Rosemary Essential oil

Quoted more by scholars than herbalists, it was Shakespeare who wrote, “There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance” which always left me wondering if Shakespeare had read Piny’s work or the work of his contemporary, Dioscorides. Perhaps it so well documented when he penned Ophelia’s lines, that the herbal virtues were widely known and accepted. I expect living through the plague placed substantial impact on the use of Rosemary in his time. Then again, I may be just overthinking the whole thing.

Mild California winters bring jewel like Rosemary flowers among chickweed and dandelion, the trinity of liver cleansing and a gentle reminder of the forthcoming spring. It’s in this season, that Rosemary finds itself in my many cups of herbal tea, hot chocolate and the occasional steamed milk for my cortados. ‘Rose Of The Sea’ finds itself in my Memory salad as well, a side dish consisting of olive oil, lemon, red peppers and generous amounts of finely chopped fresh Rosemary. Once eaten, I pronounce myself sufficiently smart and ready for the business of running the apothecary, an odd ritual I’ve taken to since first creating the recipe. The cat never looks impressed, however.

We carry two varietals of Rosemary. Corsican is softer, more perfumed while Tunisian Rosemary is camphorous, woody and somewhat herbaceous. It’s the Tunisian Rosemary I favor for hair care, stimulating the scalp and encouraging healthy growth. It adds remarkable shine to hair when a few drops are added to apple cider vinegar and distilled water as a final hair rinse. I occasionally use a hydrosol in place of distilled water for added softness. When applied topically in a carrier oil or in unscented lotions and creams, Rosemary soothes dry skin. It’s mighty helpful for forgetfulness too.

Suggested uses: Add a few drops to a carrier oil such as Olive or Jojoba and work into the scalp to treat dandruff, dry scalp or as a tonic to invigorate hair growth. Can be added to skin care to freshen skin or toner. Combine with Peppermint essential oil to soothe headaches and ease tension. Rosemary, when added to fine Himalayan salt creates a vibrant salt scrub.