In California, there is a ring of creosote bushes that is estimated to be 12,000 years old. And here the sweet smell of the creosote leaves wafts into the air during and after rain in parts of Arizona. This is NOT to be confused with the creosote that is used for wood preservation, which is a petroleum product distilled from tar. Bought this for my boyfriend who is obsessed with the actual creosote bush smell and he said that this candle smells just like it! I can’t help but think about how a plant that old and wise can withstand time and live that long. I harvest Creosote from my private property and infuse it into organic oils which are then used to create our handcrafted products. The smell of creosote after a good rain is the result of many volatile oils, but mostly terpene (a compound found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), methanol (wood alcohol), and 2-undecanone (spices). Today creosote, Larrea tridentata, is a dominant or co-dominant member of most plant communities in the Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts. Creosote … It’s one of the most fascinating plants to me. On a cellular level we are in vibration with these qualities of place in every moment. One minute you will be smelling dust. These bees can lay in larval form near the shrubs also waiting for the rain to bring them to life. One conjures hikes at South Mountain, the other of an industrial shipyard. Best smell ever. Creosote also emits a strong smell that many associate with a wood-burning fire. Hi, Does anybody have any ideas for getting the creosote smell out of clothes? I’m so glad you got D&F’s scent with creosote. If you ever have any questions about our products here in our shop or the ingredients we use, please contact us. The creosote bush thrives in the desert. Medicinal Properties & Practices. One minute you will be smelling dust. Known scientifically as Larrea tridentata, and in common parlance as the creosote bush, it produces small, pretty yellow flowers in spring and summer. He was very happy with this gift! They dig under it and borrow deep near the roots as Kangaroo rats do. (Harold DeLisle, PhD). Desert tortoises are a great example! Creosote, the desert shrub, resin screens the leaves against ultraviolet radiation, reduces water loss, and poisons or repels microbes and most plant-eating animals. These animals eat creosote bush: The plant releases that familiar musky, earthy smell from a coating on its leaves that helps it conserve water. Fire keeps creosote bush in check. This healing salve is amazing and you can use it in so many ways. If you know the smell of the desert after a rain, then you know the fragrance of creosote. Here are some of the current products in my shop! There are lots of oils in the plant that make up this smell. Ever wondered what a Creosote bush is? Desert woodrats prefer to eat the bush’s leaves. These desert peoples had a living relationship with this extreme environment which helped them thrive. It also faces southeast all the time, so it can soak up as much sun as possible. Ecology. It’s a short little thing – reaching an average height of 4 feet tall. Step #1: Infusing the Creosote . The wonderful experience of a storm in the desert includes the stark beauty of valleys and mountains, diamond raindrops, intense rainbows, wind and an unforgettable aroma that fills the air after the storm passes causing us to reflect that “the desert smells like rain.” This is the scent of Creosote Bush. The wrinkled leaves quickly rehydrate and turn bright green. Mr Cornett said: "All this just goes to prove that the desert is a real living entity. Creosote is known as a blood cleanser, an antioxidant, antiviral and antibiotic agent, and is used for infections, skin problems, and auto-immune diseases such as arthritis, and may help to lower blood cholesterol. Welcome To The New Siphon Draw Apothecary. Until we take time to really look, how little we know of the intricate lives of the plant and animal beings that surround us. These mysterious looking growth rings then become mounded up with sand in the center. A Tohono O’odam friend of mine told me he prized creosote leaves as an incense to burn for ceremony. Desert creosote bushes provide shelter and shade for crickets, grasshoppers and other desert insects. Here’s what you’ll find in this plant: If you ever get to see one in person, cup your hands around the leaves of the plant and inhale. Behind the scenes fun, healthy recipes, and more! I used a combination of natural oils such as hemp, avocado, olive and jojoba oil that work together to tame those wild beards. This plant is super important to local wildlife. I had my washing out and the neighbours have been using it their garden. Every oil in my recipe has been found to repel bugs, so this is one heavy-duty and effective spray! And when I say it’s hardy, I mean it. If by chance you have creosote-coated wood in a place where the smell or the creosote itself is a problem, you may prefer to … Even hardy creosote would not have been able to come directly north across the wet tropical forest of Central America. I LOVE the Creosote bush. Out in the desert, you’ll find animals making their beds under the Creosote bush to avoid the sunlight and predators. People like to describe it as smelling like rain! Creosote smell in basements and crawl spaces: Many seaside/waterfront homes built in the early 1900s to the 1980s were built using floor joists, beams, posts and sheathing that were treated with creosote, a tar like substance (think of telephone poles) to prevent termite infestations and wood rot. There are lots of oils in the plant that make up this smell. Get the inside scoop first! With time, this ring expands outward as old branches die and new branches take their place, and eventually become separate bushes which are clones of the original seed. All of our products are completely homemade. CreoSote Bush Salve Co Alpine, Texas 1 connection. Creosote bush has a strong characteristic odor which is especially noticeable when the foliage is wet. This musky smell comes from a coating on the Creosote’s leaves that helps it preserve water. Perhaps it depends on how long you’ve been in the desert. The next, the desert can smell just like rain.” (quote above by Gary Nabhan from The Desert Smells Like Rain). It isn’t “smokey” smell, it is sharp, acrid chemical creosote smell. Some of these common residents have been here continuously since the last ice age.” Harold DeLisle, PhD. Creosote, a carbon that builds up in fireplaces, is flammable, and if it builds up enough, it can cause a chimney fire that can destroy your home. Using radiocarbon dating and known growth rates of creosote, scientists have estimated the age of “King Clone” as 11,700 years. If the prevailing wind is especially strong, only the clones downwind of the parent plant will survive, forming a line of plants instead of an expanding ring.”. I’m constantly thinking of and creating new products that include Creosote so I would recommend checking back frequently. However, there is a plant which smells much like creosote and it is the creosote bush, better known as Chaparral (Larrea tridentate). At the end of the last Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago, as the climate became warmer and drier, the junipers who used to inhabit the lower regions of the Southwest retreated to the nearby mountains, and creosote appeared on the scene. It’s truly mind-blowing how one plant can do so much. Made with ❤ by Fyresite - SiteMap. You can often experience the odor by cupping some leaves in your hands and blowing on them. © 2020 Siphon Draw Apothecary. One of them is coal tar creosote and the other is wood tar creosote. The Apaches chewed and swallowed a small piece of creosote branch to cure diarrhea. And a tea made from the leaves and sweetened with a little honey was said to greatly relieve kidney pain. Just a few drops of this organic lotion will help your skin feel silky smooth and help retain some moisture. What lessons do they have for us to thrive and adapt to change? That's creosote. It is a gentle, soothing soap that you can use on your face and entire body. Short of ordering specially made doors (2,000 and that still won’t be totally tight) for it or getting the damn fireplace taken out (have no idea how much, brick home), I don’t know what else to do. The yellow flowers are heaviest in spring but can appear any time there is sufficient rain. The plant is often referred to as chaparal when being marketed as an herbal remedy or supplement. Creosote is a medicinal plant and bees’ partner. The most researched creosote bush is called “King Clone” located near Victorville, California. Near Lucerne Valley, “King Clone” has an average diameter of 45 feet! The Creosote bush is a plant of extremes: it is a widely used medicinal plant; it is the most drought tolerant perennial in North America, and it may be the oldest living plant. It all stinks. California King Clone creosote circle may be as old as 11,700 years. It's nostalgic because it smells … We’ve also received a lot of positive feedback from many people who suffer from eczema that have said this product has helped soothe their skin. How to Grow a Creosote Bush. The Creosote oil in this product gives it an irresistible musky smell and antimicrobial properties as well. Some say ‘the creosote bush smells of rain’ – or does the rain smell of creosote bush? Wild donkey by creosote in bottom of Grand Canyon. In this book, he describes his research into how indigenous people in the southwest used this plant for tons of ailments and homeopathic remedies. It amazes me just how many things you can use this Creosote bush for. I bet you’ll love it! As you continuously use it, you’ll smell the relaxing aromas of the desert after heavy rain. Scientifically speaking, the scent comes from a combination of volatile oils in the leaves, including terpene (found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), and methanol (wood alcohol). During this period this hardy invader shrub rapidly colonized after unknown long distance carriers (possibly migrating plovers) brought the seeds north from Argentina. The next, the desert can smell just like rain.” Clay Lamb says: June 5, 2017 at 11:22 am . Here’s how you can use it in your everyday life! If it had tons of water, it could grow as tall as a man! Tucsonans love it. Other names, uses. I’m thrilled to introduce this plant to you. Animals aren’t the only ones that use this bush as many people (including us here at the shop) have found tons of ways to use it as well. Being serious, the chemicals in creosote bush can actually trigger allergic reactions in some people. These plants can go up to two years without water and live for up to 200 years. It has evolved associations with more than 60 species of insects, including 22 species of bees that feed only on its flowers. The entire plant emits a distinctive and refreshing odor described by many as "the smell of rain." 1-800-350-2693 (for initial call only) | Office: 928-282-0846, “The desert is unpredictable, enigmatic. It is an excellent general healing salve! People like to describe it as smelling like rain! It's nostalgic because it smells like monsoon season. Indigenous people used creosote bush for fixing arrow points and mending pottery, as well as for ancestral rituals and connections. Take advantage of special savings, discount codes, promos and free gifts available only to our email subscribers. Even in our urban cocoons, we are woven within complex ecosystems exquisitely adapted to our local soils, light, moisture and temperatures. The best part about creosote though is the scent – it smells like the desert after a fresh rain. It’s left behind by an insect that lives on the Creosote bush stem called the Tachardiella larreae. Every once in a while he would find a creosote bush to rub his hands on so the smell could stay all day. Smart, right? This musky smell comes from a coating on the Creosote’s leaves that helps it preserve water. CreoShield™, a coating available exclusively from EnviroShield, can offer a lasting solution. This beard oil made with Creosote smoothes and tames beards while softening the skin underneath too. Yellow flowers bloom followed by fuzzy little seeds. Avoid this risk by regularly cleaning your chimney and ensuring it is vented properly. During drought, the wax covered leaves shrivel but do not die. In fact, I personally own 16 and a quarter acres covered in Creosote bushes and there are multiple on my property that are taller than 6 feet. Only our busy minds take us away from this direct knowing. Made with by Fyresite - SiteMap. This Desert Rain Creosote soap is excellent for sensitive skin! Another name for this plant is greasewood. This lac acts like plastic as it melts down when it is heated and hardens when it is cooled. Don’t forget to protect yourself from those pesky mosquitos with our handmade bug repellant filled with organic essential oils instead of toxic chemicals. It’s a bush native to Arizona and it has tons of healing properties. Please leave your name, number, and a brief description about how we can help you. The final results are not expected for another year. This is mainly because of the lack of water here. When the monsoon comes and the rains gush from the sky, the aroma that has ensnared every red-blooded Tucsonan (and many visitors) wafts along with the winds--phenolic compounds from creosote bush which have been carried by wind and moisture. Some people have found relief from psoriasis and eczema and this product is even doctor recommended. It can survive on as little as 3 inches of rain a year and can survive two years without rainfall. Creosote Bush smells good after a rain, and bees are attracted to its bright yellow flowers. The beeswax, aloe vera juice, and Creosote oil all join forces to rejuvenate your skin and help it go back to its natural healthy state. The Creosote bush – Larrea tridentata – looks like a regular green shrub and you might see it outside of people’s homes in Arizona and the southwest. The whole plant exhibits a characteristic odor of creosote, from which the common name derives. 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