12/14/09

Perfume is full of phthalates, chemicals designed to help dissipate fragrance. While phthalates do a good job of spreading your favorite scent, they can be harmful when breathed in. To smell good, look for USDA-certified organic fragrances, which are free of harmful chemicals and only use real, essential oil for their fragrance base.

12/13/09

Fill a reusable, metal storage tin with a variety of yummy soy candles. Imagine a food storage box full of buttercream, pumpkin pie and other sweetly scented, clean-burning soy candles. Tie up the whole thing with rescued red-and-white bakery twine and make a handmade gift tag to boot!

12/12/09

Give the gift of organic wine to friends and colleagues. Many wine stores sell a variety of organic wines that are made from grapes grown without pesticides, herbicides or insecticides. Many also contain fewer sulfites (a chemical preservative) than conventional wines, so wine drinkers who complain of headaches from sulfites can sip in peace.