances

Dragon's Blood- I was in an alchemy store in a small town called Manitou Springs which sets at the foot of the Colorado mountains, they had a really large selection of fragrances. Looking through all the names Dragons Blood was one that caught my eye. I love the smell of it and has very unique fragrance of its own. It's warm and spicy with touches of vanilla, amber, sandalwood, some floral notes and spices. We will be offering sample vials, ½ oz drams and 1 oz drams.

Celtic Flower - This is one of our own mixes that has a very unique and pleasant aroma. The fragrances consist of French Lavender, Sweet Orange oil with a touch of Egyptian Musk. We will be offering sample vials,1/2 oz drams and 1 oz drams.

During the Middle Ages, plants were used to protect against epidemics whereas perfumes from the Orient whispered of carnal pleasures. The Church condemned alchemists.

During that era, the crusaders brought back from the Orient new raw materials and fragrance techniques. Following in the footprints of the Chinese and the Arabs, the European alchemists discovered ethyl alcohol and the distillation. The travels of Marco Polo gave a tremendous boost to the spice trade. It was believed that pleasant smells had disinfectant properties and protected against epidemics : The wealthy carried around "fragrance balls" filled with musk, amber or aromatic resins. The use of fragrance ushered in a new art of living. Poets celebrated femininity with passion. In spite of a stern warning from the Church, the gentlemen and their ladies used sensual, scented baths to indulge in carnal pleasures.

During Renaissance period, queens and courtesans fought over the secret formulas created by the first Italian chemists and discovered fragrance ingredients imported from Asia and America. The Renaissance ushered in a new vision of the world. Architects, engineers, artists and scholars traveled all over Europe. Boosted by the influence of powerful, wealthy patrons, the arts flourished. The first treatises on chemistry were progressively replacing alchemy and its recipes. Vasco de Gama, Christopher Columbus, Magellan, all famous explorers who brought back new raw materials from America and India : cocoa, vanilla, Peru balsam, tobacco, pepper, clove, cardamom ...

At the Court, famous courtesans and influential women competed against one another with beauty secrets ... and poisons. Leaving their native Spain and Italy (and the Medicis family), foreign perfumers established shop in Paris. Soon perfumed gloves were offered for sale all over France.

Lavender - As an herb, lavender has been in documented use for over 2,500 years. In ancient times lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and peoples of Arabia. As an herbal medicine, lavender is widely utilized. For soothing, relaxing qualities few herbs can be claimed as effective.

A lot of lavender folklore is about love. It was said to attract men but was also used for chastity. On St Luke's day young maidens would sip on a lavender tea and say. St Luke, St Luke, be kind to me, In my dreams, let me my true love see."

Sweet Orange - Sweet oranges was introduced in the late 1400s or early 1500s to Europe. And best known and usually reserved for medicinal purposes. Also repeated the use of citron for poisons and added, "...it is excellent good also to be given in vehement and burning fevers, and against all pestilent...infectious diseases: it comforteth the heart...Men of old time did not eat oranges, but were contented with the smell, and to lay them amongst clothes, to preserve them from Moths."

Egyptian Musk- The Egyptian musk is regarded as being the most popular fragrance of all time. This exotic scent has been in use since thousands of years and continues to soar in terms of popularity even today. Originating from the sands of Egypt, the Egyptian musk oil has been worn by personalities such as Cleopatra in history. These compounds are essential in modern perfumery and form the foundations of most perfume formulas

So be sure to watch for our new products, I am sue you will be pleased with them.

Until next time.
Huzzah
Celtic Rose Designs