Have you had a chance to experience some of our new fall fragrances? Here's the latest on those. 

Sweet Cardamom Chai is the perfect blend of sweetness and spice. This warm and cozy scent starts with notes of lemon zest, ginger, cardamom, black tea, peppercorn, fennel, and cinnamon, and it finishes with bottom notes of warm milk, amber, and vanilla. ​

​This sophisticated fragrance balances a sweet woodsy feel with a hint of floral for an alluring unisex scent. Deep, earthy and complex, it starts with bergamot, cardamom, black pepper, magnolia leaf, and white rose, and finishes with vanilla, amber, and tonka.

Here's a behind-the-scenes pic related to our small business. Do you ever come home to something like this in your yard? ​

This is about 1500 pounds of organic oils! When we started Martha's we'd buy jars of coconut oil at the local grocery. Now... let's just say that raising young men definitely comes in handy when orders like these are delivered and need to be put away. So grateful for our guys who may not be into skin care, but are totally down with helping when we need them. Earlier this year we thought we ordered enough oils to last through the year, but we were wrong! We are so glad that we have so many people supporting our small business. This should definitely last us a while -- at least through the winter, we hope! ​

We are thrilled to partner with Moser's Farm Market and Barn in Powell, Ohio. Christina and Brad Moser have done such a beautiful job restoring the family barn and transforming it into a delightful seasonal farm market, packed with fresh produce and local goods. ​

We are grateful for each market that partners with us. Fall is such a great time to enjoy the best the season has to offer with local produce and family-friendly activities! ​

Our Microdermabrasion Cream got a facelift! It's the same product you love, but in a new container. Now you don't have to worry about the glass breaking if you drop it in the shower, plus the amber tinting helps protect it from light. It contains pumice microcrystals for an ultra-smooth finish, organic jojoba oil to penetrate and nourish for long-lasting moisturizing power, organic shea nut butter to soften, condition and tone, plus organic coconut oil which contains nourishing fatty acids.  This exfoliant is incredibly effective yet gentle enough for more sensitive areas like the face and hands. You can find it on our website here. ​

1. Alexander the Great started a shaving trend in 331 BC when he ordered his men to shave their beards in preparation for a decisive battle with the Persians. Some say that this was because beards are easy to get a hold of in hand-to-hand battle, but others say that Alexander wanted to inspire his men to identify with the demigod young Hercules. ​

3. It's a myth that when you shave, it grows back in thicker. It may seem that way for a couple of reasons. When hair first grows, it hasn't been exposed to light which may lighten the hair over time. Also, the end of the hair strand tends to taper, and when we shave, the tapered portion is removed. In comparison, what is left may seem thicker. ​

​Also, our shave soap is available online and at the Lynd Market. It has some rave reviews from some men who have used it. It is made with coconut oil, shea butter and castor oil. It also includes Bentonite Clay for more slip and Tussah Silk for a silky-smooth feel.

We've added another clay variety to our selection! Each clay has its own blend of minerals that makes it unique and gives it its color. Dead Sea Clay is known for its therapeutic saline content, plus it contains a vast amount of minerals including magnesium, potassium, calcium, bromine, and iron. Here's some benefits to using Dead Sea Clay.

• cleanses the skin while preserving moisture
• absorbs excess oil and impurities
• has anti-microbial properties
• tightens and tones skin
• helps synthesize amino acids
• improves circulation
• stimulates cell turnover
• fights against toxins and free radicals
• increases elasticity
• reduces the appearance of wrinkles
• has anti-aging effects
• useful in oily skin and acne

It is recommended to use no more than once every 7-10 days, and is best for normal to oily skin.
Like our other clay masks, it comes in powder form. To use it, remove a small amount of clay and combine with water to make a mud mixture. One jar of this clay will yield multiple mask treatments. 
If you'd like to give this a try, you can find it on our website here. ​

This product is newly added to our website! We have three new batches -- Peppermint, Lemon Eucalyptus, and Lingonberry Spice. We also have a Spiced Red Tea and a fragrance free option. Our shave soap is made with nourishing organic oils like coconut oil, shea butter and castor oil. It also includes Bentonite Clay for more slip and Tussah Silk for a silky-smooth feel. And if you need the brush, we've got that too! You can find our shave soap options here. ​

We always love introducing new fragrances -- it's so fun to discover a new favorite! We've got three new scents for you to try.

You can find the Simple Luxuries set here.

​Have you ever caught a whiff of a scent that unexpectedly took you back to a moment in time from your childhood? For me, when I smell chlorine it takes me back to carefree days at the local pool. I love the fragrance even today for that reason. I was talking with a friend who said that the smell of rubbing alcohol was reminiscent of pleasant visits to the pediatrician as a child. Many dislike the scent, but for her it evokes memories of nurses in clean white dresses and a peaceful feeling of everything being clean and in order. Isn't it interesting how our sense of smell is so closely connected with our memories? Last month we chatted about the fragrance pyramid and how fragrances are layered based on the type and size of the scent molecules. This month I thought we could continue our chat about fragrances and how they can evoke memories and affect our moods.
The answer to our question lies in how our brains process fragrances, and this is part of the limbic system in the brain. There's some really interesting tidbits on how this process works!

​Our sensory input (including our sense of smell), our memories, and our emotions are all processed in the part of our brain called the limbic system, which sits on top of the brain stem. Scientists are still discussing exactly what structures are included in this system, but they generally agree that it includes at least the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the thalamus, the hippocampus, and the olfactory bulb (scent receptors). Honestly, I'm not going to explain all those terms to you because the details are beyond my comprehension. But here's the interesting part. Our sense of smell is processed differently than all our other senses. All of our senses except for smell are processed through the thalamus; so sight, sound, touch, and taste are all relayed through the thalamus. But input from our sense of smell bypasses the thalamus. Scents have a private relay system straight from the olfactory bulb to other parts of the brain! No wonder the connection between scents and memories is so strong! Here's an over-simplified diagram of how this works.

​Often, when you have a childhood memory associated with a scent, it was formed before you were ten years old. Usually it is a perceptive memory, not a specific memory. In other words, the scent is linked to a general feeling more than a detailed account of an specific event. This memory is deeply embedded in your long-term memory and connected to your emotions, due to how scents are processed by the limbic system. 
Because our sense of smell is so strongly connected with our memories, emotions, and even our hormones, we can use the power of scent to boost our moods when we need a pick-me-up, thanks to our limbic system! Even though we have different memories associated with certain fragrances, there are some generalities that can be made about scents and our moods. For example, we've all heard about how lavender is calming and promotes rest. Here's a chart of some common fragrances, and how they can positively affect our moods.