Brand Focus: The Mystic Masala (+ Giveaway!)

The Mystic Masala is a great Canadian brand that brings together a unique combination of Ayurveda and aromatherapy. Ayurveda is an ancient wisdom and healing practice born in India more than 5000 years ago. To simplify a complicated philosophy, Ayurveda is about finding and maintaining balance in the body, mind, and spirit. The approach identifies three life energies or doshas - pitta, vata, and kapha - which are all present, to varying degrees, in everyone. Once a person identifies their main dosha(s), they can use that information to better identify practices to guide their physical, spiritual, and mental health.

The Mystic Masala combines these Ayurvedic principles with natural and nontoxic ingredients and sells a diverse range of products. The line was started by Glynnis Osher, a teacher, practioner and author with a strong background in both Ayurvedic study and aromatherapy, and currently includes candles, soaps, massage oils, and aromatic malas. Products are available on the company's website, but will soon also be available in their first retail store, opening in Vancouver in April.

I was sent a few things to try, so keep reading for my thoughts on those. (There's also a giveaway at the end!)

Tridoshic Tealight Tower*

"A pure Ayurvedic aromatherapy candle with 100% essential oils and lead-free cotton wicks. Hand poured in Canada. Anytime you need the tranquility of nature, inhale this amazing scent, sprinkled with rose petals, you will welcome such beauty. "

Finding candles that are both gorgeous and nontoxic can sometimes be a challenge, but The Mystic Masala has really nailed it with these! Unlike traditional paraffin candles, soy wax candles do not create harmful, carcinogenic fumes or exhaust and the soy used to make them is a renewable resource. The candles are also biodegradable and burn slower and cooler than paraffin, which means your candles will have a longer burn time.

The Mystic Masala's Tealight Towers are sets of 12 tealights housed in an elegant, cardboard tube. The Tridoshic dosha is intended for those who recognize an equal balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The candles are scented with geranium, spikenard, and bergamot essential oils, and they've won over even my generally non-floral loving self! It's a bright scent that smells floral, but also quite light and refreshing, and the sprinkling of rose petals on top of each candle is a beautiful touch as well.

Tealight Towers are also available for the other three doshas, and Tridoshic candles are also available as votives, travel tins, and in glass jars.

Massage/Body Oils*

"Our naturally exquisite Ayurvedic body oils are made at a womens’ fair trade cooperative in Nepal. The herbs are sustainably wildcrafted assuring the highest quality ingredients and care. These contain only highest vibrational oils without any additives or preservatives. Beautifully gentle for daily massage of body and face. A routine of daily self-massage is an essential part of an Ayurvedic practice to restore and balance your unique skin type."

I received samples of all four oils, plus the scalp and hair elixir, and I've been enjoying trying them all out over the last couple weeks. I'm curious to learn more about Ayurvedic massage, but for now I've just been using the samples as I would other body oils. What I think is especially unique about these is that each formula differs not just in the essential oils and herbs, but right down to the base/carrier oils, which have also been carefully selected to best suit each dosha.

I've enjoyed using all of them, with the exception of the Pitta blend, whose scent I did not get on with at all. My favorite is the Kapha oil, an energizing blend of lemongrass, ginger, and black pepper essential oils in a base of olive, mustard, grapeseed, and Vitamin E oils. It's also infused with wildcrafted lemongrass, haritaki, and neem. I haven't had a chance to use the Thousand Petals Scalp Elixir and Hair Oil yet, but I'm excited to give myself a scalp massage on my next at home spa day!

SpiceLove Aromatic Love Oil*

"An exquisite and ridiculously sexy new love oil created from our just-arrived essential oils from France, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and India. Just wait until you sniff this gorgeous blend!This exquisite 100% pure essential oil blend boldly expresses the beauty and sensuality of the white lotus flower—nelumbo nusefera, known as ‘sacred lotus’—masterfully melding with French ylang ylang, Indian rosewood, African myrrh and a drop of Indonesian patchouli, all in a carrier blend of organic almond/sunflower oil."

The Mystic Masala's new SpiceLove Perfume Oil is the final item I was sent. It's a sweet floral scent with a hint of woodsy spice that I think would appeal to a lot of people, but I'm concerned it's a little too much for my scent-sensitive self. Instead, with The Mystic Masala's go-ahead, I'm going to be giving it away to one of you lovely readers. (It's brand new, of course!)

The giveaway is international and will run until next Monday, March 31 at midnight. To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter widget. Enter once or as many ways as you'd like!
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