September sees the launch of a new addition to our expanding Aroma-botanicals personal care range, and as always it has been designed to care for your skin, the natural way.

Quinessence Lavender Hand Wash is a luxurious, creamy, botanical soap infused with the very finest organic Lavender essential oil from Provence and enriched with moisturising and skin-softening Aloe Vera - plus a whole host of other botanical goodies to cleanse and soften your hands. Read more…

The humble lemon is arguably the most versatile of all the citrus fruits, being employed in a vast assortment of food, beverages, skincare, perfumery and toiletry products. In addition, the lemon contains the widest range of medicinal properties of all citrus fruits.

Surprising as it may sound, the precise origin of the lemon tree has never been established. Most experts propose it was Eastern India, with a minority of others suggesting it was upper Burma or China. Like many other citrus fruits, the lemon has been hybridised so many times throughout history that it seems unlikely we will ever establish its true provenance. Read more…

Occassionaly sold under the enchanting Chinese name of May chang, this essential oil is more commonly marketed under its botanical name of Litsea cubeba, and this is how we offer it at Quinessence. It is also occasionally referred to as Exotic Verbena or Tropical Verbena, although despite the references to verbena the plant is not related in any way to true verbena (Lippia citriodora). The association to this name would appear to be due to the similarity in fragrance. Read more…

Elemi is the soft, fragrant oleoresin obtained from the trunk of the Canarium luzonicum tree, which is also botanically known as C. commune. Native to Tayabas in the Philippines where it is known as ‘Pili’, this fragrant, tropical tree or shrub grows in South and Central America, Australia, Brazil, India, the Malay Peninsula and Moluccas.
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The cinnamon tree belongs to the Lauraceae family and is a bushy, tropical evergreen that ranges in height from 5 metres (16ft) to 15 metres (45 ft) depending on origin. The bark is rough, scaly, and highly aromatic. When stripped off and dried, this fragrant bark forms the familiar cylindrical quills that are powdered to produce what is possibly the worlds oldest and best known spice. Read more…