Great Gifts For Under $50

•  Half Hour Swedish Massage $45
•  Brocade Neck Pillows $44
•  Herbal Ease Canvas Neck Pillow $39
•  Asian Foot Massage Gift Certificate $45
•  Fig + Yarrow Hygene Kit $36
•  Patch NYC Stag Soy Candle $36/$48
•  Sweet Birch Mineral Bath Flakes $36
•  Scalp Massage Gift Certificate $45
•  Cardamom Coffee Body Scrub $48
•  Hot Stone Pedicure $40
•  Acupressure Neck Pillow from Bed Of Nails $39
•  Monarch Deluxe Spa Bathrobe $40

Make Your Own Sleepy Time Bath

A night time bath is a great way to release the stress of the day and promote deep and restful sleep. A good blend of sea salts and pure essential oils for aromatherapy will nourish, relax and cleanse your body and calm your spirit.

Here is how you can put together a nice sleepy time bath blend to fill an 8 ounce mason jar or bath container. This makes a great hand crafted gift. It smells delicious and can be used as a bath or a foot soak.

You will need the following:

•  4 cups of sea salt or himalayan salt 
•  8 drops of Bergamot essential oil
•  12 drops of Cedarwood essential oil
•  6 drops of Organic French Lavender essential oil
•  1/2 ounce of organic sesame oil

Blend your ingredients in the order in which they are listed above and enjoy! 

Use 2 tablespoons for a foot soak or 1 half cup or more for an aromatherapy bath.

Miniature bath baggies are a fun gift idea. Portion out one cup of your sleepy time bath blend into 4 potpourri bags and tie with a ribbon or a bread  bag tie. Gift your salts as a one time bath or 3 foot soaks.

10 Great Gifts For Her

These lovely hand  crafted Lavender Neck  and Body Pillows can be used hot or cold.

• Four Seasons Herbal Steam Fig +and Yarrow $24
• Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro Soy Candle In Glass by Level Naturals $19.99
• Brass Cameo Locket crafted by My Sweet Nomsa in black or pink $36
• 2 Hours of Spa Time $190
• Little Barn Apothecary's Cedarwood + Rose Body Scrub $24
• Aromatic Alchemy Essential Oils Blends Kit from Naturopathica $98
• Meadow Bath & Body Oil from Fig and Yarrow $44
• Lavender Neck and Body Pillow by Whispering Willow $39
• Herbivore Botanicals' Coconut Milk Bath $18 or $32
• Queen For A Day Gift Certificate $302

DIY Holiday Gifts: Energizing Aromatherapy Salts

Aromatherapy salts make a great holiday gift or party favor. If you make your aromatherapy salt blends in big batches to portion out in a dozen or more containers, you can really stretch your gift list dollars!

Have fun blending your salts. It is not time consuming and there is lots of room for variation and creativity. Get the kids involved!

This recipe yields approximately 6-12 gifts depending on the size jar you choose. Substitute 6 ounce clear potpourri bags to yield more gifts from your batch.

This blend can be used for smelling salts and foot soaks. Not recommended for a body soak (too tingly) due to the quantity of peppermint oil.

Aromatherapy has many well being benefits, including stress relief, relaxation, increased energy, relief from headaches, PMS, insomnia and much much more.


You will need:

• 12 cups salt
• 32 drops Organic Peppermint essential oil
• 32 drops Organic Rosemary essential oil
• 16 drops Lemongrass essential oil
• mason jars and lids
• sprigs of fresh rosemary or pine clippings
• decorative ribbon or raffia

Dump your salt into a big mixing bowl. We recommend using Epsom salts, Sea salts or Himalayan salts for their healing and pain relief benefits. Choose a bowl that will not be reused for food. The essential oils will forever flavor any future foods blended or served in this bowl. A clean beach bucket or paint bucket will work for mixing also.

Drop your Organic Peppermint essential oil, Organic Rosemary and Lemongrass and blend thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Let the blend sit for 10-30 minutes and portion out into your mason jars or potpourri bags. Tie the containers with a bow and tie or tuck your decorative sprigs onto the container. Use a marker to write on the jar or a note card with instructions for use.

Instructions for use: Inhale this energizing blend as needed for a boost. Use 2-4 tablespoons in warm water for an energizing foot soak.

Do have the window open while you make your energizing salt blend. These essential oils will seriously pep you up. Rosemary and Peppermint are powerful natural stimulants, so use sparingly to avoid getting over stimulated. If you suffer from insomnia, do not make this blend at night. You may feel as though you drank coffee before bed.

Body Oil ,Body Wash and Body Scrubs by little barn Apothecary

The wildly popular Coffee + Mint Body Scrub smells like chocolate.

We had the opportunity to meet with artisan product creators and Little Barn Apothecary founders, Joshua and Brad at Urban Sanctuary yesterday. It was amazing to learn the story of how they created their new natural products line. They shared their stories and a some of the science, art and love behind each holistically crafted blend.

Brad and Joshua insist on using only ethically sourced essential oils, herbs and ingredients in ALL of their products. This is not just lip service. They actually grow and harvest their own Thyme, Coriander, Mint, Lemon Balm, Eucalyptus, Lavender and more in their very own back yard.

The intelligence, artistry and love that goes into these products is incredible. After spending a few hours with Brad and Joshua, I can honestly say that we are star struck.

We will be adding their soy candles, face cleansing oils and several other aspect of the line to our inventory within weeks. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out the scrubs, soaks and body oils available at Urban Sanctuary now!

• Coffee + Mint Body Scrub is toning, tightening and renewing $26
• Cedarwood + Rose Body Scrub is softening, gentle and calming $24
• Rosemary + Juniper Body Scrub is invigorating and smoothing $24
• Honeysuckle + Grapefruit Body Oil is at once healing and  intoxicating $34
•  Lemongrass +Mint Body Oil is nurturing and refreshing $26
• Rosewood + Ylang Ylang Body Wash soothing and softening $16
• Ginger + Rosemary Body Wash detoxing and awakening $16

Natural Face,Hair and Home Products By little barn Apothecary

Cocoa Cardamom Detox Mask  feels delicious! Available at Urban Sanctuary Athens, Georgia.

At Urban Sanctuary we search far and wide for the best available earth friendly, high quality, hand made natural products to carry at our spa store and share with you for your skincare, body care, house and home. We seem to have struck gold this season, thanks to the efforts of Emileigh Ireland at our front desk! Practically in our own back yard, Little Barn Apothecary was launched in early 2015 in Stone Mountain, North Atlanta.

Pure and natural, Little Barn Apothecary products are made in small batches by hand using whole botanicals in high concentration with no synthetics. Their formulas are innovative and effective and provide your skin with earth given nutrients to unveil a state of harmony and provide a clear, radiant, and healthy glow.

Certified organic, wild crafted and responsibly harvested ingredients are used in these GMO free, cruelty free, earth friendly products. Urban Sanctuary and Little Barn Apothecary are a match made in heaven. Co-founders Joshua and Brad share a love for all things natural and holistic and we are very happy to share these gorgeous products with you!.

Here is a list of the face, hair and home Little Barn Apothecary products available at Urban Sanctuary in our Athens, Georgia spa store and our online products store:

• Flowers + Pink Clay Dry Shampoo $16 
• Chamomile +Rosemary Hair Oil $20 
• Aloe + Rosewater Balance Mist $16
• Lemon + Rice Powder Brightening Mask $24
• Cocoa + Cardamom Detox Mask $24
• Lemongrass + Basil Air Water $16
• Ylang Ylang + Coriander Air Water $16

  

New Staff Highlight:Scarlet Ryan

 Scarlet's  staff profile  is on our website.Click staff on the tool bar, then facials.

Scarlet brings over 16 years experience in day spa skincare to Urban Sanctuary. She holds a medical esthetics license and is expert at speed waxing, microdermabrasion, advanced facials and makeup application. She gives an amazing facial! Here we share with you a few interesting details about Scarlet's life and career.

Scarlet moved here from Knoxville, Tennessee. She and her 10 year old daughter, Keira, live in Watkinsville with their cat. Keira attends Malcomb Bridge Elementary School, plays softball and studies contemporary dance 3 or 4 nights a week. Scarlet and Keira go to the Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park almost every Saturday morning.

Scarlet's sister lives here and other family as well. This was what brought Scarlet and Keira to the area. They are enjoying being here and meeting all of the new people and personalities in Athens, as well as being with family. When Scarlet gets a night off between Keira's dance class and softball practice, she likes sitting on the Patio at Fuzzy's downtown sipping margueritas.

Born in Rochester, Scarlet lived in upstate New York and in the Atlanta area at different stages while growing up.

Scarlet tell me about your family and friends.

" I have family and friends all over the country and visit as often as possible; I really love traveling. My family is extremely Irish and celebrate their heritage any chance they get. We all have shamrock tattoos. Lol."

What do you like to do to relax when you are not at work?

"I love to cook and entertain, but can't  follow a recipe or measure ingredients. LOVE sushi if I get a grown up night. I like reading murder mysteries and I really like Pinterest. I get lots of great ideas for crafts and gift making on Pinterest, which usually turn out pretty well when I try them."

What got you interested in the field of esthetics?

"I actually worked at Glamour Shots in the 1990's when I was in high school. Remember Glamour shots? That was so fun. I also freelanced makeup of events and makeup for department stores. I was really into it. I really love makeup. People told me I could make more of a career out of it if I  got professionally trained:That is what had me look into esthetics school, originally."

"Once in school, I discovered that I just absolutely love skincare. It was makeup that got me there, but I discovered I love all of it, the science behind skincare, the service of giving facials and I love to know the chemical compounds in skincare products!"

How have you managed to learn the details of skincare chemistry? 

"Well, we were taught some of that at International School of Skin and Nail Care in Atlanta. However, after school I worked at Spa Sydell where they used to train all of the staff in the science behind skincare. It was fascinating to me! The owner created her own product line and we would learn the chemical compounds in all of the in house skincare products. I was hooked back then and have been ever since."

You have lots of  professional training and certifications under your belt. Can we name a few?

"I've had specialized face and neck massage classes, extensive chemistry and product knowledge training and hold a medical esthetics license. I learned speed waxing techniques with Renee Poignard. I've also had stage makeup classes, runway, fantasy and bridal makeup training."

Scarlet ran the skincare department at Spa Visage in Knoxville, Tennessee and was lead esthetician at Spa Sydell in Atlanta for many years prior to that.. She is a true gem. We are very fortunate to have her with us at Urban Sanctuary.

Book a facial, makeup application or waxing appointment with Scarlet by calling our front desk at 706-613-3947. Or purchase a gift certificate online and send a friend in. Urban Sanctuary is open seven days a week. Scarlet works Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Browse our Facial Menu, Advanced Facials, Microdermabrasion, Makeup Services and Waxing.

New Fall Teas, Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Exquisite Vienna Cinnamon Tea is available online and at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, Georgia

Fall is here. Windy sunny afternoons,chilly mornings and chilly nights are upon us. It is the season for pumpkin soup, zucchini bread, warm baths and hot teas. We have some very fine teas for fall, just in from Tea Forte. Along with a warm neck pillow and some lovely music, we recommend unwinding at night with one or more of the following blends available in our store all fall season.

• Pumpkin Spice -Black Tea with Pumpkin, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Clove, a great blend to ease aches and pains and warm the body
• Vienna Cinnamon -Loose Leaf Black Tea and Cinnamon, Cinnamon is good for circulation and great for easing hypertension
• Warming Joy- A sampler box of Harvest Apple Spice, Ginger Plum, Rum Raisin Biscotti and several other warming tea blends 

Cooling Aromatherapy Oils

     In the dead of summer, cooling aromatherapy for the car, home, and body will bring sweet relief. Heat rash, heat exhaustion, skin irritations, dry skin, inflammation, and irritability can be healed with proper application of the following essential oils. Choose three or four from this list and work them into your daily or weekly routine to help you feel your best when the hot weather seems merciless.

1.  Chamomile

2.  Rose

3.  Sandalwood

4.  Cedarwood

5.  Juniper Berry

6.  Cypress

7.  Patchouli

8.  Basil

9.  Lavender

10. Rosemary

11. Mint

12. Eucalyptus

             Chamomile and Rose are two of nature's most potent anti-inflammatory agents! Both are much more costly than other aromatherapy oils, but well worth the expense. Chamomile essential oil is distilled from Chamomile flower buds. It's a thick, blue oil that smells nothing like Chamomile tea. Essential oil of Chamomile has a strong medicinal, apple-like scent. It's cooling and soothing for skin. It also reduces fever and relieves insomnia, anxiety, allergies, and irritated skin. Rose calms & beautifies skin, and is delicate enough for babies, cooling heat rashes and diaper rash. Essential oil of Rose is great for highly sensitive skin and hot heads.

           Both Sandalwood and Cedarwood essential oils are calming, grounding, good for dry skin, good for meditation, and effective for reducing excess heat in the joints. Both oils were used by ancient Egyptians in the embalming process. Cedarwood, great for eczema, is much less expensive than Sandalwood essential oil. Sandalwood, while not as cooling as most of the oils on this list, is wonderfully healing. Its sweet oil has a natural aphrodisiac effect for both women and men.

            Juniper and cypress make great air purifiers. Both heal summer colds, heat exhaustion, water retention, and poor circulation. Not good oils for sensitive skin, they each have a pungent odor and a very stimulating effect. Cypress is good for varicose veins.

            Patchouli's heavy balsamic, woodsy scent was wildly popular in the 1960's. You'll either love it or hate it. For those of you who enjoy the smell of Patchouli, it's a wonderful cooling agent for summertime. Patchouli is good for eczema, dry skin, dandruff, and fluid retention. It's also a sedative.

             Basil and Lavender make great nerve tonics, skin tonics, bug bite medicine, and fever reducers. Aromatherapy with Basil and Lavender is good for anxiety and agitation brought on by the heat. Lavender is the most versatile of all essential oils on the planet. (Read more about lavender in the previous blog post). Basil is good medicine for snake bites, also.

              Rosemary, mint, and eucalyptus have a higher percentage of menthol than most other essential oils. This gives them a magically cool, refreshing effect. All three have a brisk, penetrating scent. Rosemary's scent is sharper than most, while peppermint and spearmint essential oils smell a bit sweet.  The scent of eucalyptus is sharp and spicy. Choose any one of these three to purify the air in your home or to clear your head. Use together or individually in a bath, foot soak, or massage oil to revive hot, achy, and tired muscles -- a great choice for a car aromatherapy diffuser on long summer road trips. Eucalyptus effectively reduces fever.

               The benefits of the above mentioned oils extend far beyond summer ailments. Work aromatherapy into your daily grooming and self-care routines; home diffusers, car diffusers, scalp massage, ear massage, baths and foot soaks are some of the easiest practices to start with. I recommend using organic aromatherapy, if you can get your hands on it. We carry organic essential oils at Urban Sanctuary.

            Write in to urbie@urbansanctuaryspa.com, call us with inquiries at 706-613-3947, or let us know about your aromatherapy successes in our comment's section!