Its time to ditch dryer sheets and fabric softeners for good! These products often contain harsh chemicals that can pollute the air and contaminate water and soil. Not to mention, these chemicals can be harmful to your health and skin! But don't settle for laundry that isn't fresh and fluffy! Tested and approved by our staff and their families, we've made the switch to Lavender Dryer Sachets and Dryer Balls! Learn more about these products and why you should give them a try!

Hydrosols are continuing to grow in popularity and are becoming more widely available in commercial stores. ​Did you know there are imposters in the world of natural hydrosols!? Many people don't realize that some labels can make a product seem natural and skin-safe but it's not that simple! Continue reading below to learn more about what makes a high quality hydrosol, what to look for on labels, and more!

Did you know that Brys Estate and the Secret Garden are family owned and run businesses? Family, faith and tradition are the foundation of what we do at Brys Estate. We believe that spending time with the people you love leads to the best memories! Our mission at the Secret Garden is to be a place where memories can bloom for you, your friends, and your family! Making memories is important for your wellbeing and your mental health. Read below as we continue to explore the benefits of spending time with loved ones and making memories!

One of the questions we hear often in our Secret Garden shop is "Which is better: the Shea Butter, Glycerin, or Goat's Milk Lavender Soap?" Well it all depends on your skin type, your skin care preferences and what you're hoping to get out of using the product! We chose to offer all three soap bases because they each offer different benefits and cater to unique skin types. There is some overlap in the benefits of each base but individual skin types might have a strong preference! Whether your choice is based on your skin type, your lather preferences, environmental factors or something else, we want to give you the power to choose!
​Because frankly, we couldn't decide on just one...

Known for its "trash-to-treasure" philosophy, upcycling has become increasingly popular over the last decade, and even more so during COVID-19 lockdowns. Up-cycling is not only a great hobby to pass the time, it can be a fun way to reduce your waste. For some people, Upcycling is a relaxing weekend activity while others see Upcycling as their job! The best part about Upcycling is that it looks different for everyone! Its the perfect opportunity to get those creative juices flowing and create something you can be proud of! Continue reading below for information on Upcycling.

Diffusing essential oils has dramatically grown in popularity over the past few years. What's behind this popularity? Essential oils offer a wide variety of benefits and can be used in a multitude of ways. Diffusing essential oils is a simple and easy way to feel these benefits. In this blog we'll discuss the best way to diffuse essential oils, what kind of benefits diffusing can bring, and some exciting new announcements about Secret Garden essential oils!

Trying to find the cosmetic products that are a good fit for your skin can be challenging and, at times, frustrating! At the Secret Garden, we know the importance of finding that perfect product and being an informed buyer. One of our goals is to educate our customers on the benefits of the natural ingredients we offer in our products to help them make the best decision for their skin. Concluding our three part series on uncovering the truth behind some of the industry's most mysterious marketing ploys, this month we'll share the secrets behind "cruelty-free" and "vegan" products!

Have you ever been standing in the health and beauty section of the store, looking at all your options, trying to figure out which brand will actually be the best for you? I know I have and it can be really overwhelming and frustrating! This month, we will be continuing our journey to uncover the secrets hidden in those cosmetic labels and sharing all details about gluten and soy. Check out last month's blog on parabens! Seeing things like "gluten-free" and "soy-free" on a cosmetic label can be confusing. Aren't those words on labels for food allergies? Well, yes and no! We want you in the know so you can make the best decision for your body!

 We've all been there - standing in the cosmetic aisle of the grocery store, reading labels and wondering what all those ingredients and fancy words and promises really mean. Skin care companies hire excellent marketing firms to create product descriptions that make their products sound amazing. This can make it so hard to know what products are really safe for your skin, unless you actually educate yourself. Here at the Secret Garden, we don't want to keep secrets from our customers! One of the most common beauty product claims is "Paraben Free". But what does that mean?? Look no further, we've got the answers to your questions!

 If you've been able to visit us this summer, you may have noticed a little something new in our gift shop! We have expanded our "Liquid Gold" Essential Oil line to include not only Secret Garden grown Lavender, but Peppermint and Sage as well! Last summer, we added almost 1,000 peppermint and sage plants to our garden to give visitors the chance to cut their own herbs and to give us fresh and wholesome ingredients for our essential oils, teas and more. So much hard work and planning went into each of these little bottles and we are so grateful that it finally came together for us to share with you! Here we will cover all your burning questions about essential oils; what they are, how they're made, what their benefits are and more!

Over the past five months, we have explored a variety of different colors and the roles they play in our daily lives. If I have learned anything from my time researching color psychology, it's that these feelings we perceive are highly personal. How we feel about a color when we walk into a room can be dependent on our past experiences, our personality type, what we enjoy doing and so much more. This month's color is a great example of this concept. Blue can be found everywhere from our lakes and oceans to the summer sky and it can trigger a wide range of emotions in people. We will explore this idea and more below! Check out our past blogs here: RED, YELLOW, GREEN.

It's interesting to think about how we subconsciously build on the idea of color, assigning it emotions or associating it with times of year. It's easy to do when you think about where we see certain colors in the world. These past couple of months we've looked at how color affects our environment, our mood and our homes. This May, we will continue to address this and the other associations we make with color. This month, our focus will be on GREEN and how it can connect us to the natural world, how it can increase our productivity and the vital role it plays in our diets. Click here for January's blog on YELLOW. Click here for February's blog on RED. 

Have you ever noticed how color can impact your mood, emotions or energy level? Do you ever walk into a room and feel instantly energized or suddenly tired? As we continue to explore the psychology behind colors in our daily lives, you might begin to notice this phenomenon more! We are constantly inspired by the beauty around us at the Secret Garden. This beauty would be nothing without all the vibrant colors that nature provides. As we continue this series of color exploration, we will take a look at how you can incorporate color into the different rooms of your home, your garden and your wardrobe. Each month is a new color! Check out January's blog featuring YELLOW - here! This month, it's all about RED!

If you've had the pleasure of visiting our gardens in the peak of summer, you've experienced the surreal colors that nature can display. The vibrant purples, brilliant yellows, bold greens and beaming reds that make up our beautiful landscape, play a significant role in the healing therapy that they can provide. Over the next several months, we will be exploring some of these colors, along with their role in our garden, their psychological effects, some exciting decor and recipe ideas and some of our favorite Secret Garden products that incorporate this month's color! January's color is yellow!

How's it growing? Were you able to enjoy a fresh herb garden this summer? Nothing beats cooking a delicious meal with the freshest herbs possible! This year we're enjoying an exciting new addition at the Secret Garden! Earlier this spring, over 1,100 herbs were planted in our garden oasis! The three perennial herbs that were planted are sage, peppermint and lemon balm. Of those herbs, sage is my personal favorite. This herb, though not the most popular, has so many amazing properties and uses! During my research I was blown away by how versatile, delicious and timeless sage is! Read about our favorite tips and facts and share yours with us! Stay tuned for a future newsletter with photos of our first distillation of the 3 herbs into essential oils!