Brook's Notes | Everyday Inspiration
New Body Wash and Body Lotion
I would like to personally introduce our long awaited Body Wash and Lotion (and tell you what makes them so special!)
If you shop at Sephora or www.sephora.com, then you may already know that we have been selling our incredible Body Wash and Lotion there for a year now. And while these products are still available at Sephora, with more fragrances on the way, we are now offering them exclusively on our website as well. (And if you want to see how amazing these are in person- and I encourage you to do so- head into your local Sephora and ask for Pacifica).
Here are some quick highlights about each product:
BODY WASH
When I worked with our chemist to formulate this product it was important to me that it was:
- Thick and incredibly rich. This is NOT your average watered down body wash made with carcinogenic junk and bad fragrance. This is an amazingly effective wash full of antioxidants to help rinse your skin of free radicals that wreak havoc on your beautiful skin and make you look aged. AND it is fragranced with our best selling scents to brighten up your morning.
- Vegan (this is true for all of our products)
- A great value ($18.00 for 17 generous ounces)
- Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, petrochemicals and artificial color
- Full of skin loving naturals:
- Aloe vera juice- Perfect for calming the skin
- Chamomile and cucumber extracts- Soothing
- Green tea- an incredible antioxidant
- Grape seed and pomegranate extracts- excellent antioxidants that help rid the skin of free radicals that cause premature aging
BUT… I do have to tell you that there is one drawback. When you do not use sulfates, you do not get the BIG FOAMING action that many of us have been trained to expect from our washes. But this does not mean you are any less clean. Instead, it means that you are keeping your body from potentially harmful carcinogens. So get used to the light suds. You will be better off in the long run.
BODY LOTION
I wanted our Body Lotion to be:
- Silky smooth and pump out easily, melting into the skin with little effort- leaving you to smell incredible but not overpowering. And this is exactly what you can expect from this moisture rich lotion.
- Vegan (again, true for all that we do)
- Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, petrochemicals and artificial color
- A great value- $22.00 for a generous 17 long-lasting ounces
- Full of skin loving naturals:
- Safflower seed oil – this is an oil that your skin actually will use, imparting softness as well as having reparative properties
- Shea Butter- Perfect for protecting the skin’s own moisture
- Vitamin E- Great for healing, softening and soothing skin
- Chamomile- Calming for itchy skin
- Sweet Almond Oil- Excellent emollient, smoothes, softens, and protects skin while helps balancing water loss and absorption of moisture
- Vitamin A- Excellent antioxidant that is said to help rejuvenate skin cells
- Vitamin C- Again, another amazing antioxidant as well as a preservative
DRAWBACKS? Well, you may become addicted to using this every day. But since it is your beautiful body- it just may be worth it!
Enjoy!
Brook
Tunisian Jasmine Solid Perfume
Jasmine is such an interesting fragrance. There are so many interpretations of jasmine, as the scent of the flower is distinct not only to each variety of plant, but also to each place that the variety grows. Sometimes jasmine can be heady and creamy, or it can be on the near opposite end of the spectrum- smelling fresh, clean and light. I love this flower so much that I have it planted several varieties in our yard. The one that I have had the most success with is commonly called the star jasmine- Latin name: Trachelospermum Jasminoides, Family: Apocynaceae. It is a very easy plant to grow as a vine or a ground cover (even in doors for those in colder climates- though it blooms less). I have lined our walkway with it so that when you come to the front door, you pass through this incredible fragrance. It is such a great way to greet and welcome guests, but also an incredible homecoming. While not the true “perfume” jasmine, in the afternoon its scent can fill our entire courtyard.
Pacifica Tunisian Jasmine is a blend of what I would describe as heady, creamy, and warm jasmine. I have blended it with almond notes and the two distinct scents come together like magic. It is an easy fragrance to wear anytime, not overpowering and very sexy on the skin. It also makes a beautiful candle fragrance for a bedroom. Try sampling this scent in a Solid Perfume. It is a perfect way to get to know any of our fragrances.
Another one of my favorite ways to experience jasmine is in tea. Here are a few of my favorites- Enjoy a warm cup of flowers!
Jasmine Tea:
Numi Organic Teas http://www.worldpantry.com
Le Palais Des Tea http://www.palaisdesthes.com/us
French Lilac
I grew up in Western Montana on a little ranch outside of Bozeman.
Every year, around this time, I would start dreaming about Spring
(which was still months away). What I would look forward to most was
the blooming of the lilac bushes, which are every where.
In a place where only a few fragrant flowers have a tiny window, the
lilac rules. They are in every alleyway, front yards, back yards, parks
and in every color, dark purple, lavender, pink and white. And for
little more than a month, their fragrance fills the evening air. I
remember it as if the whole town was blooming at once. I would fill my
room with the flowers and sleep with them near my bed. Because of my
fond memories of Spring in Montana, the lilac is still one of my all
time favorite flowers.
When my daughter was born, we were living in Portland, Oregon. It was
May and there were huge lilac bushes in full bloom across the street
from our house. When I went into labor at midnight, the first thing my
husband did was run across the street and pick vases full of the
flowers to fill our bedroom where our daughter would soon be born.
Sometimes I forget how much I love lilacs. But when there is a sense
of Spring in the air (or just a desperate longing for winter to be
over), I start craving its pure scent that is incomparable to any other
flower.
Enjoy!
Lotus Garden
We launched Lotus Garden almost a year ago now. So why am I talking
about it now? A few reasons: this is my favorite blend at the moment.
It is such a departure from the feeling of winter with bright top
notes, yet it is so grounded and sensual with base notes that pull you
in to the mystery of the scent.
And second, as many of our long time customers know, I am not about
what is new new new, rather, I like to look back and celebrate what is
classic, what is timeless and what will become a permanent part of your
fragrance collection. To me, this is one scent that you really cannot
live without.
Yes, I love introducing new fragrances. But there is also such comfort in revisiting the ones that I truly love.
Lotus Garden was inspired by two gardens, one close to me in Santa
Barbara called Lotusland and one in Cambodia just outside of Angkor
Watt. The garden in Santa Barbara is simply a beautiful conduit to
take me back to Cambodia. If I sit still on the bench at the lotus
pool and take in all of the scents, I can almost see the temples in the
mist, smell the incense burning as offerings along the path, almost
hear the footsteps of the orange robed Buddhist monks walking by. I
tried to capture not only the scent of the Lotus Garden, but also the
emotion of being in Cambodia and to celebrate what is beautiful and
alive and thriving. I wanted to play with unfamiliar, more exotic
notes yet keep them balanced by pleasingly familiar fragrances.
You can always head into any Sephora to try Lotus Garden if you haven’t
smelled it before. They also carry the lotion and body wash (which are
both divine!).
Enjoy!
Mexican Cocoa
I have always loved Mexican Cocoa. It was one of the first fragrances that we launched at Pacifica’s inception. When I was in Mexico years ago with my husband and then baby (he is now ten) on a surf trip I discovered the best Mexican Cocoa that I have ever had. I became addicted to it, and convinced the owner of the café to teach me how to make it. It is surprisingly simple.
Here is the recipe:
Mexican Cocoa
-
2 cups steamed milk (I also love to use rice milk)
-
When milk is near boil, grate in roughly two tablespoons of Ibarra Chocolate.
-
Splash of Mexican Vanilla- add after the liquid is hot
-
Dash of Cinnamon and nutmeg
I like to use a Molinillo, a traditional Mexican Hot Chocolate frother, to froth the milk when it is hot. It makes a cloudy foam on the top and creates the perfect cup of cocoa. In Mexico, the hot cocoa is poured from one cup to another until all of the cups are full to keep the “air” in each cup.
Enjoy!
Gift Giving Problem Solvers
I love a good problem solver: the coat that works with anything, the right scent for any occasion, the cocktail dress that can be worn over and over, the gift that looks like you put some thought into. That is why these pretty little sets of three soy candles are indispensable in my gift-giving arsenal this season. They are perfect problem solvers: easy to grab on my way out the door for that last minute gift, they do not need wrapping and they are modestly priced at $14.00 each.
Who do they work for? Here is my list: teachers, hosts, my favorite store clerk who always has a smile for me, that “under $20.00 gift”, and I know there is more that I am forgetting!
Good luck with your Holiday shopping and remember: this is a time for joy!
Gift Giving Traditions from Around the World
Bali
Three times a day, Balinese people offer “canange sari” to the Gods. These are small baskets filled with rice and flowers that represent a gift of thanks for all that they have been given in their lives. Bali Lime Papaya fragrance >>
Spain
It is a Spanish tradition that the Three Wise Men come bearing gifts (not Santa Claus). Rather than leaving out a stocking, on January 5th, known as the Eve Of Epiphany, Spanish children place their shoes on the doorsteps to be filled with treats. Spanish Amber fragrance >>
Italy
Sharing life’s abundance with friends and family and expressing gratitude is central to the holiday traditions of Italian families. The Urn of Fate, a vessel containing small presents, is passed around a circle as a symbol of the bonds and gifts of family. Tuscan Blood Orange fragrance >>
Tibet
The ritual of giving is central to Buddhist philosophy, as an open hand and open heart are not only encouraged but expected. Gifts may range from those that fill a need (such as food or clothing), to very simple acts such as lighting a candle, to more emotional gestures, such as forgiveness. Tibetan Mountain Temple fragrance >>
Sandalwood and Joy
I am wearing Sandalwood these days. One of my all time favorite scents, I love its warm, smooth woodiness. As the seasons change, this fragrance reminds me of favorite cashmere sweater that I pull out of my closet and put on year after year. It makes me really happy. But there is also a very sexy element to this fragrance. Perhaps this is because it is so powerful, in a very soulful way.
There is also a deep spiritual element to Sandalwood. In Buddhism, offering the perfume from sandalwood signifies perseverance or joyous effort. It is thought that through this, one can develop all of the qualities of enlightenment.
While enlightenment may be a tall order in this season of rushing around to get things done- I really like the idea of doing it all with a joyous effort. Just let that joy radiate off of you and onto the next person in line at the grocery store!
Enjoy your Holiday this week with a joyous effort!
Brook
Welcome Bo!
Pacifica welcomes Bo Stanley as our first Environmental Ambassador! Bo is a junior pro surfer who was born in a house right on Rincon Point, one of the most famous surf spots in California, where she can be seen whenever there is surf (unless she is traveling the world surfing in contests or on a photo shoot for her sponsors). Bo is the sweetest girl you’ll ever meet. She loves the ocean as much as I do, and wants to do her part to carry a message about what we each can do to improve ocean quality. Check out her website at http://bofstanley.com. If you know anyone who would like to join our team, contact us here.
Look for more about Bo and what she is doing for our environment soon!
Brook
Our latest Catalog is so much fun! Be sure you check it out!
I am so proud to introduce our latest catalog. I was lucky enough to work with some amazing people to get this big job done. Our photographer, Wynn Miller, is incredible and such a pleasure to work with. Having grown up in California and surfing his whole life, he has a magical understanding of how to capture the emotion and light of the beach. Our Art Director for the project was Julia Leach, whose genius I first learned about through Kate and Andy Spade. I have always loved Kate Spade’s clear aesthetic as well as the brand’s website. As it turned out, Julia was an integral part of the creative team for many projects at Kate Spade. I feel so lucky to have found just the right person to help me hone my vision into an expression of what I see as the lifestyle elements of Pacifica. At the core of this is a love for fragrance, for travel, for nature, and for life. Our brilliant graphics team, as always, was able to pull all of our thoughts, photographs and copy together and summarize it all into four cohesive books.
My hope is that our catalogs can serve as a guide to who we are, whether you are a new customer or one of our long time fans. There are ideas in about choosing fragrances for yourself or for someone else, as well as gift giving suggestions for anyone on your list this season. Be sure to check it out, and if you are not on our mailing list yet, sign up here!
It was so much fun to create. I am in gratitude to all who worked so hard with me and I really hope that you enjoy our efforts!
All My Best,
Brook
