Welcome to our Winter Newsletter. You will probably receive this at the same time as our 2003 catalogue. There are many changes and additions since our last catalogue.

One major change (for us) is that we have amalgamated the UK and export trade catalogues. The only difference for UK customers is that you might notice a weight given in italics after each price in the catalogue. This is for our non-UK customers so they may work out the postage required. The catalogue for our retail customers is unchanged because the UK prices include VAT, the export prices do not.. 

Initial teething problems with our web site have now been sorted and ordering from the site is working well. The site does not have a facility for giving the usual 10% discount on orders over £50.00. from the UK. Don't worry, we will give that discount (and free carriage) when we process your order. 

Postage and carriage charges still reflect the widely differing costs of sending your order to you and all the details about this are on pages 2-3 of your trade catalogue. Because of the volume of parcels we send to the far east some export carriage charges have actually come down. 

We have had to put up the UK carriage charge to £3.95, but in most cases this does not cover what it costs us to send the parcel to you. We know it is annoying if the stamp on the packet when you receive your order is for £2.00 or even less, but don't forget that next time you might order something heavy which will cost us more than £3.95. And all UK orders over £50.00 are still sent carriage free. There are a few price changes in the essential oil section - sandalwood is up (due to production shortage), rosemary is up (due to crop failure last year), Egyptian and organic geranium are up, manuka and hyssop are up. Rose otto is up in price but for all the smaller sizes of this oil we have absorbed the increase. Jasmine is down in price. Because sandalwood has gone up quite a lot we are now selling it in a 3% blended version as well as the pure essential oil. Grapeseed and sunflower vegetable oils are up in price.

We have removed a few items from our list - camphor, because demand has dropped, mimosa - because of the difficulty of using this oil, fir - because of the lack of demand. We still have linden blossom oil on our list but we have been informed by our supplier that no more will be available. This is because it contains hydroxy citronollal and the IFRA new safety regulations are recommending this component should not be used. There are a number of essential oils which are likely to be affected by new safety legislation, although as yet we don't know what the effects will be. 

New Products

Skin creams, gels and lotions
Our basic body gel now already contains aloe vera. We have added Peppermint Gel to our list of blended gels we supply - Lavender Gel, Tea tree Gel and Insect Repellent Gel. Also in our latest catalogue you will see a seaweed gel which contains bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosis). This plant is high in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, C, D, E, K, folic acid and choline, as well as many minerals. The main ones are iodine, calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, nitrogen, magnesium, sulphur, chlorine, copper, zinc and manganese. Plus many trace elements. Seaweed has a moisturising effect on the skin and is particularly recommended where you have acne or oily skin problems. It is also believed to improve split hair ends and to enhance the condition of hair that has been damaged by frequent bleaching or dyeing. Seaweed stimulates the hair and scalp, and although we wouldn't recommend that you rub seaweed gel into your hair, we are now stocking the excellent Faith in Nature products of Seaweed Shampoo, Conditioner and Foam bath. 

We have introduced four new skin creams to our range. There is a rosewood, geranium and evening primrose moisturising cream which is suitable for all skin types but because it contains evening primrose oil it is particularly recommended for dry and eczema-troubled skin. Our new orange blossom and vitamin E cream is based on our rich Vitamin E skin cream, with the addition of Neroli and other oils. This would make a lovely night cream. Alongside our popular Luxury hand cream with rose oils, we have now introduced a Luxury hand cream with jasmine oil. This hardly needs explanation, especially if you like jasmine but are usually put off buying it because of the price. Our last new "skin cream" isn't a cream at all but an ointment which we have called the Bay House Tigress Balm. The base of this is palm oil which is solid at room temperature. The balm contains eucalyptus, marjoram, ginger and peppermint (and other oils), and also menthol which we have not sold before. You will find the balm makes an excellent rubbing-in ointment for stiff joints, aches and pains, and bronchial congestion. Its similarity to another "balm" with a similar name is not accidental but we think you will find ours less irritant on sensitive skins. And it is based on a vegetable, not mineral oil.

Both palm oil and menthol crystals have been added to our list of raw materials so that you can make ever more adventurous soaps, creams and lotions.

We have reformulated our tea tree & lavender hand and body lotion by taking out the tea tree and adding cocoa butter. It still contains aloe vera and vitamin E so it will make an excellent all-purpose lotion, but without the medicinal smell of tea tree. You can always add the tea tree oil if you prefer but we think there are quite enough products on the market today containing tea tree.

BOTTLES & JARS
We now have atomiser sprays available for a wider range of bottles than before. You can put them on our 55ml and 100ml blue plastic bottles, as well as on the 10ml, 25ml, 30ml, 50ml and 100ml glass dispensing bottles. A separate atomiser spray cap will fit the 250ml white plastic bottle (not the blue one) and for the 250ml blue plastic bottle we can offer a flip top lid or a lotion pump. 
Ideal for making lip balm, eye gel or just samples is a little 10g clear (crystal) plastic jar with a white lid. 

We are still selling bottles with rubber teat and pipette dispensers, but we have changed the bottles that these tops fit. Instead of ribbed and winchester bottles we are now supplying them to fit our standard dispensing bottle - and at a cheaper price. So you now have a choice of using these tops with 10ml blue or amber, 25ml amber or 30ml blue bottles. We use these tops in our shop for customers to test essential oils but we must emphasise that they are not really suitable for using with essential oils. Apart from the safety aspect, essential oils rot the rubber very quickly. Use these rubber teat and glass pipettes only for Bach flower remedies and homoeopathic remedies. 

In addition to the 50ml plastic beaker we now have a 100ml plastic beaker and two glass beakers. These glass ones are described on the beaker as being 50ml and 100ml size but they only provide gradations up to 40ml and 80ml. You can get more than 50ml or 100ml in them, you just can't measure it! Don't ask us why, we have no idea.
Blends

There are a few additions to our essential oil blends on the latest catalogue. Our Meditation blend is derived from a recipe for an anointing oil used in biblical times (and still used by at least one of our customers today). It contains lavender, myrrh, cinnamon and spikenard. Frankincense is the oil most often used in meditation blends but we think you'll like this as an alternative. On the subject of incense, we now have two granule blends - Three Kings and Cloister. Three Kings has a variety of coloured granules (red, brown and black), Cloister is the same colour as frankincense resin. 

Our Sinus blend contains peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oils. We think you will find it a powerful decongestant and aid in relieving sinus pain. 

Our Wake up blend is designed for those long hours behind the wheel or sitting in front of a computer when you need mental alertness. It contains rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint and lime. You can vaporise it in a burner or just put a few drops on a tissue. Or why not try our mini oil vaporiser which is illustrated on the back page of our catalogue.

Toiletries

You will notice in our catalogue that we now have separate sections for soaps, toothpastes, miscellaneous toiletries and Faith in Nature products. This side of our business is becoming ever more popular, as more and more companies use essential oils in their products. 

We have three soaps from a new company to us - Mother Earth. These soaps are made from palm oil, plainly wrapped in cellophane and come in three blends - chamomile flowers, seaweed with fresh orange peel, calendula and honey. These replace some of the less popular pure scents range. We are still stocking the popular soaps from pure scents.

The popularity of Urtekram toothpaste in our shop has led us to introduce it in our mail order catalogue. Urtekram is a Danish company which uses windmills and a hay-burning power station for their fuel. They have impeccable ecological credentials and just as importantly, their products are good to use. Their rose soap has long been a winner with us and we are very pleased now to be able to offer their range of toothpastes. 

Faith in Nature is another company with a well deserved reputation. We are now selling so many of their bath, shower, and haircare products that we have created a separate section. (Their soaps are listed with the other soaps). In addition to the normal range (and the seaweed products described on p.2 of this Newsletter) we are now stocking Neem and Propolis shampoos and conditioners. Neem has had much publicity for its insecticidal, fungicidal and spermicidal properties. Faith in Nature write on their hair conditioner label that "Our Neem is fair trade and wild crafted and supports a Village Community. Neem, reputed in Eastern herbal remedies for its skin enriching properties, together with Propolis for its antibacterial effect, to make this fine conditioner". 

We also sell a cold-pressed Neem oil (listed in our vegetable oils section). It has an earthy smell which few people are very keen on, but it can be diluted with other vegetable oils or its aroma masked with something like tea tree or eucalyptus. We have a two page leaflet available describing what is known about Neem and the various uses for it. Please ask if you would like a copy.

Newsletter 41

Welcome to our Summer Newsletter. We hope you like our new format. Our main news is that at long last we have a fully operational Web Site up and running. (Go to www.bay-house.co.uk) On it you will find just about everything we sell, from essential oils to stirring rods. The site will automatically work out the postage and VAT for you (if it needs to be paid), wherever you are in the world. And if you are a student or one of our trade customers, you are able to buy our products online at the discounted price you are used to paying. If you are a student or trade customer, you do need to get a password from us first. Just send us an e-mail or telephone us and we will supply it. Please keep a note of your password once you have it and use it every time. If you are not an aromatherapy student or one of our professional customers you do not need a password. Just shop! We hope you will find it easy to navigate around the site, but if you do not, or you experience any problems, please let us know at once. The site is made secure by the latest encryption technology so you do not need to worry when leaving your credit card details on it. The personal information that you provide to the site will not be seen by any other company except us. 

As well as being able to order from our new Web Site, you will also find there some new features. There is a Newsletter archive with some of the old issues available to read, also a Links page with links to Web Sites of aromatherapy or herbal interest. Please tell us if you know of any other interesting sites and we will provide a link. We will also be introducing special offers on our Web Site which will only be available there, so visit it regularly for the latest bargains.

Don't worry if you don't have a computer, or you aren't interested in ordering online. You can still order in the usual way by email, in person, by telephone, post or fax. And if you have any questions, about our products or our policies, or your order, please contact us for an immediate response. The fact that we have entered the computer age does not mean that we have left the age of personal attention and service. 

Question We were told at College that essential oils should be used within two years, but some of your oils have best before dates up to ten years (or even more) away. How do you work out these figures?

Answer Much of the information given out by College tutors is based on the knowledge they received when they were students. Our understanding of the properties of essential oils has moved on. Two years may be a reasonable average but some oils such as patchouli and vetivert improve with age and have a fuller, more complex bouquet after five years than they do after two. We do not set the dates ourselves but use the information provided by our importer, who is more aware of the latest research on this subject. Don't forget that oils deteriorate due to light, heat and on exposure to air. A small bottle full of oil kept in a cool dark place will last longer than a large bottle nearly empty kept on a warm windowsill. 

***
Question Sometimes the vegetable oil we buy is a bright golden colour, other times it is paler, or darker. Why does the colour change?

Answer As far as possible all the products we sell have been subjected to a minimum of processing. Most vegetable oils are made by cold pressing seeds or kernels, or by infusing flowers in sunflower oil. There are a number of natural variables here, all of which can affect the final colour. It might be that one batch of infused oil was macerated for longer than another one, or with riper flower heads, or that a rainy summer had resulted in the flower heads not being as big as usual. Aromatherapy has always depended on using natural and unmodified products. It is possible to modify any oil to make it conform to a predetermined standard. This is what the perfume houses and flavouring manufacturers do. In the aromatherapy trade most of our customers want a product that "has not been messed around with". 

We know that some of you have complained about what you see as problems of darker coloured vegetable oils. They stain your towels and they sometimes have an aroma. Whilst we sympathise with these practical considerations, we believe that most of you prefer a natural unmodified product to a standardised and bland one. We do sell refined and fractionated coconut oil (one where the natural odiferous waxes have been taken out) because this has many uses which the crude one does not. And of course you can always buy refined oils such as sunflower and safflower from a supermarket. 

Yes, we know it isn't the most exciting of subjects, but as you probably know, one of the benefits of belonging to the European Union is a requirement that we conform to their attempts to "harmonise" various aspects of life throughout the EU. So if you buy baked beans in Oslo or Torquay you know that the packaging will contain the same information. And the contents of the tin will not contain any substance prohibited in any of the member states.

This move towards harmonisation has resulted in a number of directives being issued by the EU which bear directly on aromatherapy. These directives are discussed by interested bodies and usually eventually become law in the form of an amendment to an existing statute. The final outcome of the following directives and proposals is likely to affect all who are connected with aromatherapy:

7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC. This concerns a list of 26 known allergens which exist in many fragrance compounds and essential oils. If this directive becomes law it will mean that many aromatherapy products will have to carry a warning label. (See www.europa.eu.nt) The idea behind this directive is a sound one, to warn people who are concerned about having an allergic reaction. But as IFEAT (The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trade) has pointed out, "There may be no "safe" fragrance product for allergic individuals. Anyone with an allergy to fragrance ingredients can only be assured of safety by avoiding all fragrance products. This labelling proposal may give those allergic individuals a false sense of safety and security." 

At present it looks likely that this directive will become law next year. We will keep you informed on developments. Quite where we are supposed to put any health warnings on essential oil labels hasn't yet been worked out. There are double-sided labels available which we may have to use, but any such change is going to increase the cost of selling oils.

MLX 283 The European Commission's Proposals for a Directive on Traditional Medicinal Products. Sometimes known as TUD, these proposals and the work behind them has already been going on for many years. The main concern of the UK Governments here is to regulate the sale of products such as herbal remedies and essential oils which have a tradition of being used by the general public, but for which there is no researched evidence for their efficacy. The aim is not to get rid of these products but to "protect quality and safety standards, safeguard consumer choice, and give the public clear information about the product." It is an enormous topic and although we all get angry with officialdom on some occasions for its unwanted hold on our lives, there is a strong case to be made for any action which regulates the sale of products by unscrupulous traders who have no evidence for their often outrageous claims.
***
The current situation concerning the progress of these proposals is not easy to make out. Many Trade Councils and Manufacturers Associations are involved in discussion with the government. Any change in the current situation is going to affect the ability of some companies to trade. Whether this is going to be of benefit to the general public remains to be seen. Part of the problem lies in the fact that essential oils must currently be sold in the UK without any medicinal claims being made about them. The fact that we use them for therapeutic (i.e. medicinal) purposes is an anomaly which we suspect any new legislation will try and overcome in its proposals. Quite how this will be done has yet to be discussed.
***
Here at Bay House we do not take the view of some individuals in the trade that all government intervention is wrong and should be opposed. Whatever we do in our workplace we are all consumers and have the right to informed protection. The main problem with this issue is that there are so many groups involved with so many different interests. The one thing we can be certain about is that no snap decision is going to be made. And if any proposals are made which restrict the freedom of choice of the vast numbers of people who use essential oils and other complementary medicines, then the government will have an embarrassing and lengthy fight on its hands. Yes, we know it isn't the most exciting of subjects, but as you probably know, one of the benefits of belonging to the European Union is a requirement that we conform to their attempts to "harmonise" various aspects of life throughout the EU. So if you buy baked beans in Oslo or Torquay you know that the packaging will contain the same information. And the contents of the tin will not contain any substance prohibited in any of the member states.

This move towards harmonisation has resulted in a number of directives being issued by the EU which bear directly on aromatherapy. These directives are discussed by interested bodies and usually eventually become law in the form of an amendment to an existing statute. The final outcome of the following directives and proposals is likely to affect all who are connected with aromatherapy:

7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC. This concerns a list of 26 known allergens which exist in many fragrance compounds and essential oils. If this directive becomes law it will mean that many aromatherapy products will have to carry a warning label. (See www.europa.eu.nt) The idea behind this directive is a sound one, to warn people who are concerned about having an allergic reaction. But as IFEAT (The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trade) has pointed out, "There may be no "safe" fragrance product for allergic individuals. Anyone with an allergy to fragrance ingredients can only be assured of safety by avoiding all fragrance products. This labelling proposal may give those allergic individuals a false sense of safety and security." 

At present it looks likely that this directive will become law next year. We will keep you informed on developments. Quite where we are supposed to put any health warnings on essential oil labels hasn't yet been worked out. There are double-sided labels available which we may have to use, but any such change is going to increase the cost of selling oils.

MLX 283 The European Commission's Proposals for a Directive on Traditional Medicinal Products. Sometimes known as TUD, these proposals and the work behind them has already been going on for many years. The main concern of the UK Governments here is to regulate the sale of products such as herbal remedies and essential oils which have a tradition of being used by the general public, but for which there is no researched evidence for their efficacy. The aim is not to get rid of these products but to "protect quality and safety standards, safeguard consumer choice, and give the public clear information about the product." It is an enormous topic and although we all get angry with officialdom on some occasions for its unwanted hold on our lives, there is a strong case to be made for any action which regulates the sale of products by unscrupulous traders who have no evidence for their often outrageous claims.
***
The current situation concerning the progress of these proposals is not easy to make out. Many Trade Councils and Manufacturers Associations are involved in discussion with the government. Any change in the current situation is going to affect the ability of some companies to trade. Whether this is going to be of benefit to the general public remains to be seen. Part of the problem lies in the fact that essential oils must currently be sold in the UK without any medicinal claims being made about them. The fact that we use them for therapeutic (i.e. medicinal) purposes is an anomaly which we suspect any new legislation will try and overcome in its proposals. Quite how this will be done has yet to be discussed.
***
Here at Bay House we do not take the view of some individuals in the trade that all government intervention is wrong and should be opposed. Whatever we do in our workplace we are all consumers and have the right to informed protection. The main problem with this issue is that there are so many groups involved with so many different interests. The one thing we can be certain about is that no snap decision is going to be made. And if any proposals are made which restrict the freedom of choice of the vast numbers of people who use essential oils and other complementary medicines, then the government will have an embarrassing and lengthy fight on its hands.

Newsletter 40 - June 2002

Welcome to our Bay House Newsletter. At the time of writing we are having a new Web Site made for us. It will be possible for you to buy all our products from there, whether you are a member of the public, someone entitled to our student discount, or one of our trade and professional customers. And wherever you are in the world, the web site will work out how much postage you need to pay. We don't know exactly when this will be ready, but check our site at www.bayhousearomatics.co.uk. We also intend to put all the text from our Newsletters online, as well as various information about how to use the oils.
Raw Materials for making cosmetics and toiletries
Tucked away in our catalogue is a small section entitled "Raw materials". What are they for, and do they have therapeutic properties as well as providing a base? One useful principle to keep in mind is that most cosmetic bases are emulsions or mixtures of two liquids that do not usually mix easily such as oil and water. They therefore need an emulsifier to hold them together. If you are interested in making your own cosmetics we suggest you look at Make Your Own Cosmetics (by Neal's Yard Remedies, available from us at £9.99). 
Emulsifying wax Sometimes known as Lanette wax or Cetearyl alcohol, this is made from Stearyl and Palmityl alcohols derived from Palm oil. It is a useful emulsifying cosmetic base as it will allow a high proportion of vegetable and essential oil to be added to it. Use to thicken your skin cream recipes.
Beeswax A wax made by the honey bee, used in lip balms, skin creams, soaps, as a thickener, hardener and emulsifier.
Vegetable glycerine Glycerine is a humectant, ie it attracts water. Used in many recipes, but especially in skin soothing preparations such as moisturisers, aftershave balms, mouthwashes and toothpastes. 
Witch hazel Distilled from the leaves of Hammamelis virginiana, this is a colourless liquid containing a tannin with astringent and healing properties. May be used on its own in compresses for sore eyes, haemorrhoids, varicose and broken thread veins. Also used in lotions for inflamed skin conditions
Cocoa butter A solid butter made from the roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao. It melts at body temperature, and not only is it a good moisturiser but it has the reputation for preventing stretch marks. Add to any skin care product, especially night creams and lip salves.
Shea butter A solid butter from the seeds of Butyrospermum parkii. Far better known in the US than in the UK, shea butter has moisturising and anti-inflammation properties. Traditionally used in Africa for muscle pain and sun protection. Add to skin creams and lotions for extra dry skin, eczema, etc. 
Mango butter A solid butter from the kernels of Mangifera indica. Highly emollient, recommended as an alternative softening agent to paraffin-based products. Traditionally used in India for its healing and regenerative properties. 
Aloe vera concentrate The concentrate we sell contains ten times the equivalent of fresh aloe vera juice. It is soothing, cooling, and anti-irritant. Add to sunburn lotions or any other moisturising products.
Vegetable and essential oils Most vegetable and essential oils have properties that make them useful in skin care products. If you haven't already seen it, ask for a copy of our vegetable oil leaflet.
Making Soaps
Making natural soaps from raw materials requires the use of lye or caustic soda, a process which requires considerable care. Once the soap has dried out it is no longer caustic, but in the hot stage you must use gloves and goggles. There is a lovely book describing all the amazing soaps you can make at home called Handmade Soap (£6.95). 
As well as the caustic soda (available from a chemist or hardware shop) you will need vegetable oils such as sunflower and olive, and various materials such as lavender flowers, rose petals, essential oils, chocolate, orange peel - it's up to your imagination.
If you want to make soap without using caustic soda you can grate up old bars of existing soap and create new recipes that way. See Natural Soapmaking (£11.99) for details.

More new books
The Aromatherapy Garden by the well-known aromatherapist, Julia Lawless. 
A beautiful hardback book, packed with lovely photographs and ideas.
£19.99 (1200g)
The Natural Beauty and Bath Book by Casey Kellar. 
Another book with beautiful photographs and practical recipes, plus many little hints on finishing touches for 
presentation.
£11.95 (800g)

Newsletter 39 - February 2002 

Welcome to our Winter Newsletter. We apologise for the lateness in its appearance, and the lateness of the catalogue, which you probably received at the same time as this. Our catalogue gets bigger every time we produce a new one, and now that we have four separate editions (Trade UK, Trade Export, Retail Mail Order UK, Retail Mail Order Export) it seems to take forever to finish. Last year we extended its validity from 6 months to 12, and this year we are issuing it to be valid for 11 months until the end of the year. The trouble is that world crises affect the prices of so many things, from paper to transport, and it may be that we will have to issue a price list update later in the year, but we hope not. 

* * * 
There aren't a lot of price changes to this year's catalogue, except for the 14 cheapest essential oils, where we have put up the 10ml price by a few pence. This is to cover the ever-increasing overheads of labels, labour, shop rent etc.
The main other changes are as follows:
Prices up: Carriage charges; Carrying boxes; essential oils of cardamom, sandalwood, Egyptian geranium, frankincense, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, hyssop, organic lavender, clary sage. Vegetable oils of macadamia and infused carrot, the basic skin creams and bath oil, herbal candies, glass cylinders, and some of the soaps. In most cases the increase is very small, due to an increase in the price of the raw materials. The one exception to this is the dispersing bath oil. One of the ingredients had become unavailable, so our supplier had to create a different recipe. This he has done, a nice simple recipe containing only organic sunflower oil, vitamin E, and the dispersant C12-13 Pareth-3. But unfortunately the price has gone up quite a lot.
Price decreases are to be found in Carrot seed essential oil and the Vegetable oils of Evening primrose, Borage seed and Vitamin E. 
The new items on our latest catalogue, and changes not affecting prices are described in more detail inside this Newsletter.
* * *
Don't forget that we have a shop premises in Kemp Town, Brighton. If you have never visited Brighton or our shop, why not come and see us this year. We are only about five minutes walk from the seafront with all its seaside attractions. And the Sussex Downs are not far away if you enjoy walking and fresh air. We are open from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. We always have a few items on sale there which don't get into the catalogue, and sometimes we have special offers which are available to personal shoppers only. 


New Products

Skin creams, gels and cleansers
Our main new product this time is a Frankincense and Rose Hip Face Cream. Designed for the "older" face, this contains essential oil of frankincense to smooth out those nasty wrinkles and rose hip oil for its proven role in tissue regeneration. 
Gels make a good alternative to skin cream when you want to apply essential oils to the skin without it getting greasy. Good for faces, animals and sensitive skin. In addition to the basic gel and a gel containing aloe vera, we now have a lavender gel, an insect repellent gel, and a tea tree gel.
We have also extended our range of blended exfoliating scrubs. Many scrubs on the market are foamy, rather like a shower gel with bits in it. Ours are the creamy kind. In addition to the Rosemary & Fennel (nice for feet), we now have Lavender (for tender, bruised or sensitive skin) and Grapefruit & Lime (for a fresh, well-scrubbed feeling)

Aromatic blends (and Chakra Incense)
Some of our long-standing customers will remember that a few years ago we used to sell a range of "Liquid Incense", that is, essential oil blends that you could vaporise to provide background aromas, just like you do with the traditional incense. However, some of them were not as popular as others, and some became too expensive for us to sell at a reasonable price. So we have recreated our Zodiac and Heavenly Spheres Liquid Incense, all at the same price, and all, we hope, with a blend that you will find pleasant and ideal to create a certain mood or atmosphere. As with all essential oil combinations, these blends may be used in the bath or in personal massage blends. Details of their components, but not their proportions, are given in the catalogue.
Most people who like incense, love the Original Nagchampa aroma. It is a traditional temple incense but is now used all over the world to fragrance secular and sacred buildings. The company who make it have now brought out a range of coloured Nagchampa incense: Red for energy, Orange for happiness, Purple for prayer, Green for harmony, Gold for prosperity, Blue for relaxation, Black for meditation. 

Candles
If you are interested in changing the way your home smells, you might also be interested in our new selection of candles. We have small individual candles fragranced with the essential oil of either lavender, cinnamon or ylang ylang. We also have two candles which help to get rid of odours - a Smoke Eater to help neutralise tobacco and cigarette smells, and Pet Remedy which does the same for the smells animals leave behind.


Herbal tinctures
We have been selling a small selection of the Nelson tinctures for the last year or so but they have now discontinued their range so we have found another supplier, who have a much larger and totally organic range. It is our belief at Bay House that if you are going to take herbs internally, it is best to stick with organic products. There is no point in dosing yourself up with synthetic chemicals. As you probably know, we are not allowed by UK law to make any medicinal claims for the products we sell, but we have written a few lines in the current catalogue about the traditional uses for these tinctures.

other changes in our latest catalogue
We have increased our range of Dr Stuart's Herbal teas. New additions are 
Echinacea Plus
Apple & Ginger
Energy Plus
Blackcurrant & Guarana

In our Pure Scents range of soap the Bergamot & Lime has been replaced by Ylang ylang & Lemongrass and Cinnamon & Nutmeg has changed to Cinnamon & Vanilla. We have a new Chocolate Soap and a Chocolate Bubble Bath, also a Rose Soap, a Hemp Oil Body Lotion, a Cocoa Butter Lotion, and an Aroma Mask Cooling Eye Compress.

The non-bulk sizes of our blue range have up till now only been available in blue glass bottles. This was because they were intended originally as gifts, something to buy to give to someone else. As we know that many of you buy these massage and bath oils for yourselves and aren't concerned so much with appearance, we have introduced two new sizes (120mls and 250mls) which we are selling in the cheaper blue plastic bottles. 

We hope you find the revised layout of the pages showing the empty bottles and containers easier to read than it used to be. Thanks to Sarah for her line drawings of the bottles and jars. If you are a trade customer buying whole packs of bottles, you will notice that some of the pack sizes have changed. 

There are some new ceramic burners on the back page of the catalogue. The set of Bach Flower Remedies are now available unboxed, or with a purpose-built wooden carrying box. 

Don't forget that we also produce a list of books in stock. If you haven't had one for a while, or are interested in which books are currently available, please let us know.


New Rectangle Pattern Oil Burner

This isn't the most elegant of burners, but if you read the December 2001 issue of Aromatherapy Magazine, you might have seen the very good reviews this one received. Three people tested four burners each and this one came second, just behind one costing over four times as much. One tester said "This burner worked really well and was the quickest to turn the water and oils into vapour. The wide bowl made it easy for the heat to spread evenly and therefore vapourise the contents quickly." Another said "The best thing about it is that it casts some great shadows through the holes and it really creates an atmosphere other than the obvious fragrance."

There is a small colour picture of it on the back page of our printed catalogue.