Welcome to Aunt Kandy’s Apothecary. Let’s pour a cup of something and get to work!
I have been immersing myself in the world of herbalism since 2012. You can read the story on the About Me page if it tickles your fancy. I love geeking out on current research, the herbalists’ body of knowledge, and old folklore. For a hot second back in 2017, I sold some of the things I was creating on Etsy, but it lost its appeal very quickly. Turns out I wanted to make what I wanted, not really what people wanted to buy. This website was born then, and I decided to keep it around as an online herbal journal. It comes in handy when people ask for receipts for stuff I don’t make anymore. I’m glad you stopped in and I hope you find what you are seeking. Be Well.
Long before rosemary became a familiar kitchen herb, it was a plant of memory. Across centuries of European folklore, rosemary appears at weddings and funerals, beneath pillows and above doorways, in sickrooms, gardens, baths, and bundles carried …
Scents can affect insect behavior. That part is not simply herbal tradition or marketing. It has been demonstrated repeatedly in laboratory studies. This leads to the concept of using essential oils for insect repellent. The more complicated ques…
Plant-forward herbal bug spray made with lavender, cedarwood, and eucalyptus. A light, refreshing body spray for gardening, walks, evenings outside, and warm-weather outdoor time.…
This blend is called Bloom, and the name came easily once it was finished. It is soft, open, and quietly expansive. Not bright in a citrus way and not heavy in a grounding way. Bloom sits somewhere in the middle, where ease and warmth meet. This i…
When congestion settles into the chest, I reach first for scent, warmth, and breath—not petroleum jelly and a menthol ambush. This thyme-based chest rub is one of those quiet, effective remedies that works by supporting the body rather than overpower…
Long before vanilla was bottled, sweetened, or standardized, it was a story plant. In Mesoamerican tradition, vanilla is tied to love, longing, and sacrifice. One of the most enduring myths comes from the Totonac people of what is now eastern Mexi…
Whole-plant vanilla extract shows early evidence of supporting immune balance and gut health under stress in animal models, likely through gentle anti-inflammatory and microbiome-modulating effects. That sentence comes straight out of a recent ani…
This is not about manifesting a better version of myself or correcting the day I had. It is about caring for the one who already showed up today. This is care, not compensation. This is my Valentine’s offering to myself, and to anyone who needs permi…
