SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, February 15, 2021

Apothecary At Home Review: February 2021

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

It has been a couple months since I wrote a review of the Apothecary At Home box, and a couple of things have changed since November that I'd like to cover so no one is surprised. February's box is Herbs for Heart Health, which is so fitting for the month of love.

Before I jump into the box though, I wanted to give you witches a rundown of the company. First, Apothecary At Home is a small, witchy woman-owned business in Berkley, California. Their mission is to inspire, empower, and equip the next generation of herbalists by supplying an affordable monthly subscription box that brings the herbal classroom directly to you, no matter your herbal background. Each month brings a new theme and wellness topic complete with herbs and step-by-step instructions to create your own natural remedies. In my opinion, this is one of the best boxes of its kind on the market, fantastically pairing herbalism and witchcraft into one affordable and educational, monthly subscription box.

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

Again February's theme is Heart Health. As always, there is a complete, sourced informational booklet, that explains heart health and diseases, each of the herb's medicinal profiles, folklore, and magical uses, and recipes that feature the herbs. I love the time, care, and research put into the booklet and the fact that they suggest future reading, continued study resources, and cite their sources. I am slowly creating a materia medica using this information and the botanical prints, although I am tempted to frame all these lovely prints and decorate an entire wall with them in the spare bedroom. This month focuses on two herbs, hawthorn berry and linden, with a bonus herb yarrow. There are 2 ounces of both the yarrow and hawthorn berry and 1 ounce of the linden, which is WAY more than I will likely use in the near future, meaning I have plenty not only to restock my herbal cabinet but to use in my magical workings as well. I still can't believe they are able to pack so much into a single box every month for the price point! This month, I was pleasantly surprised to find linden. It's an often-overlooked herb and now I feel compelled to write a detailed herbarium post about this lovely herb.

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

The one thing I absolutely love about this box is that it comes fully stocked with everything you need minus an ingredient or two, to make the herbal remedies. In previous months, this included salve tins, jars, brown dropper bottles, mullein bags, and beeswax or soy wax. This month is no different, except neither recipe is a salve so there is no beeswax or soy wax this month. This month is a cardiotonic syrup and yarrow-infused oil, with a number of bonus recipes included for recipes such as high blood pressure tea, linden lozenges, and yarrow-infused witch hazel. Having all the supplies on hand makes creating these remedies extremely easy and gives you no excuse not to get started right away. This is a major selling point for me and many others as the easier it is to create the remedies, the more likely we are to do it. To keep everything properly labeled, which is extremely important, they have included several beautiful labels so you can record the contents and date of the remedy or infusion.

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

Apart from the supplies to make the remedies, the box also comes with yarrow seeds from the Southern Seed Exchange so you can continue your herbalist adventure by expanding your garden. This is a switch from Bentley Seeds Co, a small family-owned business in upstate New York. I've reached out to Shannon, the creator and founder of Apothecary At Home, to see if this is something for all subscription boxes or just for those in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. If it is just for those in the SE and Mid-Atlantic then I am super excited to have a variety of seeds that do well growing in Georgia clay. As must as I would love to grow all the things, some plants just do not do well here, like peonies and hollyhocks. Either way, I love that each month Shannon continues to support small businesses around the country. This is a major plus in my book and I am glad my money is going to help small businesses. Shannon's mother, Virgi, also creates the two lovely botanical prints found in each month's box that you can frame, glue into your Book of Shadows, or place in your materia medica. The prints are printed on sturdy paper which I greatly appreciate. They are absolutely stunning and I am looking forward to adding more to my collection. This month's prints feature hawthorn and linden.

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

Finally, the surprise, bonus items this month are Blood Pressure Tea from The Loose LeafPink Sea Salt Chocolate by Raaka Chocolate, and a Heart vinyl sticker by Pergamo Paper Goods. The chocolate is so smooth and delightful. The tea tastes of lemongrass (my favorite) and hibiscus with hints of ginger, ginkgo, and a light sweetness from hawthorn berries. This is one of the best teas I have tried from The Loose Leaf and I look forward to ordering some more in the future, maybe even some for my mom who struggles with high blood pressure from time to time.

apothecary at home, herbal remedies, subscription box, witchcraft, witchy, herb, herbal, herabrium, green witch, green witchcraft, hedgewitch

Overall I LOVE this box. I continue to be awed and delighted by this amazing box and strongly encourage my readers to pick up a subscription now. You can save 15% on your first box using code WILLOW15. It's a great way to support a small, witchy business and learn an amazing skill at the same time for a fraction of the cost of an herbalist course.

***
I know that I included a pros and cons list in my original post, but I wanted to expand on some new features and new information I have received since the last box. I will likely keep this list going for as long as I am posting about it.

Pros:

  • The box is designed to teach, instead of just providing you with goodies. It includes everything you need to learn how to make herbal remedies and gets you started on the herbalist path.
  • The item quality is great. Every item is worth more than I paid and sometimes you even get some bonus items thrown in!
  • The information packet is informative and explains how to use each of the items in the box. The herb profiles are clearly outlines and recipes are easy to follow.
  • There are vegan and non-vegan options. They offer both beeswax and soy wax for salves, so if you are vegan there is an option available for you.
  • They survey you for allergies. When you sign up for the box, you begin with a survey where you can let them know if you are allergic to anything. I thought this is great because I am allergic to opiates and gogi berries, and while I don't think opiates will end up in the box, gogi berries have a strong possibility of showing up. I'm glad that they take this into account and won't put anything in my box that I am allergic to.
  • They are eco-friendly. The box is recyclable and you have the option to receive the information packets printed or digital. I love how much you can customize this box! The original box came with bubble wrap, and for a while, they switched to paper, but the last several boxes have contained packing peanuts to protect the glassware.
  • They support the BIPOC community. Right now, they are offering boxes to BIPOC who are interested in learning herbalism for free or heavily discounted. If you or someone you know is interested in the details, check out their website. You can also sponsor a box to help provide more boxes!
  • They support other small businesses such as The Loose Leaf and Raaka Chocolate
  • They have an online study group specifically designed to answer questions, share ideas, and have support, whether it's from other subscribers or Shannon herself!
  • monthly/bi-monthly newsletter is sent out detailing important information, updates, savings, and more to help you use the remedies in your box and learn more about the herbs. I really appreciate the contact and support!
  • All of the supplies are reusable. The glass containers can be used over and over again, making it very eco-friendly.
  • There are more than enough herbs to create the remedies and restock your apothecary in the future. I know 2 ounces doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me... it's a lot!
  • There are multiple options including a mystery box and an ala carte option (suppliesherbs, and study guides). 
  • This box is available! They still have some spots available for next month's box, but you best hurry!

Cons:

  • The box is somewhat expensive. It's currently priced between $25 (not bad at all) and $40 plus $8 shipping within the US. However, if you were to compare this to an online course, this box is significantly cheaper and provides all the supplies needed for a fraction of the price.
  • Lately, the packaging has not been as eco-friendly as in the past. The boxes have contained packing peanuts, which may or may not be biodegradable. I understand this is to ensure the integrity of the glass containers, but it is disappointing to see the switch.
OVERALL: 5 out of 5 stars 

Interested in purchasing this box? Check out Apothecary At Home onlineUse code WILLOW15 to get 15% off your first order!


If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

3 comments :

  1. You should totally frame and display those gorgeous prints. I'd be mightily tempted to do the same (and likely would). I likewise agree regarding linden rarely getting its due time in the herbal spotlight (perhaps because it is more of a tree than a small herb bush or plant?) and am excited over the prospect of a post dedicated to it here (many thanks in advance!).

    Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just for you I am going to cover linden next. :)

      Delete
  2. The email I received for the October 2021 box said that the packing peanuts are biodegradable, will dissolve in water, or can be added to compost. I tossed them into my compost bin and they have "disappeared," which suggests they aren't styrofoam or some other synthetic material.

    ReplyDelete

This witch loves to hear from her readers, so please share your thoughts below!