Re: Re: inexpensive fixative for potpourri

[Guest guest]

> Hello Dorothy,

>

> Do you have a Federal ID Tax Number? If so, you are eligible to buy

> bulk herbs wholesale from most retailers. You mentioned San

> Francisco Herb, they sell Patchouli Leaf, c/s for $10.00/lb.

> Another wholesaler - Starwest www.starwest-botanicals.com - they

> have patchouli leaf, too. Here's another www.aworldofplenty.com. I

> myself stay away from Penn Herb - too expensive. I have other

> sources for bulk patchouli, but they sell the herb(leaf & stem), not

> just the leaves.

>

>> Anyway, fixative materials such as orris root and cellulose are

> expensive

>> compared to the kitty litter Cedarific. Cedarific is composed of

> cedarwood

>> and other hardwood chips. Very fine. >

>> However, I love it for mixing in my blends and then tossing with

> the dried

>> botanical composition.

>

> Orris Root and some other fixatives are expensive, that's true. But

> they are true fixatives and if you want the scent of your creations

> to last, use true fixatives, not cedarwood or other hardwoods

> because these are not considered fixatives, but rather blenders.

> For a fixative for patchouli and pine, I would choose myrrh tears,

> which are not expensive and go wonderfully with patchouli. Grind the

> tears to a powder yourself with a mortar and pestle; or oakmoss c/s

> which you can powder yourself in an electric coffee bean grinder, or

> better yet a mixture of the two.

>

> Mark

Yes I do have a tax id number. Thank you so much for the referrals and

recommendations.

What fixative do you use for citrus, lemongrass creations?

Dorothy

Dorothy McCall, Cert. Aroma.

Kingsbury Fragrances

The Royal York

3955 Bigelow Blvd. Ste. 907

Pittsburgh, PA. 15213

(412) 687-2720

www.kingsburyfragrances.com

" Vibrating aromatic threads speak of the Divine through tapestries of scent "

Dorothy McCall Cert. Aroma.

[Guest guest]

> > bulk herbs wholesale from most retailers. You

> mentioned San

> > Francisco Herb, they sell Patchouli Leaf, c/s for

> $10.00/lb.

> > Another wholesaler - Starwest

> www.starwest-botanicals.com - they

> >> Anyway, fixative materials such as orris root

and

> cellulose are expensive

Does anyone know what Cellulose is. I have read that

sometimes they make it from corn?

> >> compared to the kitty litter Cedarific.

> Cedarific is composed of

> > cedarwood

Where do you get that?

> > Orris Root and some other fixatives are

expensive,

> that's true. But

> > they are true fixatives and if you want the scent

> of your creations

> > to last, use true fixatives, > > For a fixative

for patchouli and pine, I would

> choose myrrh tears, which are not expensive and go

wonderfully with patchouli. Grind the > > tears to a

powder yourself with a mortar and > pestle; or oakmoss

c/s

> > which you can powder yourself in an electric

> coffee bean grinder, or better yet a mixture of the

two.

> >

> > Mark

> What fixative do you use for citrus, lemongrass

> creations?

> Dorothy

I want to make a paste of fragrant materials.

Today I read a recipe calling for flour. Then I would

fashion a medievial pomador to wear. Have any ideas?

My orange clove poms mildewed in 3 to 6 weeks.

Cry,sniff!

Then my orris root powder infusion made a seperate

paste at the bottom, Humm wonder.

IDEAS?

BB

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[Guest guest]

At 12:57 AM 2/21/2006, you wrote:

>Then my orris root powder infusion made a seperate

>paste at the bottom, Humm wonder.

Most infusions " settle out " , called titration in scientific circles. As an

herbalist, I learned early on that all infusions and tinctures need to be

shaken at least once a day for the first three weeks. That is to make sure

all the surface are of the material is exposed to the menstrum for optimal

extraction. Then, you can let it sit, and siphon off the stuff you need

from the top, or pour it off. Sometimes I save the base material, sometimes

not, depends on what it is.

I do save the orris root as the bottom paste, it is wonderful, and can be

reinfused and reused.

>

Anya

http://.com

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[Guest guest]

I've had luck making fragrant beads in the past using a base of cornstarch

cooked to a thick paste and with the organic matter worked in. I add

essential oils and such as a last thing, after it cools a bit. The ones I

made from rose, patchouli leaf, amber and sandalwood powders for my matron

of honor at my wedding ten years ago are still highly fragrant, she wears

them without perfume.

Unfortunately, I don't have a real recipe. I go by texture, basically

making a cornstarch " gravy " from distilled water and cornstarch until I get

a paste so thick that it's a little hard to stir, then I let it cool and mix

further powdered materials and essences into it. I oil my hands a bit to

make it easier to work with. It doesn't shrink noticeably as it dries, and

it dries *very* hard - almost rock-like.

--

Regards,

Teegarden

Althaea Soaps and Herbals

http://www.althaea.biz

[Guest guest]

Oh - I should add that I dissolve about 1/2 tablespoon of sea salt into each

cup of distilled water to act as a preservative to the beads, just a safety

precaution. I've never had mold or mildew happen.

> --

> Regards,

>

> Teegarden

> Althaea Soaps and Herbals

> http://www.althaea.biz

[Guest guest]

On Feb 21, 2006, at 7:40 AM, Teegarden wrote:

> I've had luck making fragrant beads in the past using a base of

> cornstarch

> cooked to a thick paste and with the organic matter worked in. I add

> essential oils and such as a last thing, after it cools a bit. The

> ones I

> made from rose, patchouli leaf, amber and sandalwood powders for my

> matron

> of honor at my wedding ten years ago are still highly fragrant, she

> wears

> them without perfume.

>

> Unfortunately, I don't have a real recipe. I go by texture, basically

> making a cornstarch " gravy " from distilled water and cornstarch

> until I get

> a paste so thick that it's a little hard to stir, then I let it

> cool and mix

> further powdered materials and essences into it. I oil my hands a

> bit to

> make it easier to work with. It doesn't shrink noticeably as it

> dries, and

> it dries *very* hard - almost rock-like.

>

>

,

This sounds fascinating. Kinda like rosebeads. So, you cook the

cornstarch and water? What temp? And when you say organic matter, you

mean essential oils, or dried herbs? Do you need, or add a filler to

the cornstarch mixture? I think I will give this a try....Do you make

jewelry out of the beads? Inquiring minds...

MJ

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> ,

> This sounds fascinating. Kinda like rosebeads.

Yeah, it's kind of like rose beads, only instead of cooking the organic

matter (petals, leaves, powdered resins, etc.) to a paste, I dry/powder them

finely and then mix them into the cornstarch paste mixture.

So, you cook the

> cornstarch and water? What temp?

Eh, I just heat it in a saucepan until it thickens. It's like making gravy,

only thicker. You've made a cornstarch gravy before, right? You have the

defatted broth, (in this case, distilled water with sea salt added) and you

bring it to a gentle boil, then you dissolve the cornstarch in a bit of cold

water (prevents lumps) and mix it into the boiling broth and stir it over

heat until it thickens, and changes from opaque to transparent again, which

only takes a couple of minutes. Then take it off of the heat and let it sit

to cool for a bit before turning it out, like a weird dough, onto a large

piece of waxed paper sprinkled with your powdered organic matter. Knead

your organic matter into the dough until it's pretty stiff stuff, and when

it's pretty cool add your essential oils and such. Then you shape it

however you're going to shape it and let it sit out on waxed paper to dry.

I've made a couple of types of jewelry from these beads. The first was to

make a n-style tube necklace of woven seed beads, and then filled it

with the little beads of cornstarch paste. This is how I did my matron of

honor's necklace, because the rose beads were such a dull black color that

they weren't that pretty, IMO. I've also made them into beads and used them

on knotted silk like pearls or stone beads. Rosemary was pretty this way,

the beads looked a lot like moss agate...only fragrant.

--

Regards,

Teegarden

Althaea Soaps and Herbals

http://www.althaea.biz

[Guest guest]

> From: BB <simmonsbetb@...>

> Reply-

> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 21:57:34 -0800 (PST)

>

> Subject: Re: Re: inexpensive fixative for potpourri

>

>

>>>> compared to the kitty litter Cedarific.

>> Cedarific is composed of

>>> cedarwood

>

> Where do you get that?

I get my cedarific from grocery stores and pet stores. I love it. I also

put it in a large bowl in my woolen closet and I add patchouli, clove bud

and cedarwood to it. I loved wearing my wool coat with the aroma of

patchouli in it. And then walking into my office when I stored my coat to

experience the patchouli in the air.

I also did an experience with the orange wax, clove buds and pettigrain and

cedarific and loved that also.

[Guest guest]

--- Teegarden <mallowdrama@...> wrote:

> I've had luck making fragrant beads in the past

> using a base of cornstarch

> cooked to a thick paste and with the organic matter

> worked in. I add

> essential oils and such as a last thing, after it

> cools a bit. The ones I

> made from rose, patchouli leaf, amber and sandalwood

> powders for my matron

> of honor at my wedding ten years ago are still

> highly fragrant, she wears

> them without perfume.

>

> Unfortunately, I don't have a real recipe. I go by

> texture, basically

> making a cornstarch " gravy " from distilled water and

> cornstarch until I get

> a paste so thick that it's a little hard to stir,

> then I let it cool and mix

> further powdered materials and essences into it. I

> oil my hands a bit to

> make it easier to work with. It doesn't shrink

> noticeably as it dries, and

> it dries *very* hard - almost rock-like.

>

> --

> Regards,

Hi

I have had sucess making oil from potpourri like

elements. Read somewhere not to discard fragrant

materials after infusing as the

still have fragrance, rather advised to just let them

dry out and throw them into a potpourri mix. Actually

the oil worked better and I ended up with a lovely

smell that reminded me of Amber essensce. However

there was too much Coumarin in the mix so I am

recreating this with herbs and roots in oil. GOD it

was a lovely smell but the coumarin lingered and

became unhealthy, so less Tonka , Astralagus root etc.

Thanks and here are two ideas I am having regarding

the making of wearable scented beads or pomadors.

1. I tinctured/Infused Powdered Orris Root which came

out very hard on the bottom so I am thinking to use it

in the mix

2. I am allergic to corn so do not want to use corn

starch especially for something that would touch my

skin. So considering using Agar-Agar which is used as

a thickener for sauces and a sprouting medium for

orchids, It is from the sea and used in place of

Corn Starch.

Hope I am not being over cautious to mention this but

thought to bring it by for a sniff from this electual

assembly of olfactory experts.

Any thoughts?

Please give a note

BB

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>

>2. I am allergic to corn so do not want to use corn

>starch especially for something that would touch my

>skin. So considering using Agar-Agar which is used as

>a thickener for sauces and a sprouting medium for

>orchids, It is from the sea and used in place of

>Corn Starch.

>

>

Hi

Here in Australia we have 'cornflour' made from either wheat or maize.

They seem to work equally well in thickening gravies etc. I don't know

if you have 'cornflour' made from wheat, or even if arrowroot or

riceflour would do the same when making beads.

I'm looking forward to trying the bead idea for a room scent as other

jelly-type ideas I've tried turn to liquid again after a few days.

Hope this stimulates some alternatives for you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

So considering using Agar-Agar which is used

in place of Corn Starch.

> Hi

>

> Here in Australia we have 'cornflour' made from

> either wheat or maize.

Hi

Maize is CORN that is its literal translation.

So today I went to Whole Foods* and found the

following:

1.Guar Gum " It is the ground seeds of an Indian tree

and has 8 times the thickening power of Corn Starch

from ... " Bob's RedMill " ... and gluten free "

2.Xanthum Gum..Made from the outer layer of a tiny,

inactive bacterium called Xanthomonas campestris.

thiickner..substitute for gluten. recipes call for

1-2 teaspoons...little goes a long way

3. Organic Tapioca Starch...use instead of corn

starch. made from the root of the cassava or yucca

plant Native to so. Amer. and West Indies...Mayans

first to harvest...recipe calls for 1/2 cup Tap Sta.

to 3 cups flour "

This is not an advertisement but rather hope for a

response from an experienced ear and nose. I have

used rice flour and Agar Agar in body powder for which

i must leave out corn starch. Tests start week-end.

Anyone have a clue?

Thanks for your interest.

BB

*Talked to the sales clerk about their need for

re-education mentioning no names but tooting Natural perfumery.

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