List Of Ingredients In Proactive Acne Treatment

Proactive is one of the most popular treatments for acne. Many renowned artists, super models sport persons and media persons promote proactive treatment ingredients as an ideal treatment for acne and pimples.

We know that acne outbreak has many causes. But the most common is the infection and inflammation of the hair follicle due to bacterial growth. The infection further increases when the person maintains lower hygiene. This leads to deposition of oils, dirt and dead skin at the sebaceous gland that leads to zits and pimples. Those who take medicines or are exposed to chemicals on their work or residence might also suffer from its outbreak.

The most common treatment that we can follow is to clean tone and moisturize our skin everyday. This may lead to lesser pimples and a healthy and glowing skin for us to enjoy. Naturally attractive and ever glowing!

Proactive has three steps towards acquiring healthy skin. You have to wash your face with renewing cleanser everyday then apply revitalizing toner and finally repairing lotion. The process is to be repeated everyday day and night i.e. two times on a single day.

If we try and find the proactive treatment ingredients that is used in all the three bottles we will find:

- 1st bottle: Renewing Cleanser
The most active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Some Inactive Ingredients: anthemis nobilis flower extract, cetyl esters, dimethyl isosorbide, disodium dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate, fragrance (parfum)glyceryl stearate, imidazolidinyl urea, magnesium aluminum silicate, methylparaben, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, PEG-100 stearate, polyethylene, propylene glycol, propylparaben, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, sorbitol, tridecyl stearate, tridecyl trimellitate, water (aqua), xanthan gum,

- 2nd bottle: Revitalizing Toner
Ingredients: allantoin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, anthemis nobilis flower extract, benzophenone-4, blue 1, fragrance (parfum), glycerin, glycolic acid, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, hydroxyethylcellulose, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, panthenol, polysorbate-20, propylene glycol, propylparaben, rosa canina fruit extract, sodium hydroxide, sodium PCA, tetraso
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dium EDTA, water (aqua), yellow 5.

- 3rd bottle: Repairing Lotion
The most active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Some inactive Ingredients: allantoin, carbomer, ceteareth-20,cetearyl alcohol, cyclomethicone, diazolidinyl urea, dimethicone, ethoxydiglycol, fragrance (parfum), glyceryl stearate, methylparaben,panthenol, PEG-100 stearate, propylene glycol, propylparaben,triethanolamine, water (aqua), xanthan gum.

The Renewing Cleanser has fine macerated pits of apricot. This unclogs the pores to let the ingredients in. 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide penetrates each and individual hair follicle and kills the bacteria.

The Revitalizing Toner on the other hand is alcohol-free substance. It further contributes to the cleansing process and removes all dead cells and dirt.

The Repairing Lotion has 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide that disinfects the effected area. The other ingredients treat the pimples that are already present. The infection lowers down. The redness and pain gets greatly reduced. It prevents future outbreak.

Though recommended by individuals you may put your trust on – Proactive treatment ingredients causes dryness and flakiness of skin. This is mainly due to benzoyl peroxide. It has been a magic tweak on people’s life but some have also suffered. Every treatment varies from person to person and skin to skin – so be your judge and choose your right treatment.

By: Luka Malgaj

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

More information on this topic can be found in comprehensive guide to treatment with proactive that consists of complete overview of all

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The Proven Ingredients In Creams For Getting Rid Of Dry Skin

Finding the right creams for getting rid of dry skin should not be more of a headache than it has to be. It seems that dry skin is becoming more and more of an everyday occurrence. Obviously, this should not be happening. You may be using some of the most well-known and highly recommended products to get rid of your dry skin, but at the same time, making it worse.

Not all skin is created equal, but some of the ingredients used in creams for getting rid of dry skin all have the same effects. One very common ingredient you probably see a lot of in your everyday skin cream is called mineral oil. This ingredient has been thought to enhance the skin’s natural moisture, when in fact, there is nothing natural about it.

Skin care companies will use this ingredient because it does not cost them much. What actually happens is that it increases dryness by causing acne, breakouts, inflammation, and cracking. Mineral oil also causes the skin to age prematurely and sometimes scar from all of the breakouts.

Fragrance is another ingredient that creams for getting rid of dry skin contain. Fragrance is technically a chemical. The skin and certain chemicals do not mix, especially those of a toxic nature. Your skin will become dryer when you use creams that contain fragrance due to their toxic content.

Natural topical creams for dry skin are probably going to be your best bet for overall healthier skin. One of the natural ingredients is Phytessence Wakame. This ingredient originally comes from Japan and has been thought to be one of the best natural ingredients on the market for dry skin. It works to increase the skin’s elasticity as well as moisturize and heal the skin.

Another natural ingredient used in creams for getting rid of dry skin is Nano Lipobelle. This ingredient is a special form of coenzyme Q10 which is able to penetrate into the skin up to seven layers deep. The result is fuller, healthier skin, more collagen and elastin production, and ultimately, younger and less dry looking skin.

Ingredients that increase the skin’s fullness, elasticity, and collagen are all that you need for healthier skin that isn’t dry. Unnatural ingredients will only seal up the top layer of the skin and clog the pores leading to cra
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cking, dryness, and blemishes.

As long as you use the products containing synthetic ingredients, you aren’t likely to notice. As time goes on the skin ages naturally, but it becomes even more of a problem when you are using skin products that are causing your skin to age prematurely.

People will continue to switch from their chemical based creams to natural topical creams for dry skin, especially since there is a lot more proof that natural is better. And when there is proof, who can possibly doubt the short term as well as the long term effects? The conclusion is that natural ingredients will not harm your skin. Natural creams for getting rid of dry skin will only bring more life and youth to your appearance.

By: Diana Ketchen

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Diana is a Natural Health Consultant and is currently taking classes to earn a certificate in herbalism. Her website Natural Health and Herbal Remedies, offers the knowledge, insights and experiences she has gained from her journey into the world of natural health and her quest to share it with others. Learn more about skin care at her website.

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Potpourri With Herbs And Essential Oils

Potpourri is defined as mixture of dried flower, herbs, leaves, roots, barks and spices providing fragrance. Placed either in decorative wooden bowl, tied in small bags made from sheer fabric or specially designed pot pourri vase, a potpourri can last long if blended correctly. The word potpourri comes from the French meaning “rotten pot”.

Its uses are many. You can use it to perfume the air, keep it in closets or drawers, make room decorations with attractive baskets or bowls or make personal gifts to share it with family and friends. Dry potpourri consists of dried, scented, crisp materials concocted for fragrance as well as beauty.

The basics of potpourris are simple and few. Dried or fresh sweet-smelling plant materials, other aromatic ingredients like whole spices, bits of citrus peels or shavings of pleasant smell wood chips; essential oils and fixative which combines with the essential oils to preserve their fragrance. Aromatic plant materials include rose petals, marigold flowers, foliage, lavender, mints, and fragrant herbs of all kinds. Fixatives fix the aroma i.e. they make the scent or fragrance last longer. They come in dried, powdered or liquid form. Common fixatives are orris root; oak moss, cellulose, and benzoin.

The best herbs for potpourri are lavender, scented geranium leaves, lemon verbena, lemon balm, and mints. Dry them, and then make your own mix. Sprinkle with essential oils to extend the life of the potpourri. By adding a little of this and that you become familiar with the process and begin to creating your own blends.

Choose from variety of themes such as – woody, floral, spicy, fruity or citrus for making a potpourri. Assemble and blend your flowers, herbs, leaves, etc accordingly. Mix the fixative with the spices and sprinkle few drops essential oil for fragrance. Blend well, seal and store in warm dry dark for place for a month or so. Choose pretty containers, jars and bowls, to display.

Below are few common potpourri recipes that any amateur can start with –

Basic Rose Potpourri – Blend 1 tsp of rose essential oil to 3 tbsp coarse ground orris root and let it sit for a few days. If you add 2 tbsp each of ground cloves and cinnamon, the blend will emit a spicy fragrance. 2 cups lavender
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and ¼ cup ground tonka bean exudes a sweet floral scent. For a musky scent, add 1 cup patchouli leaves and ½ cup sandalwood and vetiver root. For a fruity fragrance, 1 cup each of dried citrus peel, rose, lemon scented geranium leaves works wonders.

Balsam Fir Potpourri – Blend 1 cup balsam needles, ¾ cup sweet woodruff leaves, 1 cup dried violet blossoms, 1 cup lavender, 2 tbsp salt, ¼ cup bee balm blossoms and 1 oz balsam Peru tincture. Shake the mixture occasionally and let it age for a month or so.

To make potpourri as Xmas gift – mix 1 cup each of whole allspice, star anise, ginger root, and sassafras bark, 2 cups each of orange peel, lemon verbena leaves, and rose buds and petals and 30 drops allspice oil. Seal and let set to “cure”, shaking occasionally.

For Citrus Blend – 4 cups lemon verbena leaves, 2 cups lemon balm leaves, 2 cups orange mint, 2 cups lemon, lime or orange scented geranium leaves, 1 cup apple mint, 4 cups ground citrus peel, 4 cups marigold or calendula petals, 2 cups orris root, mixed with 1 tbsp orange oil and 1 tbsp lemon oil. Seal and let it set with occasional shaking.

By: Sharon Hopkins -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sharon Hopkins manages aromatherapy sites offering information on Aromatherapy Recipes and Blends for skincare, beauty and well being. Learn how to make potpourri with herbs & essential oils for spreading fragrance.

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Complement Your Mother’s Personality With The Perfect Scent

Each spring, Americans strive to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift to celebrate the person who nurtures them and makes life more beautiful. Showing your love and appreciation may come in the form of a family brunch or a relaxing spa treatment, but what personalized gift would she cherish all year long?

Here’s a hint. “On our Web site, we asked Shop Etc. readers which type of beauty product, from fragrance to skin care to manicure and hair tools, she’d most like to receive for Mother’s Day, and perfume topped the list,” says Amy Keller, Beauty Director, Shop Etc. “Plus, choosing a scent that you know will ‘fit’ your mom shows her how much you cherish her.”

Fragrance preferences are intensely personal and selecting the best one can present a daunting task. According to Karyn Khoury, Senior Vice President for Corporate Fragrance Development Worldwide of the Estée Lauder Corporations, giving someone a fragrance she will truly love is not as difficult as it may seem. “Taking into account your mother’s personality, her style, her favorite foods and flowers, can give you a pretty accurate picture of what fragrance she’ll want to wear over and over again,” she said.

Which best describes your mother:

The Sophisticate

Her elegant sense of style has always been inspiring. If exotic food and excursions to European cities are high on her list of must-haves, consider presenting your mom with a sensual scent that signifies refined glamour. Youth Dew Amber Nude Eau de Parfum by Estée Lauder blends intoxicating flowers including gentian flowers and radiant magnolia, ylang ylang, jasmine, black rose, plus a special sensual skin accord with spicy accents of ginger and fresh tea. The lasting impression is deep and sexy yet never comes on too strong thanks to a combination of amber balms, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli heart and dark chocolate.

Romantically Inclined

Everything she touches somehow seems more beautiful. A graceful enchanting floral should suit her personality. Beautiful by Estée Lauder is a lovely, intensely feminine bouquet of vibrant roses, lilies, tuberose, marigold, jasmine, ylang ylang and carnation that creates a flirty twist thanks to fresh mandarin and bright fruity notes. A warm background of sandalwood
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, moss, amber and vetiver will linger on her skin.

Simple Modernity

For the woman whose sense of style expresses her individuality and incredibly good taste, an airy modern floral fragrance with a hint of femininity and playfulness is destined to become her signature scent. Pure White Linen by Estée Lauder exudes a feeling of sunlit freshness thanks to its infusion of incandescent grapefruit and mandarin notes that mingle with crisp fruits such as pear and Granny Smith apple and velvety florals. Since her classic inclinations don’t mean that she is completely predictable, Pure White Linen finishes with an alluring and mysterious dry down that is comprised of white heliotrope, seductive cedarwood and patchouli.

“The beauty of fragrance is that women can express different moods and the different sides of themselves,” says Rochelle Bloom, President of The Fragrance Foundation. “And who knows, by buying her a new scent, you may help her to channel an aspect of her personality even she never knew existed.”

The luminous actress Gwyneth Paltrow is an example of a young mother who would appreciate a special scent.

By: Wesley Richardson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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10 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him

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Golf Gifts and Equipment
A myriad of golf and other sporting gifts available to buy online.
Retailer: The Sports HQ

2

Hugo Boss Hugo Fragrance Gift Set
A refreshing spicy lavender amber fragrance in a beautiful gift set.
Retailer: Perfume-Click.co.uk
 

3

Romantic Tipi Eco Retreat for Two
Get all of the special pictures of your loved one bound in a photo album for a very personal gift.
Retailer: Exhilaration experiences

4

David Beckham Fragrance Gift Set
An exclusive fragrance gift set from the ultimate male style icon.
Retailer: Perfume-Click.co.uk
 

5

Weekend Breaks
For a more extravagant gift, why not take you loved one on a weekend break in the UK or abroad.
Retailer: Hotelopia

6

Professionally Bound Photo Album
Get all of the special pictures of your loved one bound in a photo album for a very personal gift.
Retailer: myphotobook.co.uk

7

Spore Video Game
Control the whole evolutionary process, from unicellular organism to spacefaring culture in this unique video game from the creator of The Sims.
Retailer: EA Store

8

Become a Lord
Show your loved one how special they are by getting them an official title
Retailer: EliteTitles.co.uk

9

Davidoff Coolwater Fragrance Gift Set
An ever-popular scent with a variety of gift set options.
Retailer: Perfume-Click.co.uk
 

10

Personalised Valentine’s Day Card
Customise your own Valentine’s Day card online to make something truly special for your loved one.
Retailer: www.moonpig.com
 

By: mhawthorn

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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How To Choose Your Personal Scent

There is nothing like wearing a particular fragrance as a signature. Long after you have left the room your fragrance can linger. A particular fragrance can make quite an impact, on both sexes.

Most perfumes are made by combining three scents called notes. The top note lasts the least amount of time, the middle note lasts longer and the base note lasts around 24 hours. Generally when you first smell a perfume you will notice the top note. A few hours later you will smell the middle note.

There are seven fragrance types used in the creation of perfumes, they are woodsy or mossy, oriental, fruity, single floral, floral bouquet, spicy and what are called modern blends.

Today custom blended fragrances are becoming very popular. A personal perfumer will determine your basic preference, floral or citrus, spicy or outdoorsy. The perfumer will make selections based on your preference and then will “waft” these essential fragrance oils under your nose. They generally have you pick four favorites from that group. From that group of four you will pick a favorite one to be used as a base note.

Other perfumers will blend perfumes based on astrological signs and personality traits. Some perfumers have gone so far as to conduct tests based on color preference. Color psychologists say that colors supply information about the kind of fragrances we like. Events and seasons can also influence what fragrance a woman chooses to wear.

Your body chemistry will influence how any perfume will smell. It’s known that over time the same perfume will change on a woman due to changes in body chemistry.

If you do wear a scent make sure that you use the same scent body wash and lotion. You don’t want to clash. If you want a strong scent wear a perfume. If you want a lighter scent consider a spritzer or using a lotion containing the scent you like.

By: Mark Freeman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

This article courtesy of www.about-fragrances.com

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Summer Is The Ideal Time To Think About Winter

During these long summer days winter seems a long way off, however planning and planting winter flowering plants now will ensure the darkest depths that winter can throw are slightly brighter and a lot more fragrant. One of the commonest features of plants that flower in winter is their abundance of heavily perfume. The flowers are much smaller than their winter cousins but due to the lowers numbers of active pollinators they really have to advertise their presence.

One of the most popular winter flowering clematis available is Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’, it has stunning creamy white flowers from January onwards and prefers a sheltered position. However I prefer the less well-known Clematis Napaulensis, its native to Napal, Kashmir and Pakistan and is semi-evergreen with delicately divided leaves which as glossy when young during winter and then fall off, much like a deciduous shrub, but in summer. During January and February is has nodding green flowers with burgundy anthers falling lower than the petals with the added bonus if being scented. Because the foliage drops in summer you can plant it with summer flowering climbers and make the space work doubly hard. Ideally I would use an easy to prune climber, such as Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’ which you can easily keep under control during its growing period.

Now a shrub I don’t think is grown enough is Lonicera fragrantissima, its slightly scruffy during summer with small ovate dull green leaves, so best placed at the back of a mixed border but its well worth putting up with as over late winter and early spring it is covered in delicate small honeysuckle flowers that are clear snowy-white holding the most beautiful fragrance of summer. If you cut it and bring even a small bunch into a room it will fill the air within an hour with enough scent to rival the best hyacinths or lilies.

Another delicate white flower of winter is the sarcococca, I know many people know this plant now it has grown in popularity, being evergreen with ovate glossy leaves and fairly slow growing you can plant it, almost forget it and be taken totally by surprise when it flowers, by the heady fragrance. They are native to China and the Himalaya’s and are vey shade tolerant. I have grown a couple in pots, so that during winter I can place them near our front door and a
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ct incredulous when asked after the fragrance, I call this my guilty winter pleasure. However grown in the open soil they do sucker forming highly effective ground cover in difficult areas, giving you the bonus of plenty of cutting material for winter vases all they ask in return is a acidic based feed.

During last winter I made a point of observing the differences in the widely available Witch Hazels, Hamamelis. I have a fairly sizeable pot grown Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ this form has deep brown red flowers and are highly scented. The petals have a slightly crumpled effect giving them the appearance of being very delicate. Since its introduction in 1969 it has been a very popular variety with beautiful copper gold autumn foliage. One of my favourite yellow flowering witch hazels is ‘Arnold Promise’ this was raised at the world famous Arnold Arboretum in Boston, its slightly later than most to come into flower, however the long lasting flowers are a lovely clear lemon yellow with an extraordinary sweet scent. Again this variety has excellent autumn foliage colours from rich ruby through to clear gold.

The last variety I wanted to mention and one on my ‘wish list’ is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Orange Beauty’ its a relatively new introduction but what sets it apart from the others is its glorious burnt orange flowers. The bunches of long wiry petals resembles the rich flames of a fire catching over the plant. Again it’s highly scented and has wonderful autumn colours but it really is the flowers of this that makes it a must. The horticultural meaning of the name Hamamelis is ‘together with fruit’ and the genus bears its flowers, seed, next years lead bud and some of last years leaves simultaneously. As a rule they are fairly easy to look after, they don’t need pruning growing fairly slowly and prefer to be grown in free draining slightly acidic soils in light shade away from exposed positions.

One winter flowering oddity I have been intrigued by is the Glastonbury Hawthorn, The Queen by tradition has this in flower on her breakfast table every Christmas. Native to Palestine legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea visited Glastonbury on his travels and stopped to rest on what is now called ‘Worrel Hill’ he struck is staff in the ground and it took root and grew. Its believed that the original tree was cut down during the English Civil War however grafted cutting of Crataegus monogyna var. Biflora survived and are still growing in Glastonbury. Recent attempts to grow the plant from seed have seen them revert to spring flowering only but grafting onto Prunus spinosa, the blackthorn, seems to preserve the Christmas flowering habit. The Glastonbury Hawthorn is available from growers and would make a lovely addition to native hedging or as a small garden tree.

Lastly and another winter flowering tree, and one I wouldn’t be without is the autumn flowering cherry, Prunus subhirtella autumnalis ‘Rosea’. It flowers anytime and repeatedly from November through to early March whenever there’s a mild spell. On twiggy stems is carries bunches of semi-double pale shell pink flowers making not only lovely cut flowers but hint of the spring to come. Eventually it will make a small tree up to 6m tall (20ft) over 20 years, it prefers free draining soils and really loves chalk. Not ideal for windy or exposed positions as you would be likely to watch the wind whisk those precious flowers away along with its rich burnt sugar coloured autumn foliage.

By: Paul Hervey-Brookes

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.boxcourt.co.uk

www.box-court.blogspot.com

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10 Scentsational Designer Perfumes To Get Her For Christmas

Designer products are often associated with glamor and beauty. This is why designer perfumes are closer to the hearts of women than men. Designer essences are women’s best friend, ranking right up there with diamonds, mineral make-up, Prada pumps, Fendi bags – okay, you get the idea. Women have a lot of best friends. But I digress. When women buy designer perfume, believe you me it is no frivolous purchase. In fact, it is a smart buy. Designer perfumes are subjected to several quality tests and refinements before they are deemed to have reached total perfection. Then, and only then, are they sent out for distribution.

So, why buy designer perfumes? The reason is obvious. Designer perfumes do not only smell better and last longer, they have safer formulation. This coming holiday, give your woman the gift of fragrances. You can’t go wrong with these scents.

1. Vera Wang for Women by Vera Wang
The perfect fragrance for a night about town, Vera Wang for Women by Vera Wang lets her smell like a garden – literally. She can bring a whiff of gardenia, calla lilies, and rose paired with soft wood when she spritzes it on before take her out for an evening out. In a roomful of heavily perfumed women, Vera Wang for Women’s refreshing floral scent will make your woman stand out.

2. Red Door for Women by Elizabeth Arden
Red Door for Women is not a recently released line. In fact, it has been on the shelves for a long time. Still, it remains a bestseller and a classic to this day. Get your woman one and grin in bliss as she smells of peaches, plums, and jasmine all day long.

3. Beyond Paradise by Estee Lauder
What’s the one thing that’s better than being in paradise? Being beyond paradise – theoretically, anyway. This may not be possible literally but this perfume from the house of Estee Lauder can certainly transport you there – scentsationally! With Beyond Paradise, your woman will smell of all things beautiful and tropical – with the slightest dash of honeysuckle to tease and please.

4. Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana
Great for daywear and nighttime use, Light Blue is light all right. It carries the scents of bamboo and jasmines and ties these two up together with just the slightest hint of apple. She can wear this every day without smelling like one of those ol
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der-than-the-dinosaurs, more-brittle-than-parchment, heavily perfumed old ladies.

5. Marc Jacobs for Women
You know what makes this designer perfume special? It’s the very first one Marc Jacobs produced for women. While the name could use some imaginative tweaking, the scent does not require any tinkering. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? And Marc Jacobs for Women is far from broke, it’s addicting. She will smell like she just bathed in honeysuckle, jasmine, and gardenias.

6. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
Women like Sarah Jessica Parker. No, scratch that. They love her. In fact, they love her so much they would trade you in for the chance to become her – or at least step into her shoes. Why not get her something from SJP herself? Lovely is for the woman who wants a casual but noticeable fragrance. It is a beautiful mixture of orchids and lavender.

7. Live by J.Lo
Who better to come out with a designer perfume named Live than the woman who sang “Let’s get loud!”? And that is exactly what Live is – lively and loud. It’s a scent that is guaranteed to get her noticed. After all, most women smell of flowers. How many can you name who smell like she bathed in vanilla, pineapple, and sandalwood?

8. Envy by Gucci
This designer perfume was created in the late 90s but remains popular even to this day. She can use this all day – and you would want her to, too, because the combination of jasmines and lilies of the valley is a scent so lovely it inspires envy.

9. Versace Woman by Versace
Want her to smell like berries? Get her a bottle of Versace Woman!

10. Ralph Lauren Blue for Women
This perfume has been around the block for some time. However, it’s one of the good ones. It can easily give newer designer perfumes a run for their money. Get her this fragrance. Once you sniff the gardenias, peonies, and sandalwood on her, you won’t feel blue. You will feel – okay – let’s settle for the adjective ‘happy’.

Designer perfumes are must-haves in a woman’s bag of goodies. Get her one and you’ll surely make her happy.

By: Roddy Jones

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Get her a designer scent for Christmas. Visit RoddyJonesTrading.com for scents that give you top value per cent or get fashion tips for free.

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How To Make Truly Stunning Home Décor

Adding decorative accents to your home makes all the difference in creating a warmly welcoming environment. Even better is to use your talents and imagination to create unique décor to adorn your living space! The creations are limitless when you think about it; wreaths, flower arrangements, decorated wooden plaques, dishes filled with potpourri, and homemade soaps and candles. Giving your creations out as gifts is another great way to save money while touching the hearts of those you love!

Save Money Whenever Possible

The best part about making your own décor and gifts is that you can really save some major dollars in the process! Buy dried flowers, candle-making accessories, soap makings, and potpourri ingredients at wholesale suppliers or use discounts and promotions offered by your local stores or on their Web sites. Buy wholesale dried flowers at warehouses open to the public. This is a great way to save up to 50% or more off what you’d pay at the craft stores.

Flower Arrangements

Purchase a vase or tall container (wood vases are especially eye-catching) and fill it with dramatic stalks of dried flowers and other accents that make a statement. Dried gourds on sticks, cattails, bamboo, and other long, thin accents bring an elegant touch to any of your arrangements. You can use one or two of the aforementioned items all by themselves for a bolder look. When using bunches of dried flowers in an arrangement remember not to overcrowd the container. Dried plants are delicate and can easily be damaged in a crowded situation. Look at the color scheme of your room and choose the most common color in the room as your base. Then, buy dried flowers that meet those criteria. Accent the arrangement with colors in the room that you wish to highlight; hydrangeas, cornflowers, and dried chrysanthemums are favorites.

Wreaths and Wooden Plaques

Wreaths and wooden plaques are charming additions to doorways, walls, and front doors. Plaques can be painted in any color prior to mounting flowers to them or can be customized with a family name or address. These make great personalized gifts for anyone! You can bunch dried flowers together and tie them together with floral wire and then cover the wire with a decorative ribbon. Drill a small hole
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into the center of the plaque to mount the flowers to the wood. You can put plaques above doorways inside or to one side of a front door for a gorgeous decoration. Wreaths are also great additions to any exterior or interior area. Extra large wreaths on the front door make for a warm and welcoming feeling for your guests. On the wall, they add charm and style to any room. You can choose fragrant flowers for either of these projects to add a pleasant fragrance.

Soaps, Candles and Potpourri

For these crafty items, fragrant flowers and essential oils are the very best materials to use because their fragrance is long-lasting and natural. Lavender flowers, dried rose petals, lemon oil, and vanilla are especially popular choices because they smell wonderful, fresh, and are non-irritating to most people’s skin. You can make your own candles, soaps and potpourris from kits and ingredients found at your local craft stores and wholesale dried flowers suppliers. Don’t forget to buy dried flowers at a discount whenever possible to save money!

By: Jennifer P Miller

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information about Wholesale dried flowers please visit:www.schustersoftexas.com

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Gogreen Farms-tuberose Basics

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is an aromatic flower widely grown in the plains of India and blooms profusely during the summer and rains. The name reflects the fact that the plant is grown from tubers; hence, tuber-ose (and not ‘tube-rose’). Like gladioli these are tall flowers with stem length of 80 to 100 cm and spike length of 30 cm in medium size. The large size has stem length of 100 to 120 cm with spike length of about 40-45 cm. The stem contains waxy white flowers (Double Pearl) and pure white flowers (Single Mexican) borne in pairs along the spike. Apart from the flower and bulbs which have good commercial value, the essential oils extracted from tuberose are widely used in perfume industry. As its Indian name indicates “Rajanigandha” (‘rajani’-night, ‘gandha’-fragrance) emits its enchanting fragrance all through the night.

The demand for tuberose bulbs and flowers is on the rise in the European Union which is the largest importer of tuberose bulbs. The countries that import the bulk of the tuberose bulbs are the Netherlands, UK, Italy, Spain and Germany, while Poland is a potentially upcoming market. Tuberose bulbs are in great demand in the USA also.

The two well-known tuberose varieties are Single Mexican and The Double Pearl. The former is preferred for its enticing fragrance, while the Double Pearl is preferred in flower arrangements due to the density of the flowers on its spikes. The Pearl also exudes fragrance characteristic of the tuberose, but to a lesser extent than the Single Mexican variety. Several Indian hybrid varieties are also widely grown. Notable among these are Rajat Rekha and Swarna Rekha in single flowered and double flowered tuberose respectively. In Rajat Rekha there are silvery white streaks along the middle of the blade, while golden-yellow streaks are there on the margins of the blade in Swarna Rekha (‘rajat’ meaning silver and ‘swarna’ meaning gold in Hindi). There are other varieties also like Prajwal (Single) and Vaibhav (Double).

Tuberose is easy to propagate, requires minimum maintenance and yields flowers for about three years once bulbs are planted. The bulb size is graded in a similar way as in gladiolus. In India, with ordinary 6/8 and 8/10 size bulbs it is possible to harvest flowers regularly for three years with a single batch of bulbs. Large size bulbs are highly priced an
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d in great demand. Since it is a rhizome, you can recover bulbs manifold and replant or sell them.

The bulbs remain dormant during the winter months in places where the temperature is low and if early planting is desired, the dormancy can be successfully broken by dipping the bulbs in 4% thiourea solution for one hour. Normally, tuberose begins to flower three months after planting of bulbs. It flowers mainly during the summer and rains (April-September) in India and from May to July on the hills; while in milder climate, it flowers well throughout the year. Harvesting is done from November through March in the Gangetic plains in the sub-Himalayan belt.

It is sturdy, hardy, beautiful, has a heavenly fragrance and a long vase life of about two weeks. Tuberose can be successfully grown in practically all types of soils, even in acidic or alkaline soils to some extent. It can be potted and grown indoors as well, especially in colder climates. The plant is quite sensitive to water-logging which may damage the root system. Loam and sandy loam soils with a pH range between 6.5 and 7.5 with proper aeration and drainage are best for tuberose cultivation. The soil should be rich in organic matter (excellent results with 10 to 12 tons of FYM per hectare) and retain sufficient moisture (mulching is advised in areas where soil tends to get dry) for proper growth.

The bulbs that are 2-3 cm wide (size 6/8) are suitable for propagation. Larger bulbs result in early flowering and higher yields. Bulb size is given as up to 6, 6/8, 8/10, 10/12, 12/14, 14/16 and 16+. The numbers indicate the circumference of the bulb in cm at its widest part. So, a bulb of 10/12 size would indicate a bulb with a circumference of between 10 and 12 cm. The rhizome can be planted as such or cut vertically in two or three sections such that each segment contains a bud for germination. The bulbs should be planted 4-5 cm deep in beds and soil moisture should be maintained after planting of bulbs.

Flower production varies with cultivar and depends upon bulb size at planting time as well as the spacing between bulbs. Tuberose is planted at a spacing of about 30 cm x 30 cm with a plant population of approximately 100,000 plants per hectare. Commercial growers dig out larger bulbs about three years after planting. The tuberose needs warmth, plenty of water while growing, and rich, well-drained soil.

Apart from farm yard manure (FYM), a fertilizer mixture containing 6 g of urea, 16 g each of superphosphate (single) and muriate of potash per square meter has been found to show good growth and flowering. The above mixture should be applied in two equal doses – the first dose before planting and the second, four weeks after sprouting of the bulb. Weeding should also be done regularly, though once the tuberose takes root and leaves begin to spread out in clumps, the chance of growth of weeds or grass between the flower clusters is automatically checked to a large extent. With the kind of fertile soil we have in the Gangetic plains, tuberose has really proven to be a no-fuss plant that requires very little special care.

As a grower, if you think of growing the flowers it would be an excellent one-time investment, with an output that far exceeds the input. Due to its commercial viability, all year round flower yield, sturdiness and hardiness, tuberose is grown as the anchor crop at GoGreen Farms. If you are a grower, once you buy the bulbs, with a bit of good management, you can continue to prepare your own marketable bulbs from the seed stock.

GoGreen farms is a grower, supplier and exporter of cut flowers, bulbs and corms.

By: Rachana Misra

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Gogreen Farms is a grower, whole
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salers (wholeseller) and exporter of high quality natural fresh flowers – Gladiolus, Tuberose, Gerbera from India. Rachana Misra, Director, GoGreen Farms Pvt Ltd – www.gogreenfarms.com/.

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