Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
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Curated Apothecary Brand Profile: Moss Botanicals

Moss Botanicals (based out of Ojai, California) is a line of aromatherapy mists and roll-on fragrances derived from natural indredients and essential oils. Stacey L. Moss, the owner and founder of Moss Botanicals, is a remarkable woman with strong convictions about natural healing. She is a licensed bodyworker and registered aromatherapist. Her body mists and roll-ons are made in very small quantities, with respect for the resources they utilize. Stacy posts relevant articles and personal thoughts in her blog accompanied by fragrance pairing recommendations. We were lucky enough to have Stacey answer some of our questions about her products. At the Art In The Age Store, they can be found in the apothecary stand…or online here.

Aroma Mists & Travel Aroma Mists…

Body Roll-Ons …

Company Essence Statement:

Moss Botanicals a company devoted to healing the spirit, mind, body, and earth. Every product is handmade with prayer and intention in an intimate atmosphere.  We believe in balance through sustainability and we try to give back by inspiring natural living.

Pick 3 words to describe your line of products.

Holistic, Purity, Aromatic

How Moss Botanicals began:

The Essence of Moss Botanicals was founded on the belief system of living one’s truth, supporting that which sustains life, showing gratitude through conscious and compassionate living while creating boundaries that center and ground the spirit.                                                                                                             

Criteria for materials selection:

Sustainable, organic whenever possible, most materials can be recycled, ethical standards for producing and harvesting essential oils considering all things: laborers, plants, eco-system.

A challenge that you/the line overcame:

My branding has been the biggest obstacle thus far.  I feel as though the creation of Moss Botanicals comes naturally for me in that I have always been into the healing arts and alchemy.  Projecting a vibe of what Moss Botanicals envelops while captivating an audience is what I want to achieve with the label.  The magic of the black bird and the flower has much to be desired in its interpretation of the infinite and the natural.  Much of what goes into these products exhibits these characteristics.  It really comes down to people using them and seeing for themselves how powerful they really are in their truest form.  I am solely the ambassador to this pathway.

Favorite part about your job:

Sharing my passion for what I believe in and being able to help others find balance through the art and science of pure aromatherapy as plant medicine.

Tell us one secret or “little-known-fact” about you or your line.

Everything is made in small batches by me with a ceremony that goes into each bottle and blend, putting intention into every bottle. I also use a copper kettle to give a touch of the copper element in each aroma mister that I individually hand pour.

How would YOU wear/pair your product?

Easy to transport and carry. Aroma mists can be used on face, body, room, etc. The body rolls can be applied on wrists, back of neck, inner elbows, bottoms of the feet, or any place that feels a particular calling for aromatic pleasure. Moss Botanicals aromatherapy is meant to inspire and heal simultaneously.  All Moss Botanical products can be used day/night, in any atmosphere, before bed, after shower, during work or school, going out or being social, in fun times or in stressful situations.  However you decide they work best for you, be creative…let them inspire you with their wonderful aromas.

What is your response to this passage from “The Work of Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (Walter Benjamin, 1936), as it relates to your brand story/philosophy?

An analysis of art in the age of mechanical reproduction…leads us to an all-important insight: for the first time in world history, mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual. To an ever greater degree the work of art reproduced becomes the work of art designed for reproducibility.

I find it to be a black swan, a highly improbable event with three principle characteristics: “It is unpredictable, it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was.”
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb

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We are grateful to Stacey for her insight, as well as her sustainable and compassionate business and production practices. Moss Botanicals mists and essential oils are truly delightful AND contemplative.