If you enjoy making beauty products or perfumes but have difficulty finding the right ingredients, have a look at www.bomar.ie. Bomar Aromatherapy is the Byrne family's company based in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, which supplies essential oils, absolutes, carrier oils and more to aromatherapists, colleges and spas around the country, as well as to individual customers.
Bomar's impressive selection of essential oils includes the usual favourites (lavender, geranium, clary sage etc); a number of absolutes (rose, jasmine, immortelle, oakmoss, violet leaf); and a small range of organically produced oils, but extends to unusual oils such as Ho Leaf, Ravensara and Spinikard. If they don't have something in stock, they can order it and have it couriered to you, usually within days.
They stock most of the other ingredients for home-made soaps and creams - cocoa butter, shea nut oil butter, carrier oils ( jojoba, sweet almond, rosehip etc) and hydrosols or floral waters (the water that remains after an essential oil by steam or distillation) - the jasmine water is nicely pungent. And they have a selection of glass and plastic bottles and jars. They also sell a range of ready-made gels, creams and bath products and can make you up a hamper of natural beauty goodies. Call in to the small gift shop in their warehouse in Kilcoole or check out the website.
Cathy Dillon