Botanic providence

Quillaja saponaria, or soap bark tree is an evergreen tree native to central Chile known for its thick bark rich in natural foaming compounds called saponins. It’s an ingredient that I’ve always been eager to work with, and I’m so happy with the way this oleogel balm to mylk cleanser turned out! This is a prime example of both the science and artistry of professional formulation, and my love for the nuance of alchemy. I particularly love tree barks ( and trees in general). They offer so many medicinal benefits as well as being super beneficial in crafting skin and hair care, for their wide range of constituents and abilities in preservation. I’ve used Aspen bark as part of a natural preservation system in skin creams. Trees are so special. I believe they carry all the wisdom, and the answers..a convo for another moment.

Traditional foaming face washes use harsh sulfates or anionic surfactants that can disrupt the skin’s lipid barrier. Soap bark extract contains natural saponins which function as ultra-gentle, non-ionic surfactants. They effectively lift away sebum, dirt, and makeup trapped in the oleogel without causing irritation, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

soap bark extract introduces a subtle, creamy micro-foam during the rinsing process. The initial skin feel is a creamy like balm that thins into a milky light lotion as you emulsify with the applied water. This provides a beautiful sensory experience, making the product feel more luxurious than a traditional cleanser.

I added both German and Roman chamomile extracts for some additional anti inflammatory and calming benefits, not just for the skin, but for an overall sense of calm, as the delicate blue hue is considered soothing in chromotherapy, and of course through the olfactory pathway, chamomile is used in aromatherapy to soothe the nervous system and provide a sense of calm.

I make these in small batches, as the process is quite elaborate! Available in the shop. DM me, they go fast!

The siren, or sirena (aka mermaid) in my lineages, has been a widely misunderstood myth or archetype. You will find her in every culture and ancestry. So many tales of her song not only being seductive, but also a deadly and destructive force, and while that may be true in many cases…was it ruthless, or was she an ill fated protector?
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I love lore. All of it. The myth of the Siren that speaks closer to my heritage is that of Parthenope, or modern day Naples. The siren was considered the protector of the city when the Greeks colonized the area, and named it in honor of her.
My mother is from Naples, and what a beautiful singing voice she had.
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I formulated Sirena with my love for the Ocean and Seaside, wanting to also include ingredients that spoke to both Southern Italian coastlines and the Atlantic here in Rhode Island since I was born here and have a deep love for both places.
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I’ve included wildcrafted nettle seed which I tinctured, bergamot oil that grows abundantly in Southern Italy, and kelp extract (hydration, conditioning, scalp barrier support) which is born of the sea. Blended with Aloe (moisturizing and gives a little structure), plant based glycerine (a powerful humectant) this lovely trio provides protection from the sea salt having a drying effect. Just lots of glorious texture. Just like you have after your time in the sea/ocean.
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I use Sirena almost like a talisman, connecting me to the magic and lore of our wonderful bodies of water.. May we always love and cherish them, and may they hold us the same way.

Super phat soap is back! Two types per season. This is the first of the two, ready for mid September. I have received a million requests to formulate a soap that mimics our hair pomade, Suede, which includes activated charcoal. The scent profile features a lovely blend of Listea Cubeba, Lemongrass and Rosemary. It’s super uplifting, and the soap itself is formulated to be very emollient with a creamy lather. Making the second bar later today and will share soon! A few more tried and tested, really great creations also coming your way for early Fall/Winter!

This is just one of the few formulations I have been working on and are ready to launch! You can find these at the shop, and soon will also be available online.
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We are in the middle of a rebrand which also includes our website, so we thank you for your patience and understanding during that process! As we are a micro brand, we don’t have a ton of resources, so I do mostly everything myself. I have a dear friend and fellow herbalist Emily Sorlien and Earth Riot Apothecary helping me out with our new labels. My partner and best friend firedbytoby is helping with my website. I’m so lucky to have many around me that believe in what I do, see and know my passion.
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I really cannot wait to share some things I’ve been working on. We are past the stability stages and are ready to go! I ideate, formulate and make EVERYTHING myself and I care deeply about what I put out there. So it takes time, patience and trial. I also love creating small scale , bespoke products. Some become staples, some are seasonal treasures meant to be just that. In any case, I hope you enjoy following this journey as things unfold, mimicking the pace of nature; in their own sweet time.

So much goes into every single bottle. Years of study, both in the classroom and on the land actually growing and sitting with the plants. My herbalism and farming are central to my understanding how plants work, both internally and externally.
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Formulation is my biggest passion. Understanding chemistry is a huge part of that. Creating beautiful extracts and blending them together with purpose, knowing how to use sophisticated ingredients coupled with my own made ingredients. Knowing what to blend, why and how.
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Did you know that certain ingredients blended together can form metabolites that aren’t great? For example certain naturally derived preservatives mixed with vitamin C can form benzene. Wild. Science.
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Anyway, I deeply love the plants. The language they speak, the poetry they embody, the medicine and support they provide us. It’s an honor to know them so deeply.

Harvesting mimosa, aka Persian silk tree, which grows in abundance in my gardens.
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The fragrance is sweet, hypnotic, resembling a bit of honey, milkweed, lilac and a hint of green.
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I’ll be making tincture with the flowers and bark, but with this first batch I will make small batch enfleurage. A slow, poetic process in making a solid perfume.
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In the base of mango butter, I will refresh the wilted blooms daily for 30 days. Then I will decant this gorgeous solid perfume in small vintage vessels.
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Small batch, seasonal, intentional.
More to come as the process progresses! Excited to share this with you!

The roses are happy this year! I had such an abundant harvest, and of course left most of it to the ecosystem surrounding the beach rose ( Rosa rugosa) . I harvested just enough to make super fragrant hydrosol, potent glycerite ( which will be used for both tincture and skincare), an abundance to dry for tea, and to powder and use to make incense and oil infusions!
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It was hot, and exhausting in the best way as you’ll see in the photo of myself. Such a privilege to live in an area where the abundance of this beautiful plant ally is so vast.
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I often sing to myself and to the plants during a harvest, folks probably think I’m crazy, but that’s super fine pour moi. I actually as stopped by at least 8 people asking me about Rose, what I was doing with it. It was a wonderful opportunity to teach folks all things Rose…the medicine, lore and magic. Watching someone fall in love with a plant for the first time is priceless!
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Here you can see a snippet of the distillation, the glycerin infusion, and the small amount I had left over which I blended with the Linden honey I brought home from Italy (another seasonal ally starting to bloom and perfume our city streets as well here in PVD and all over R.I) . I used this mixture as a mask before going to bed. I could palpably feel the cooling effects on my skin in real time! It was left so soft afterwards. Applied a little of my facial serum and had the best nights sleep in a long time🌹💕

A peek into our how our texturizing sea salt mist, Sirena, is made.
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Some key ingredients such as concentrated aloe and sea kelp extract help maintain moisture and support hydration.
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The darker liquid you see being filtered then added is a star ingredient and made here in house. Our Nettle seed extract.
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Nettles seed is rich in silica and sulfur, which are essential building blocks that strengthen the hair shaft, enhance elasticity, and promote shine.
Nourishes Follicles: Nettle is a powerhouse of micronutrients, providing a rich supply of iron (for oxygen delivery to roots), magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E.
Soothes the Scalp: Nettle acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps balance sebum (oil) production, making it ideal for soothing a dry, itchy scalp and reducing dandruff.
Provides Antioxidant Defense: The flavonoids in nettle neutralize free radicals, protecting hair cells from oxidative stress caused by UV rays and pollution.
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We also have the tincture and loose leaf herb in house for internal support!
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The scent is that of the Mediterranean in the summer, featuring Bergamot and other beautiful oils. I’m always available for any questions on my formulations! How they are built…why they work…anything, anytime! I love to nerd out on all things botanical/herbal.
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See you at the Vines and Finds market on Tuesday night with Juicy Market ! Will have Sirena with me!