the florapothecarie journal
Inspiration, tips, and tutorials for living in harmony with nature and our bodies.
the florapothecarie journal
Celebrating Ostara / Spring Equinox
on Mar 18 2025
As a green witch, I celebrate and honor all seasonal changes, but I'm particularly fond of the two equinoxes (spring and fall). Here are some of the ways I like to celebrate Ostara / Spring Equinox.
May Flowers: 10 Edible Floral Treats to Nom This Spring
on May 05 2024
May flowers are here! Inspired by the blooming beauty (and my ever-present sweet tooth), I've put together a list of yummy edible floral treats to make this season:
1. Crystallized Flowers via Leite's Culinaria.
2. Shortbread Cookies with Edible Flowers via Sugar & Charm.
3. Violet Macarons with Violet and Vanilla Bean Buttercream via Tartelette.
4. Rosewater Panna Cotta via Baking for Friends.
5. Spring Flower Lollipops via Sprinkle Bakes.
6. Edible Flower Cake via A Beautiful Mess.
7. Bellini Popsicles with Edible Flowers via Honestly Yum.
8. Rosey Rocky Road Raw Brownies via Ascension Kitchen.
9. Floral Marshmallows via Proper.
10. Color Blocked Chocolate via Paper & Stitch.
What are you making with all the flowers popping up?
Product Launch! Introducing Bulk Serum, Salt & Coconut Milk Bath, and Tea Accessories!
on Jun 30 2023
Product drop alert! Introducing Bulk Serum, Salt & Coconut Milk Bath, a mesh tea ball, and reusable cotton muslin tea bags!
Fighting Colds Naturally with Mint & Rosemary + DIY Vapor Rub
on Jan 27 2023
Cold season is here, but I’m going to help you power through it with plant allies Mint and Rosemary! Read on for tips on how to use these herbs and essential oils during cold season, plus a DIY vapor rub recipe.
6 Plant Allies for Cold & Flu Season
on Jan 20 2023
Winter is here and so are seasonal diseases like colds, sinus infections, and the flu. Learn more about my favorite plant allies for cold season: peppermint, ginger, sage, rosemary, elderberry, and nettle.
on Aug 10 2020
How to make herbal honey syrups to enjoy with lemonade, cocktails, and more! They're also a great way to get your kiddos to have herbal remedies. We used hibiscus for this recipe, but you can use any edible herb ~ lavender, chamomile, elderberry, peppermint are a few of my favorites.
on Apr 08 2019
Hello, I'm Sami and I have a tea addiction. Black, green, white, oolong, herbal... you name it, I've got it. I drink it straight or make chai lattes in the winter and matcha green tea ice cream in the summer. Studies have shown antioxidant-rich teas can help prevent a boatload of health issues from cancers to heart disease, and they have some pretty great beauty benefits too!
Stockist Spotlight: Almanac Supply Co
on Mar 13 2019
Meet Emily Thompson, Co-Founder of Being Boss and Co-Owner of Almanac Supply Co., an online shop dedicated to embracing the seasons and living with nature, carrying a curated selection of products to inspire.
Stockist Spotlight: Christopher Michael the Salon
on Feb 21 2019
Meet Deana Merola, founder of Christopher Michael The Salon, a certified sustainable salon specializing in vivids, bridal, curly cuts & color in Wallingford, CT using eco-friendly, natural, and cruelty-free products.
How-To: Make a Lavender & Rice Heat Pack
on Jan 15 2019
How to make a lavender and rice-filled hot/cold pack, one of my essential tools for self-care. Heat it up in the microwave to soothe sore muscles or freeze it to help reduce swelling.
How to Re-Use florapothecarie Bottles & Jars
on Apr 22 2018
Happy Earth Day! Here at florapothecarie HQ, we recycle or compost more than we throw in the garbage, including the glass bottles from our products. Here are some of the ways we re-purpose them, and you can too!
Fighting Colds Naturally with Mint & Rosemary + a DIY Vapor Rub Tutorial
on Nov 20 2017
Well friends, there's no way around it. Cold season is here. But I'm going to help you power through it with our pals Peppermint and Rosemary. Both of these herbs and their essential oils are good to have around when coughing and congestion set in. Plus, I'll show you how to make your own three-ingredient vapor rub!
Why Make Everything By Hand? Because I Care
on Sep 26 2017
Hey there, it's me, Sami Jo, founder of florapothecarie. Did you know I make all products by hand? Yep. Nothing is produced in a factory ~ every product you purchase from florapothecarie is made with love by little ol' me.
Six Recommended Reads for Natural Beauties
on Sep 05 2017
In honor of the literary holidays this week (#ReadABookDay is 9/6 and #LiteracyDay is 9/8), here are my top six go-to resources for natural beauty.
on Apr 25 2017
As a maker of natural + vegan beauty products, I’m frequently asked about my skincare routine. After years of research, ditching toxic products, and experimenting with ingredients and recipes, I’ve finally reached a place where everything I use in my skincare routine is 100% natural and—even better—handmade by me! I love this feeling, and I love knowing exactly what’s going on (and into) my skin. Click through to read my daily/weekly self care routine.
Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine: A Product Swap-Out Guide
on Mar 21 2017
Happy Spring! Like the autumnal equinox, the spring equinox is about restoring balance to our lives, which is why you'll probably get an itching to clean this week — get rid of excess things, negative energy (I've got a simple ritual for that here), not-so-great people (have you read my Being Boss blog post about ditching toxic people?), etc. So I have a fun exercise for you to do this week: you're going to spring clean your beauty routine!
Creams, Facial Oils, Moisturizers, and Serums: What Are They? And What Do I Really Need?
on Nov 15 2016
The beauty industry is intentionally confusing. Big cosmetic companies toss around words like "serum," "facial oil," "cream," and "moisturizer" as if they're four completely different products with completely different functions, and so of course as confused consumers, we feel like we need them all! (We don't.) Let's define what each of these face-fixers are, and figure out what we really need.
5 Ways to Honor the Fall Equinox
on Sep 22 2016
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
I love the Fall. It's probably my favorite time to be in New England. I love apple picking, Fall festivals, leaves changing colors, snuggling fireside and roasting marshmallows.
Recipe: Vegan Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
on Aug 11 2016
I'm obsessed with all things green tea, including matcha ice cream. It's not easy to find in most grocery stores (though Asian markets usually have some), so I decided to try making it at home. It took a fair amount of research and attempts before I got it right, but I think I've nailed it. I use the ice cream maker attachment for my KitchenAid, but you can use any ice cream maker for this recipe.
Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream — makes about 10 servings.
Ingredients:
2 cups cups full-fat coconut milk, divided from water
¾ cup almond milk
1 cup raw sugar
2 tbs matcha powder
¼ tsp salt
If you're wondering, "What the heck is matcha powder?" — it's just powdered green tea. Ever had green tea at a Japanese restaurant and noticed the powdery tea at the bottom of the cup? That's what this is. Based on the recipe research I did, it seems like the strength varies. The first recipe I tried called for half the amount of dairy and twice the matcha powder I used here and it was very, very bitter. I bought mine via Amazon, but your local Asian grocery store should also carry some.
Directions:
Combine the sugar, matcha powder, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk together, to break up some of the matcha powder clumps.
In a medium-sized pot, stir the sugar mixture into coconut and almond milks, whisking often, over medium heat.
Keep whisking the mixture until it begins to foam, then remove it from heat.
Pour into a medium bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.
Refrigerate the mixture for 1-2 hours, until completely cooled.
Remove from refrigerator and whisk to incorporate the layer of "skin" that has formed on the top of the mixture.
Pour into ice cream maker and churn for 20-25 minutes (according to your ice cream maker's instructions), or until the consistency of soft serve ice cream.
Place in freezer for at least 2 hours to harden.
Enjoy!
7 Ways to Bring the Beach to You
on Jul 19 2016
Stuck inland? I hear ya. I wish I could get to the beach more often than I do. I dream of being back on the Riviera Maya or dipping my toes in the Pacific Ocean at Zuma Beach. Sigh. We can dream. In the meantime, here are a few ways to bring the beach to you:
1. Mermaid hair all year. You know how your hair always looks wild + amazing after a dip in the ocean? That's thanks to sea salt. BUT, real saltwater also dries out your hair. The solution? My Rose & Sea Salt Hair Spray, made with hydrating rosewater and coconut oil blended with Dead Sea Salt and Pink Himalayan Salt. Get it here.
2. Burn a beachy-scented candle. I'm a big fan of Soy Much Brighter's Ruth Bader Ginsburg candle, which smells like coconut, teakwood and women's empowerment. 💪
3. Sunbathe in your backyard, on your deck, or roof. Lather on some sunscreen, grab your favorite beach towel or blanket, and throw it down wherever you've got a great patch of sun. If you live in a city and you don't have a backyard or deck, can you get onto your building's roof? Just be safe — don't break any rules or bones!
(photo via Brit + Co)
4. Sip on a summery cocktail. If you were on an island right now, what drink would be by your side? Mix it up at home and bring it to your sunbathing spot. Here are a few drink recipes from Brit + Co to get you started.
(photo: @jshbooks)
5. Read something fun. Nothing says "beach day" like a fun, summery read. I read a lot of more serious novels and business books throughout the year, so when I'm at the beach (or pretending to be there), I give my brain a break with something light and entertaining. Right now, I'm reading my friend Jessica Serra Huizenga's Crazy Beautiful series. They're the perfect beach books!
6. Soak in a sea salt bath. Now that your body's heated up from sunbathing, cool down with a cold or lukewarm bath. Toss 2 Tbs of your favorite bathing salts into your tub, fill it with just enough hot water to dissolve the salts, then fill it up the rest of the way with cold or lukewarm water. It'll be (almost) just like that feeling of diving into the ocean after soaking up the sun.
7. Relax. The first rule of beach day is to relax. The second rule of beach day is to relax. Whatever you do on your beach-at-home day, make sure to de-stress and enjoy!