Straw hat love at the third sniff

Do you know the true golden herbal treasure, the immortal strawflower or Italian immortelle (Helichrysum italicum)? Its specific scent is often the subject of controversy. Some love it and others can't stand it. Our correspondent, sauna master and masseuse Renata, tells you about her love at first sniff for the strawflower flower water and its essential oil in the next installment of fragrant stories from northern Italy. 

I love autumn. The leaves on the trees change from green to yellow, red, brown. They play with all the colors. From the massage cabin I have a view of the surrounding nature. I enjoy this view every day! Yesterday I picked a few herbs. When I was resting under the tree, the sun was shining, the wind was blowing, I remembered my June vacation in Sardinia. STRAWBERRY!!!

Straw hat is for bruises

For the past few years I have been planning my vacations to coincide with the flowering of my favorite herbs. St. John's wort doesn't grow in my native country, so I just knew it was good for bruises and had an anti-aging effect. One of my first orders was Damask rose hydrolate a Strawflower hydrolate. Well, it wasn't love at first sight until the third one :-) Until then, I had only used the classics: rose and lavender. And the scent of the strawflower was such that I didn't even know if I liked it. 

Strawflower essential oil

To the perfume rose I needed a drop of straw, so I ordered hers too essential oil in organic quality. I was waiting with great anticipation to see what my nose would say. I couldn't imagine combining it with rose. After opening the tiny bottle, I took a breath and WOW!!!! It wasn't as strong as the hydrosol at all. I felt warmth, sunshine, woodiness and it calmed me down. Yes, I could already imagine it in a perfume and I immediately added a few drops to my cream.

Aromatherapy from the seashore

Three years ago I got a vacation at the beginning of June. I wanted to stay in Italy, but spend my vacation by the sea. I chose Sardinia. After checking in, my first trip was to the beach. Well… the trip was through a jungle. After a while, my nose caught a heady scent. I know it!!! It must be a strawflower!! As I approached the sea, the scent became more and more intense and after a few meters, a magical picture opened up for me. A silver sea illuminated by the sun and beautiful yellow flowers blooming everywhere. An aromatherapy orgasm. It was a powerful experience, a wonderful feeling. I will never forget it!

“Immortal” straw hat 

When I think about how strong this plant is, how it thrives in the sun and survives for a long time without water, I know why they call it immortal. On the way to the beach, I always sat on the rocks and enjoyed the view. After dinner, I always went to the beach. I couldn't get enough of the smell and the view.

Straw hat for Sardinia

This year I planned a vacation to Sardinia again. For what, I guess :-) I longed to experience that beautiful intoxicating feeling again. The more vegetation, the better. I was almost there. I could feel it, but I couldn't see it. I soon started crying. I came late, it had already bloomed. Nature has its own clocks that beat as it needs. And that's how it should be! Sardinia is beautiful. You can find lots of shops there where you can buy products made from straw. These are treasures and I'm looking forward to bringing back new essential oils and cosmetics from my vacation.

Tips for a straw hat in wellness

You can also make a straw macerate from dried flowers. I like to use flower water in a sauna ceremony when I have a “sea” theme. frangipani, lavender a straw. For the Peeling I will use Dead Sea salt and yarrow oil macerate. I will also add hydrolate to the clay mask. Perfectly fragrant, great effect. My love for yarrow came only on the third sniff. When I saw it grow and realized its power.

I look forward to seeing you next time!

Bye for now

Yours, Renáta from northern Italy

Buy floral water and organic essential oil of Strawberries here.