The Goldenleaf

Since it is the holiday season and many memories of times past flood into our minds, I thought would post this entry.  I find Christmas brings back many memories of both my childhood and those warm, cozy family reunions.  Rarely what I see or taste reminds me of the past.  It is almost always smell.  For example, the smell of the turkey or duck roasting in the oven or the fresh pine smell from the new Christmas tree.  Many of us even associate certain smells with the time of year.  The smell of wood burning, for example. It is definitely a sign that fall has arrived and winter is just around the corner. This is also why we have certain fragrances in our homes, wear specific perfumes, or change lotion fragrances every so often.  The seasons just beg for different aromas.

Now, many scientific articles have been written about the relationship between the sense of smell and memory, so I’m not going to go too scientific on you. I will offer the following: Our sense of smell is said to be 10,000 times more sensitive than that of any other of our senses. The olfactory bulb, which rests in the inner chamber of our nose, receives the information (odor or fragrance) and transmits it to important parts of the brain for processing. You see, the olfactory bulb is part of the limbic system of the brain which also controls emotion, motivation and even memory.  This is a very simplistic explanation as to why when we smell, we remember.

Have a happy holiday!

- A.B.

Good Winter Fragrances:
Agraria Balsam AirEssence
Carthusia Fiori di Capri
Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac
Miller Harris Terre de Bois

Men. How many of you wake up in the morning and refrain from shaving because your electric or manual razor eats your face?  So instead of going into your morning meeting with a baby face, you decide to arrive looking like a caveman.  I know exactly how you felt, that is, until I found the right products!  Now shaving is pretty much enjoyable.  Yes, I said enjoyable.

I have seriously sensitive skin and all types of razors (in conjunction with mediocre facial care products) can cause me to have in-grown hairs and razor burn.  However, I do recommend multi blade razors such as this 3 blade razor from The Art of Shaving. Why?  Well, in general, because of the multiple blades, these razors cause you to use less pressure when shaving.  Therefore, you don’t have as many nicks and cuts, and, you won’t have the dreadful razor burn. 

As a compliment to the razor, you should find a pure badger shaving brush.  I know you are thinking “Shaving brush?! Isn’t that old school?”  Yes and no.  The shaving brush is making a comeback as a luxury item but it has an important purpose.  The pure badger brush will gently exfoliate before shaving.  It also gives an even application of any shaving cream or soap causing you to use far less than you would if you applied the cream or soap by hand. You can find shaving brushes of all shapes and sizes, but if you make sure they are pure badger, they will last years.

Last but definitely not least, find excellent shaving products such as these from The Art of Shaving.  The pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and after shave balm from The Art of Shaving have no alcohol and are made only with essential oils.  I find the pre-shave oil to be of most help because it creates a barrier between your skin and the razor allowing you glide and instead of “dig” with the razor. This will keep your pores from becoming clogged, your skin moisturized and elastic, and it will help reduce razor burn and in-grown hairs if used religiously. 

I promise you that if you find these items, you will not only stop fearing the razor, but you will thoroughly enjoy the ritual of shaving in the morning.

If there is one thing you should splurge on this holiday season, it should be your Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.  Why?  Well, taste of course.  Chicken, turkey, duck and the like raised organically can be some of the most tender and juicy cuts of meat you’ve ever tasted.  Meals prepared with organically raised birds, that is farm raised birds who are fed a specialized diet of organic foods grown without pesticides, etc.,  can go from good to fantastic.  Your local grocery store may or may not carry these birds as an option to regular farm raised birds, but, if you live near a Whole Foods or a similar organic foods store, you will be able to find them.

It may seem silly to spend your money on a specialty meats such as these, especially in these tough economic times, but, I believe it is worth the coin.  The N.Y. Times claims that organic foods can cost 20 to 100% more than the traditional farm raised product.  However, if these products are only purchased twice a year, it should not break your budget.  After all, there is nothing like sitting down at the table during the holidays and enjoying a spectacular, and not to mention, healthy, meal with your loved ones.

-A.B.

You’d have to be living under a rock or extremely aloof to be unaware that the catch phrase of the last five years is “green”.  From small business to politicians, “green” seems to be on everyones mind.  Maybe you’ve noticed that your neighbor, whom never used to recycle anything, is suddenly obsessed.  It is probably the largest bandwagon in the current decade onto which many people have happily jumped.  Many “obsessions” such as these are fads and dissipate as quickly as they started.  However, this new found yearning for eco-friendly living,  this fad, I believe, is no fad at all.

It just feels good:
For most people, placing metal, plastic, and paper into a recycling bin just seems like the right thing to do.  It just feels good when you know that you are helping the planet by recycling rather than throwing away something that can be used again, into the landfill.  Just like it feels good knowing you’ve purchased products made of post-consumer material or products which lack synthetics.

Reliable, Durable:
Clothing made from natural fibers, as an example, can be very durable and reliable over time.  Usually they are made with the utmost care and can stand repetitive washes or dry cleaning without falling apart.  These articles tend to be more expensive than their blended or totally synthetic counterparts but they will definitely last longer.  Also, many clothing articles made of natural fibers feel luxurious and wear fantastically.

Save Money:
There are many ways to save money and go “green” at the same time.  You can get energy efficient lighting in your home that reduces energy costs.  Solar panels, although not very cheap at the outset, can save you money over time by powering your home instead of by traditional means.  Soy candles are an all-natural way to light your certain areas of your home without having to use electricity at all.  Soy burns long, bright, and clean.

Status:
Like many things in this world, cars, homes, boats, etc., living green has become a symbol of status.  If the Toyota Prius (and other hybrids) has taught us anything it is that celebrities were willing to sport these oddly shaped gas sippers to push their agendas.  The rest of America caught on, not only because of high fuel prices, but because celebrities helped push driving hybrids (and eco friendly as a whole) as the “in” thing to do.  Also, “green” living, especially retro-fitting homes, is not mainstream.  Therefore the inital cost can be very high allowing only those with the means to enjoy.

There are many other reasons why I feel living natural and organic will not only continue but grow in the coming years.  As governments and businesses begin to catch on, ordinary citizens will as well.  Prices will come down and “green” will no longer be the “cool” thing to do but rather, just…how we live.

Eevery one should consider using a boar bristle brush instead of traditional synthetics.  As with many natural or organic products on the market, these brushes are a tad more expensive than synthetics, but

Kent Brush Men's Oval Ebonywood

trust me, your hair will thank you.  Natural boar bristle brushes are stitched with hair from an adult boar and each bristle, depending on the quality, can be very stiff.  This is a good thing as those with thick hair can find it difficult to reach the scalp with traditional brushes.  The idea is to reach your scalp and stimulate causing increased bloodflow and natural oils.  This natural oil or sebum will work its way down each individual hair shaft as you brush, promoting health and shine.  Stimulating your scalp massages and generally just feels great! 

Boar bristle brushes are great for removing dirt, dust, and other particles from your hair while promoting shine and strength.  Best of all, these brushes don’t rip or break hair even though their stiffness may make you think otherwise.  Since these brushes are great for cleaning the hair, you will notice that your brush will need to be cleaned often.  To clean, you can use a comb to lift out debris trapped between the bristles.  You can also soak the brush in a bit of water and soap or shampoo to help loosen some of the trapped debris. Be careful if you have a boar bristle brush which is wooden because water, over time, can cause the board of the brush to crack and split.  So for those who use wooden boar bristle brushes like those from Kent Brushes, using comb is the best way.

For those with thinning hair, boar bristle brushes are still recommended.  Before purchasing any given brush, read the product details to see if the company offers brush dimensions, bristle stiffness and length, and which hair type the brush is targeted toward.

The last benefit of boar bristle brushes, in general, are their durability.  Wooden boar bristle brushes, especially, can last generations.  So although the initial expense can be great depending on the brush, the amount of work you can get out of a boar bristle brush can be great.  If treated and clean properly, I’ve seen 20, 25-year-old brushes that still have their original finish and nearly none of the bristles are missing. So if you’ve been thinking about purchasing a boar bristle brush, my advice is to “go for it”.  The benefits are too great.

We’ve all been there.  You get your new, extremely soft towels and just can’t wait to use them.  You throw them into the washer for one cycle to rid your towels of excess lint just like you were told. Grinning with glee, you think to yourself, “I just bought the perfect towels!” You hop into the shower, not because you need to, but because you can’t contain yourself any longer. Then, disappointment sets in when you realize the towels you bought are perfectly soft but they just don’t absorb.

Matouk Milagro

Matouk Milagro towels are different. How so, you ask?  They are made of high quality Egyptian cotton and are constructed using a bonding process rather than twisting. Most cotton towels are made using the twist method. The result is an extremely soft, oversized towel that drinks water extremely well.  Best of all, they are reasonable in price.  The only downside to these towels is the fact that they aren’t organic. Treat them well and these durable towels will last a very long time.

Are there towels on the market that you just have to rave about? Has anyone had a good experience with organic towels? Feel free to comment!

Parabens have a bad name when it comes to cosmetics.  Many people who are “informed” stay away from these pesky preservatives because they have been rumored (not scientifically proven) to help cause cancer.  Are parabens really as bad as we think?  Here are some quick scientifc facts:

- Parabens (methyl, propyl and other derivates) are found naturally in our environment in blueberries, thale cress (arabidopis thaliana), oca (oxalis tuberosa), and wintergreen to name only a few plants.
- Parabens are used as anti-microbial agents which keep the shelf life of natural products, high.
- They are readily biodegradable meaning they can be broken down by sunlight, water, and bacteria which use parabens as a source of food. Parabens are broken down into the by-product p-hydroxybenzoic acid.
- When we use products with parabens, the by product of parabens, p-hydroxybenzoic acid does not get stored in our body tissues, rather, it is excreted in urine.
- p-hydroxybenzoic acid is found naturally in carrots, olives, cucumbers, ylang ylang, and strawberries to name a few.

So, even though this “earth friendly” preservative seems to be written off as a toxin, science has not yet proven whether or not parabens are truly harmful to humans. Companies such as Red Flower have capitalized on this “hysteria” and created forumlas that do not contain parabens as well as other questionable preservatives.  Instead, some companies use the anti-microbal sodium benzoate which is exactly the same as benzoic acid except it carries a sodium group on the side chain.  Benzoic acid is very much close to the by-product of parabens, p-hydroxybenzoic acid.  Below is a diagram showing how close the make-up of these preservatives are to one another:

As a consumer, what has you worried? Is it parabens? Sulfates? Do you feel like you can not get a straight answer as to what is harmful and what is not? Feel free to discuss!

If anyone is interested in reading the scientific papers in which we found this information, you may e-mail me.  Please allow me at least a week to send you a .pdf copy. 

- A.B. (With monumental help from The Professor)

I want to welcome everyone to The Goldenleaf.  Our reason for existing is to offer bias-free posts with scientific background so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing your next product.  We will offer some opinion, but we want to keep the blog as fact driven as possible. Feel free to comment on any posts we publish.  Please keep the comments polite and clean. Please have respect for others on the board when commenting.  Any comments we deem unaccceptable will be deleted.  Read our Terms of Use page for more information. 

Enjoy the blog!
Regards,

A.B.