RAIN
Hydrosol Essence Spray
Rain refreshes, renews, cleanses. It brings life, connects us to the earth, and supports growth.
The Rain blend is an aromatic ode to the rain, that transports you to a hillside in Portugal. Just as rain softens the baked clay soil, this bottle of plant alchemy can also help soften the tightly held places within us, encouraging us to let go.
The spray is excellent for space-clearing, energy-clearing, refreshment, shifting to a more positive attitude, remembering your connection to the power and support of nature, and waking up to the blessings all around you.
Rain making notes
Rain captures the essence of the land at Monte da Vida after the rain has blessed us and refreshed us.
The climate of south Portugal can be very dry, and extremely hot in the summer months. Rain is something we always welcome and are immensely grateful for, especially as the region heads towards desertification.
I adore the smell of the land here, when it has rained after a long dry spell. The sweet smell of aromatic plants and damp earth is an elixir for me.
This smell has a name- Petrichor
Petrichor (/ˈpɛtrɪkɔːr/) is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek petra (πέτρα), meaning “stone”, and īchōr (ἰχώρ), the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.
The term was coined in 1964 by two Australian CSIRO researchers, Isabel Joy Bear and Richard G. Thomas, for an article in the journal Nature. In the article, the authors describe how the smell derives from an oil exuded by certain plants during dry periods, whereupon it is absorbed by clay-based soils and rocks. During rain, the oil is released into the air along with another compound, geosmin, a metabolic by-product of certain actinobacteria, which is emitted by wet soil, producing the distinctive scent; ozone may also be present if there is lightning. (Wikipedia).
I decided that I wanted to try and capture this scent in a bottle, so it could be enjoyed anywhere, particularly in challenging environments and situations. I had already begun experimenting with distilling wild aromatic plants in a copper alambic still, and so continued to do this over spring-summer 2018, and then played with making different blends.
I think the result captures the smell and the energy of the rain-drenched landscape pretty well. Although this year I may tweak the recipe when I make fresh batches of hydrosols. The fact is each batch will always be subtly different. Making hydrosols is a delicate art of alchemy, with so many variables to take into account. But the intention and the energy of the plants will always be there.
I also add a couple of drops of each of the Oak essences into each bottle for grounding, and added support and protection.
Some of the aromatic plants distilled for the blend
Helichrysum
Cistus
Wild Oregano flowers
Green lavender
Testimonials
Clare’s natural gift and loving intention has made a rare and genuine product.
Rain spray provokes in me a gentle but profound clearing and releasing when I use it while meditating, and a deep and happy connection to nature when I use it at other times.
I really really love it.
Wow, The Rain hydrosol essence is beautiful. Fills my Heart with Joy. Really does leave you feeling fresh and cleansed and smelling gorgeous!
