The Herbs I Always Come Back To (and Why I Love Them)
If you've spent more than five minutes around me, you've probably figured out I have a thing for herbs.
Not because I think they're miracle plants. (Well...maybe just a little.)
Not because I think every ailment needs an herb.
I just genuinely love them.
I love opening a jar of dried calendula and seeing that impossible shade of orange. I love the smell of peppermint when I brush past it in the garden. I love that people have been growing, drying, brewing, and working with these same plants for hundreds—sometimes thousands—of years.
That's pretty amazing when you stop and think about it.
Some of these herbs find their way into products I make. Others simply inspire the way I think about simple, intentional body care. Either way, they've earned a permanent place in my little world.
Here are a few of my favorites.
🌼 Calendula
If I had to choose one herb that makes me smile every single time I see it, it would probably be calendula.
Those bright golden petals look like tiny pieces of sunshine.
For generations, people have infused calendula into oils, salves, creams, teas and soaps. It's become one of the classic herbs in traditional skin care, and it's easy to understand why so many makers love working with it.
Honestly...it's just a happy herb.
💜 Lavender
Lavender might be one of the most recognizable herbs in the world.
People immediately think of relaxation, fresh linens, and gardens buzzing with bees.
I love it because it's incredibly versatile. Whether it's tucked into tea, handcrafted soap, bath products, or simply growing outside the back door, lavender somehow always feels like home.
🌿 Peppermint
Peppermint wakes everything up.
The scent.
The flavor.
Even walking past it in the garden.
If you've ever grown peppermint, you already know one thing:
It has absolutely zero respect for personal boundaries.
Plant it once...and congratulations, you now own peppermint forever.
(It's worth it.)
🌼 Chamomile
Chamomile has always felt gentle to me.
Maybe it's the tiny daisy-like flowers.
Maybe it's the tea.
Maybe it's simply the ritual of slowing down long enough to make a cup.
Whatever it is, chamomile reminds me that taking care of yourself doesn't always have to be complicated.
Sometimes it's as simple as sitting quietly for ten minutes.
🌱 Nettle
Nettle doesn't exactly make a great first impression.
It stings.
But once it's harvested and dried, it becomes one of the herbs I find most fascinating.
It's a great reminder that first impressions aren't always the whole story.
Why Herbs Matter to Me
One of the things I love most about making soap and body care is that I'm constantly learning from nature.
Plants have been quietly doing what they do long before we started putting complicated marketing words on bottles.
Do herbs solve every problem?
Of course not.
But they remind me that simple can be beautiful.
That slowing down has value.
And that sometimes the oldest ideas are still worth paying attention to.
Those are things I can get behind.
A Little Invitation
You'll find herbs sprinkled throughout Hemlock Springs Soaps—not because every product needs to contain dozens of botanicals, but because they've shaped the way I think about skincare from the very beginning.
Whether it's a cup of herbal tea, a handcrafted bar of soap, or simply walking through the garden and brushing your hand across a patch of lavender, I hope you find a little bit of that same joy.
🌿 Karen's Garden Note
One of my favorite parts of running Hemlock Springs Soaps is that I'm always learning from plants. Sometimes they end up in a product. Sometimes they simply teach me to slow down and pay attention. Either way, I'm grateful for them—and I'm glad you're here to share that journey with me.
Ready to Explore?
If today's post sparked your curiosity, here are a few places to wander next:
Wander a Little More.....
• Why Handmade Soap Doesn't Last as Long (and Why That's a Good Thing)
• How to Make Handmade Soap Last Longer