With Valentine's Day in mind, in our February Box we have included aromatherapy products sure to sharpen Cupid's arrows to lead straight to your heart.

Lavender MASSAGE OIL
Add a capful of our aromatic bath oil directly to a warm bath for relaxation. Can also be used as a massage oil, softening skin and exuding healing fragrance. Made from our organic lavender essential oil blended with sweet almond oil. Sweet almond oil is obtained from the dried kernels of the almond tree. It is a good massage medium to use to help spread the oil and essential oil mixture. Sweet almond oil is one of the most popular carrier oils, since it is non-greasy, spreads easily and nourishes the skin.

Estate Grown ESSENTIAL OIL L x intermedia 'Grosso'
In mid to late summer each year we distill essential oil. The oil produced is then stored in amber glass for 2 years. Similar to the wine industry, the aged distillation is more valuable than the new one. Lavender essential oil only gets better with age (when stored properly). This is our 2005 distillation. We are sending our 1 oz. bottle of certified organic essential oil of L x intermedia 'Grosso'. This is the oil that we use in most of our personal care products. It's sweet and aromatic, just what you think of when you think lavender fragrance.

A NOTE FROM ELLEN
When I began taking interest in lavender, a friend went to France and returned with a gift of a tiny vial of lavender essential oil. I thanked her profusely for the thought, however, in my heart I had no idea what to do with it. Today of course things have changed. I have a vial in every room! So I thought I'd give you some ideas on how to use your essential oil received in this month's member box. Lavender in the Bath: add 8-10 drops to the bath water once the bath is full. Relax for at least 10 minutes in the water.

As a Compress: For a simple disinfectant compress, dip a washcloth or cotton ball in a bowl of hot or cold water to which 3-5 drops of lavender oil has been added.

Direct Application: Use the oil direct from the bottle - with fingertips or cotton swab - to treat cuts, burns, etc. Note: most essential oils should not be used neat on the skin. Lavender oil is an exception to this rule.

Inhalation: Use up to 8 drops on a tissue for inhalation throughout the day or onto a pillow for night use. For respiratory complaints, make a steam inhalation by adding 5 drops of lavender to a bowl of steaming water. Cover your head with a towel and breathe deeply for 5 minutes with eyes closed.

Vaporization: Using a terracotta oil ring, or a diffuser, simply add a few drops of oil to a bit of water. This method is useful for disinfecting a sick room or to repel insects.

Safety Data: lavender is non-toxic, non irritating and non-sensitizing. It is one of the safest essential oils with low toxicity levels and no contra-indications. Babies, young children and pregnant women should take special care using all essential oils because of their concentration. It is advisable not to use it neat for the treatment of children under 18 months of age and always dilute for use during pregnancy to half the usual concentration.
Store in the dark amber bottle it comes in, keeping the cap tightly sealed and away from direct light and heat.

Chocolate Lavender Cupcakes

Cupcakes: 1 Tbs. dried lavender
1 pkg (18.25 oz) devil's food cake mix
½ cup oil
3 eggs
1 1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin cups with cupcake liners. In microwave-save bowl, microwave 1/3 cup on High until hot, 30-60 seconds. Add lavender; let stand 30 minutes. Strain to remove lavender; add 1 cup water. (Or use our culinary lavender hydrosol and skip this microwave step.)

Prepare cake mix according to package directions with oil and eggs, substituting lavender water for plain water. Divide batter among the cups. Bake 25 minutes or until pick inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool on racks.

Frosting:

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted, cooled
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 Tbs. milk
Candy flowers (optional)

Beat butter until fluffy. Beat in chocolate. Gradually beat in sugar. Add milk; beat until fluffy. Spread over cupcakes. Garnish with candy flowers or sprig of fresh lavender.

"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green; When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen."

Keeping with our love theme (king, queen!), we have chosen Dilly Dilly as our pick this month. It is a lovely, very compact introduction from Australia. The dense, silver-gray foliage of Lavandula x intermedia 'Dilly Dilly' makes a perfect base for the long spikes of tightly clustered, light-purple flowers that lure the butterflies and honeybees. 'Dilly' is ideal for little hedges, containers, or rock gardens.

A hybrid between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia, it's hardier than many other lavandins. (a Lavandin is a natural interspecific hybrid of English lavender and spike lavender). The plants resulting from this cross usually produce only sterile seed, and all new lavandin plants are obtained from cuttings. The first natural lavandin hybrid was found in 1828. Some reference books list 'Dilly Dilly' as being identical to 'Grosso', but evidence shows it to be a bit shorter with a slightly more open growth habit, and the flowers more violet.

The scent of lavender has now been shown to calm anxious dogs who are traveling by car. Put some dried lavender near your dog or use one of our Doggie Bandanas.

The scents of pumpkin pie and lavender rank the highest in what men find most arousing! Go with it, ladies!

Your very own Soaking Bath:
Crush fresh fennel and fresh lavender leaves and flowers in a mortar & pestle to release the oils. Add this crushed mixture to ½ cup of dead sea salts (or any salt) and put into a small sachet bag. Run a hot bath, add 1 cup coconut milk, and drop in your salt sachet. Let the aroma of the fennel and lavender combined with the soft water help relax your mood and soften your skin.

Entire store on sale for 2 weeks only. Order before 3/10/08 and receive a 10% discount on your entire purchase. Use checkout promotional code WS2008 when prompted at checkout (case sensitive). Valid on internet orders only. Not valid with any other promotion.

We now have a couple of retailers in Northern California waiting for your visit.

Lavender Ridge Vineyard's Tasting Room in Murphys, CA carries almost all our items. You can visit them by going to 425 A Main St. Call for hours: 209.736.2305 or visit LavenderRidgeVineyard.com.

In beautiful downtown St. Helena, a delightful shop will soon be selling a selection of our best items. Visit Charles Gautreaux and his staff at Vanderbilt & Co. located at 1429 Main St. Call for hours: 800.799.1949.

NEW LOCATIONS for our Lavender Products in Connecticut & Rhode Island - - If there, visit Lavender Fields Day Spa (no relation) in Plainville, CT. Go to LavenderFieldsDaySpa.com for more information.

Interested in tasting some Rhode Island wines? Visit Greenvale Vineyards in Portmouth for delightful wines, people and of course, our products. For more information go to Greenvale.com

Our internet store is always open, our Escondido Antique Mall shop at 135 Grand Ave in Escondido is open daily until 5:30, and the Carlsbad State Street Consignment shop, 2659 State St. in Carlsbad is open daily.