The flowers of the Elder plant (Sambucus spp.), have been a staple of skin care formulations in its native Europe for centuries, often being the most common use of the plant (vs the berries which we revere today for immune support). Elderflowers contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, and Vitamin C, which can help soothe and improve the appearance of sun and environmentally-stressed skin. Its natural mucilage contribute to its emollient qualities, supporting skin hydration. At Birdsong Apothecary, we infuse spring-harvested Elder flowers from the Apothecary garden in sweet Almond oil to enhance the potency of our formulas, because everyone deserves beautiful skin.

Native to West Africa, the Shea tree offers its renowned “butter” from the large, oil-rich seeds of its fruit. The seeds are dried, roasted and ground into a fine powder which is then mixed with water and kneaded to separate the fat. Finally, this mixture is boiled, allowing the fat to rise to the surface where it is collected and solidified into shea butter at room temperature. Shea butter contains five different types of fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidic), which account for its wide-ranging benefits for the skin, helping to moisturize and support the skin’s moisture barrier along with the benefits gained from antioxidants such as Vitamin A and E. Beyond its cosmetic benefits, shea butter is also commonly used in Africa as a cooking oil, waterproofing wax, in hairdressing, candle-making and percussion instruments. When selecting shea butter for cosmetic uses it is best to use the raw or unrefined versions to reap its benefits as higher levels of processing can affect the amount of vitamins remaining in the finished product.

Sustainably distilled from the leaves of the aromatic Rosewood tree native to the Amazon, this essential oil is a testament to the power of human collaboration and determination when working together to preserve a beloved member of the Amazon. Aniba rosaeodora can grow to almost 100 feet tall with a diameter of 6 to 7 feet. Referred to as the “ivory of the forest”, Rosewood is the most trafficked form of flora/fauna worldwide, beloved by perfumers for its smooth, rosy fragrance, and by the trades for its high-value utility in all forms of furniture, cutlery and instruments. Where previously these giants of the forest were cut down for their aromatic wood, recent projects dedicated to the preservation of this tree have discovered that the distillation of the leaves from younger, cultivated trees produce essential oils comparable to the ones extracted from the wood of older trees, allowing us to continue enjoying the aromatics of this Amazonian giant while supporting reforestation and sustainability projects in its native region.

Helichrysum italicum (also known as Immortelle, Everlasting or Curry plant) is prized in natural skincare for its regenerative, soothing, and protective properties. Helichrysum has a rich spectrum of compounds that are only just being discovered for its numerous benefits for the skin. In particular, the essential oil of Helichrysum has a high percentage of beta-diketones, important constituents which address a multitude of skin care benefits including skin repair, scar reduction, improving elasticity and reducing inflammation, among others.