Essence Makers

Since 2006, Melissa Saayman has created African Tree Essences at Platbos Forest Reserve, an ancient indigenous forest in South Africa’s Western Cape. Made primarily from the flowers and leaves of the forest’s native trees and surrounding fynbos, the collection also includes unusual vibrational essences such as Baobab, Honey Bee Symphony, Platbos Lion, Whale Song Wisdom, and solarized Colour Essences of Light.

Founded by the late Steve Johnson as the Alaskan Flower Essence Project in 1984, Alaskan Essences grew from essence-making he began in the Alaskan wilderness in 1983. The system includes flower essences, gem elixirs and environmental essences made from specific places and natural events. Now led by Johnson’s wife, Judith Poelarends, the company continues to create and research essences in Alaska and train practitioners.

Founded in 1986 by naturopath and fifth-generation Australian herbalist Ian White and based near Sydney, Australian Bush Flower Essences now includes 71 flower essences, predominantly prepared from Australian bush flowers, as well as combination formulas. White has also developed several ranges of spiritual essences associated with natural and sacred environments around the world.

Created in the gardens of the Chalice Well Trust in Glastonbury, Chalice Well Essences are made from flowers, plants, trees, and the energies of place, using water from the ancient Chalice Well as their carrier. Their approach emphasizes conscious co-creation with nature and the devic realm and works with seasonal, lunar, and planetary cycles. The essence program is currently coordinated by Casey Jon.

Founded in Tucson in 1983 by Cynthia Athina Kemp Scherer, Desert Alchemy creates flower essences from wild plants of the Arizona deserts. The essences were researched for seven years before being offered publicly, and the system now encompasses an extensive range of individual essences and composite formulas. Desert Alchemy also maintains a strong emphasis on research, education, and practitioner training.

Founded in the mid-1980s by David Dalton, Delta Gardens creates essences in New England research gardens and natural habitats around the world. Its extensive collection is developed through an ongoing process combining essence making, clinical practice, and research with clients. In addition to flower essences, Delta Gardens works with gem, mushroom, and ocean-life essences and offers practitioner education and training.

Created in 2007 by biologist and flower essence practitioner Jordi Cañellas, El Jardí de les Essències is based in a wild garden in Sant Martí de Tous, near Barcelona, where Cañellas cultivates and studies the Bach flowers alongside plants used for his own growing collection of essences. The collection now includes more than 145 essences developed through his own research.

Created by Maria Grillo beginning in 1988, Filhas de Gaia is an extensive system of Brazilian flower essences prepared from flowers across diverse ecosystems and protected natural areas throughout Brazil. In 2016, Grillo entrusted the continuation of the system to Tarsila Galvão Domene, and its production center moved to Londrina, Paraná. The collection now encompasses 165 individual flower essences.

Founded at Findhorn in 1993 by Marion Leigh, Findhorn Flower Essences draws on flowers, trees, gemstones, and elemental energies associated with the Scottish landscape. Following Leigh’s death, her daughter Iona Oran took leadership in 2019 and continues her mother’s work while developing new gem, element, and tree essences. The small family business is now based near Findhorn in Morayshire.

Founded in 1999 by Franchelle Ofsoské-Wyber and Anthony Wyber, First Light grew from Franchelle’s work with New Zealand native plant essences beginning decades earlier. Its 185 essences are created from native flowers, ferns, trees, seeds, and other plants and form the basis of an extensive system of New Zealand Native Flower Essence Therapy.

Created by Kathleen Aspenns, Flora of Asia is a collection of 72 flower essences made in Sonoma County from Asian plant species, particularly those originating in China and Japan. The collection grew from Aspenns’ work with the plants at Quarryhill Botanical Garden, a renowned garden devoted to Asian flora. Many of the plants also have long histories of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Founded in 1989 by Breno Marques and Ednamara Vasconcelos, Florais de Minas was the first registered Brazilian flower essence system. Based in Itaúna, Minas Gerais, its system now encompasses 133 individual essences made from flowers of the mountainous Quadrilátero Ferrífero region. The organization also has a longstanding emphasis on research, publishing, and education in flower essence therapy.

Established in Brazil in 1996 by Neide Margonari, Florais de Saint Germain is a system of 89 flower essences developed from her work with flowers beginning in the early 1990s. The essences are handmade from wild flowers using the sun and boiling methods described by Bach. The system has a strongly spiritual orientation, incorporating concepts of subtle bodies, chakras, Divine Rays, and Ascended Masters.

Founded by Richard Katz in 1979 and led by Katz and Patricia Kaminski since 1980, FES pioneered the development and systematic research of North American flower essences. Its California essences have been developed through decades of plant study and practitioner research, accompanied by extensive education, publications, and training. FES has also served as the North American distributor for Julian Barnard’s HealingHerbs Bach flower essences since 1991.

Created by Molly Sheehan at Green Hope Farm in Meriden, New Hampshire, the essences grew from her work with the farm’s gardens and conscious collaboration with Angels and Nature Spirits beginning in the late 1980s. The extensive collection now includes flower essences made in New Hampshire and locations around the world, along with a substantial Animal Wellness range. All essences are alcohol-free and stabilized with Red Shiso.

Jane Bell’s Hawaiian Essences draw on three decades as an essence maker, including many years working with Steve Johnson of Alaskan Essences, with whom she co-created the Alaskan Gem Elixirs. Her current Hawaiian range includes flower and plant essences as well as essences of coral, volcanic landscapes, and dolphins. Bell has also prepared essences in Alaska and Bali.

Founded in 1986 in the Vercors by Philippe Deroide and others, Laboratoire DEVA is a French flower essence producer based in Autrans that played an important role in establishing flower essence therapy in France. Alongside the 38 Bach essences, DEVA has developed its own system of 96 flower essences through decades of research. Its essences are handmade and certified organic; alcohol-free versions are also available.

Created in 1987 by Jorge Luis Raff in Belén de Escobar, Argentina, Flores de Raff is an extensive system comprising more than 300 individual flower essences as well as combination formulas. Developed through Raff’s decades of research, the system has a strongly energetic and spiritual orientation, incorporating psychoenergetics, Kabbalah, and radiesthesia into its approach to flower essence therapy.

Founded by Vasudeva and Kadambii Barnao, Living Essences of Australia traces its origins to 1977, when Vasudeva began preparing flower essences in New South Wales. After moving to Perth in 1980, the pair developed a system based largely on Western Australian wildflowers. Their work also integrates flower essences with acupuncture points and meridian theory.

Founded by Don Dennis in 1998, Living Tree Orchid Essences began in West Sussex, England, and is now based on the Isle of Gigha in Scotland. The essences are made primarily from tropical orchids cultivated in greenhouses using a non-cutting method. The system has a strongly energetic and spiritual orientation, with particular emphasis on the chakras and subtle energy fields.

Founded by Katie Hess and based in Phoenix, Arizona, LOTUSWEI produces flower and vibrational essences from around the world. Its range includes flowering plants and orchids as well as fern, lichen, pearl, and gemstone essences, offered individually and in blends. LOTUSWEI also offers flower essence education and experiential programs, some informed by Tibetan Buddhist practices.

Founded in 2010 by Amy Murphy-Watts, Nature’s Wish produces essences largely from flowers and plants growing locally in the Hampshire area. Its range centers on combination formulas of flower, tree, crystal, and environmental essences. The essences are also incorporated into sprays, oils, and other products.

Founded by Sabina and Michael Pettitt on Vancouver Island in 1983, Pacific Essences produces an extensive range of flower and tree, sea, and gem and crystal essences. Its flower essences draw particularly on the flora of the Pacific Northwest, while its sea essences encompass marine plants, animals, and other organisms. The system relates essences to the meridians and chakras and includes individual essences and combination formulas.

Founded by Sandra Viviani and Natalia Montes, Patagonia Essences has produced essences from Chile’s native flora, birds, and minerals since 2006. Its collection of more than 200 essences draws on species and environments throughout Chile, from Patagonia and the Andes to the Atacama Desert and temperate forests. The system includes individual essences and combination formulas, along with practitioner training.

Founded by Machaelle Small Wright in Virginia, Perelandra is a center for nature research and co-creative gardening whose work began in the 1970s. Developed between 1984 and 1994, the Perelandra Essences comprise five sets derived from the Perelandra garden and its surrounding natural environment. Perelandra’s broader work explores collaboration with nature in health, gardening, environmental care, and other areas.

Developed by Andreas Korte, who began researching vibrational essences in 1984, PHI Essences includes essences of flowers, orchids, cacti, mushrooms, gems, marine and land animals, as well as crop-circle, planetary, and pyramid essences. Korte developed a crystal method for preparing plant essences without cutting the flower. He has made essences in Europe, Africa, the Canary Islands, and South America.

Founded in 2003 by Saskia Marjoram and Christine Felce, Saskia’s Flower Essences produces 48 individual essences from wildflowers, trees, and garden plants, including 18 plants also used in the Bach system. Now run by Marjoram in Somerset, the range includes combination formulas and an environmental essence, with essences also incorporated into botanical mists. 

Founded by Lila Devi in 1977, Spirit-in-Nature is one of the earliest flower essence systems developed after Bach. Its 20 essences are prepared from the blossoms of fruit trees and vegetable plants and were inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda’s descriptions of the psycho-spiritual qualities associated with particular foods. The system focuses on their corresponding positive qualities and emotional and spiritual well-being.

Created by Jan Stewart, a longtime practitioner, leader, and author in the flower essence field, the Stewart Essences include flower, moss, crystal, forest, and environmental essences, along with combination formulas and specialized collections. The range includes 60 single essences, 20 crystal essences, forest floor and full moon collections, and other preparations.

Founded in 2000 by Diana Pepper and John Robinson on Lummi Island, Tree Frog Farm produces flower and tree essences from native Pacific Northwest plants, medicinal herbs, and garden plants. Since 2004, their essences have been prepared using a no-pick method involving crystal grids. Following Diana Pepper’s passing in 2021, Rhaychell Davis and Stu Robertson took over the company and continue her work.

Created by Casey Jon, Wildheart Animal Essences is a collection of 24 essences based on animals native, or formerly native, to the British Isles, including bear, wolf, wild cat, eagle, deer, hare, fox, dolphin, whale, and swan. Made with Glastonbury spring waters using shamanic traditions, the essences were developed in connection with Glastonbury Tor, the Black Mountains of Wales, and Britain’s Jurassic Coast.