Hello Friend!

This week, I’ve been spending time with my strawberry patches, two little corners of the garden that have been quietly, steadily producing fruit. As long as they have water and sunlight, they give and give.

If you’ve ever grown strawberries, you know the dance. At first, you see the obvious berries, plump and red, practically asking to be picked. And once you’ve gathered those, it seems the harvest is done. But then something shifts. I begin to water, part the leaves, move in closer. And suddenly, more berries reveal themselves. Tucked away. Hidden under foliage. Waiting to be noticed.

It struck me how much this mirrors our inner landscape. There’s the part of us that’s easy to see, what we show the world, what we think we already know. However, there are also deeper layers. The quieter treasures that stay just out of sight until we slow down, soften our gaze, and look again.

So wherever you are in your journey, know this: there will always be more aspects of yourself to experience. Always be learning. Always be seeking. Always be finding.

What You’ll Discover In This Newsletter:

Live Event Replay and NLC Opportunity

Ready to transform your home and your health—naturally? Join Jenny and me for a free 45-minute online workshop replay where you’ll discover how to replace hidden toxins with safe, effective essential oils you can blend yourself. If you missed the LIVE event, the replay is now available.

We’ll share:
✨ 3 easy DIY recipes you can make with ingredients you probably already have
🌿 How small daily choices help your mind, body, and spirit thrive
💛 Simple ways to bring more nature into your day and feel better for it

Now’s the time to join the Natural Living Club—just $1/month

($12/year)Why now??

After Sunday, July 13, the price goes up—but if you join now, you’ll lock in this low rate for life.

And when you join before Sunday night, you’ll also get our $200+ Wellness Bonus Bundle:

✨ Printable PDF of all three blends from the workshop
✨ Safe dilution guidelines PDF
✨Ticket to our Vision Board Workshop in September ($99 value)
✨Free Aromatherapy 101 course ($49 value)
✨$20 Aromatics International credit
✨15% off your next Aromahead course

All yours for just $12/year. Forever.

Find your new community for Natural Living!

Aromatic Creations Recipe

Backcountry Bug Repellent Spray

Being outdoors evokes a sense of sanctity, especially in the stillness of deep wilderness. Years ago, during my horsebacking days, I learned quickly that while I was the visitor, the bugs were permanent residents, and they were more than happy to remind me.

That’s how this blend was born. It’s simple, effective, and beautifully aromatic. I’ve used it for years to keep mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and biting insects at bay, and I still reach for it anytime I want to be outside in peace.

Ingredients
• 100 ml Catnip Hydrosol (Nepeta cataria)
• 5 ml Solubol dispersant
• 20 drops Cedarwood Oil (Juniperus virginiana)
• 15 drops Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Eucalyptus citriodora) or Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus or Cymbopogon citratus ct rhodinol)
• 15 drops Palmarosa Oil (Cymbopogon martinii var motia)
• 10 drops Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
• 5 drops Peppermint Oil (Mentha × piperita)

Directions

1. Combine the essential oils and Solubol directly in the catnip hydrosol bottle.

2. Cap and shake generously to blend.

3. Mist over skin and clothing throughout the day. Spray often.

4. Store in the refrigerator when not in use, and prepare a fresh batch every 3–4 weeks. If you're the only one using it, a half batch might be just right.

It smells wonderful, feels refreshing, and most importantly, it works.

Notes of Discovery

Top Essential Oils for Natural Bug Repellents

There is so much beautiful, practical information in our recent in-depth post on using aromatherapy to prevent bug bites! I wanted to highlight that again for you, calling special attention to the section dedicated to which essential oils are effective. 

We can’t generalize about which essential oils work best for every person, in every blend, against every insect. That’s because there’s so much variation and nuance at play in which insect species respond to which oil, which oils contain active compounds, and how much of the oils we can safely work into our blends. (Some research is very promising, but uses oils at such high dilutions that I would never recommend for the skin.) 

That said, many oils are incredibly useful, such as catnip (Nepeta cataria). In the post, we explore why catnip is so powerful (it all comes down to its main component, nepetalactone), including research that shows it performs as well as (or better than ) DEET. 

Product Spotlight

Catnip Essential Oil (Nepeta cataria)

This little bottle carries a bold presence. The aroma is strong, sweet, and herbaceous as well as calming and steadying in moments of stress, yet surprisingly gentle when it's time to unwind.

While catnip is best known for its bug-repelling power (and yes, it’s excellent at that!), it offers so much more.

Here’s why it’s a staple in my summer kit:

• Helps calm the mind and body at the end of a busy day
• Encourages restful sleep by easing tension and overthinking
• Soothes sore muscles when blended into massage oil
• Supports immune resilience during seasonal shifts
• Eases digestive discomfort (diluted and applied to the belly)
• Comforts inflamed, tender, or irritated skin
• Has a toning, cleansing quality for oily or breakout-prone skin
• Naturally discourages insects—thanks to its high content of nepetalactone, a potent compound you can read more about in this blog post.

The catnip we source for this oil is cultivated in the serene hills of southern France, where the land is carefully tended. The purple-flowering plants stretch into open skies, nourished by sun, rain, and time. They’re certified organic and harvested at their peak, then steam-distilled in small batches.

When I open a fresh bottle of this oil, I can almost feel that place. There’s a wild sweetness in the aroma that’s fresh and full of life. It brings depth to your blends any time of the year.

While the bug spray recipe above uses catnip hydrosol, you can absolutely add a few drops of this essential oil to strengthen its bug-repelling power. I ensure that every batch contains at least 70% nepetalactone, as confirmed through GC/MS testing.

This one is a treasure. Simple. Potent. Beautiful.

From The Vine

Catnip: For the Little Ones and the Curious Cats

Recently, I was asked if using catnip hydrosol would attract every cat in the neighborhood. It’s a fair question and one I hear often enough to smile when it comes up.

The truth is, cats do tend to love catnip. If I spray a bit of the hydrosol around, one of our family cats comes running. She’ll roll in it, purring and blissed out. The other? He barely lifts an eyebrow. Like people, cats have their preferences. So while your cat might enjoy it, it’s unlikely you’ll be hosting a feline gathering on the porch.

Beyond the cat conversation, catnip hydrosol is a gentle, effective plant water that I often reach for, especially during the warmer months.

Q: What’s the difference between catnip hydrosol and catnip essential oil?
Catnip hydrosol contains only a very small amount of essential oil. That’s true for all hydrosols, and especially with catnip. Because there’s so little essential oil present, we don’t typically run a GC/MS report on hydrosols. These tests are designed to analyze volatile oils, not the water-soluble compounds that make up a hydrosol.

Q: Is catnip hydrosol effective on its own?
Yes. Catnip hydrosol is a fantastic bug repellent all on its own. I often use it without any essential oils, especially when I’m working with children under five. It’s safe, gentle, and effective for keeping those biting insects away.

Q: When do I need to use Solubol?
Solubol is needed when you’re blending essential oils into a water-based carrier like hydrosol, aloe vera gel, or plain water. It acts as a dispersant, helping the oils mix evenly into the water portion so the blend stays consistent and safe to use. If you’re using a hydrosol on its own without essential oils, there’s no need for Solubol.

Stay Inspired!

Sometimes the most powerful remedies come in the gentlest forms. A mist, a moment, a plant’s quiet offering. Whether it’s a child feeling safe or a cat purring in a patch of sun, nature reminds us to trust the small things. Always keep a little room in your practice for mystery.