Tools of the Trade

On an average day you can find me clicking and clacking away at my keyboard for hours on end.  While a good part of my job involves hands on formulation and experimentation, the bulk of the work I do happens at my desk.  At this familiar work station I research, tinker, and dream on a daily basis.  I wanted to share with you some of the websites that I use to accomplish all of this.

Aromaweb
AromaWeb is an indispensable resource if you are using essential oils.  As most of you already know, essential oils can be complicated ingredients.  While their benefits and intense aromas make them very desirable ingredients, they can be dangerous if they are not used properly.  AromaWeb offers profiles for individual oils which include possible uses and safety information, part of over 250 pages of information on essential oils!

OnlineConversion.com
For many people one of the most confusing aspects of creating new recipes is dealing with percentages and conversions.  This online conversion calculator makes the conversion aspect a little bit easier.  Once a recipe is converted to metric terms, determining a percentage a cinch!

FromNatureWithLove.com Library
I direct readers and customers to this library for help with a wide variety of questions.  The articles here have been compiled over the years in an effort to help FromNatureWithLove.com customers with common questions and challenges.  In this library, you can find articles on formulation issues, specialty ingredients, product challenge testing, soap and toiletry making, and much more.

Wikipedia
Every day this resource grows larger, covering more and more ground in the home spa and natural skincare industry.  I often use Wikipedia as a starting base when researching a new ingredient.  I am often surprised at the wealth if information this resource contains.  However, you must always take care when using Wikipedia as a source of information.  This online encyclopedia is fueled by user generated content.  While plenty of the articles on Wikipedia are right on target, some articles may contain misinformation.  The best way that I have found to use this resource is to gather what I find interesting, and then double check the facts using more reliable resources.  Wikipedia is not a definitive authority, but it can help to lead you in the right direction.