At Per Purr, the feedback we hear most often about our products is “they smell so good!” We hear that a lot. We receive emails. Our customers tell us. Our partners mention it. The delivery man who picks up our packages every day tells us.
We get it: it’s your favorite thing about Per Purr, it’s what stands out, and we are super proud of this! But do you want to know what’s behind all this?
We use essential oils not just because they smell amazing, but also to promote healthy responses in the body. Essential oils can be found everywhere these days - that’s due to their infinite number of practical uses, and because of increased consumption of natural cosmetics. But they should be used with caution, safely, and always following professional guidelines, which we’ll explain below.
Essential oils are volatile compounds extracted from aromatic plants (leaves, flowers, stems, bark and roots) through distillation or pressure processes.
Essential oils can penetrate through smell or be absorbed through the skin’s surface – they do not reach the bloodstream. Once an essential oil is present, the olfactory system (through smell) or the circulatory system (through the skin) is stimulated. They then send signals to the limbic system that act directly on regions associated with emotions and vital processes.
Essential oils act very fast when inhaled. Once the scent reaches the nasal cavity, it is absorbed and triggers a stimulus of the olfactory nerves. How someone reacts to one scent or another has to do with our smell memory, something that is developed throughout our lives.
Aromatherapy is a natural method based on the activity of biochemical molecules contained in essential oils, used to provoke various responses in the body, such as stimulating or mitigating the function of cells in an organ or the nervous system, to achieve a sense of balance or equilibrium.
Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from aromatic plants to restore balance and harmony to the body and mind for the benefit of our health and beauty. Some of essential oils’ most praised properties include:
To reap these benefits, quality natural essential oils must be used that are actually extracted from plants and not from a synthetic essence. There are many synthetic essential oils on the market that smell nice but don’t actually have these properties. It is also important that essential oils be extracted naturally (by pressure distillation), without the use of solvents or chemical processes that can alter their properties.
Aromatherapy and Per Purr products:
“Home spa shower effect”: intense moisture shampoo and conditioner, the salt exfoliant.
“Professional massage”: Relax and Sporty oils
“Romantic bath”, even if just for one: Floral-Cure bath salts
Velvety-soft skin: Our moisturizer!
Since coming out of the lockdown we all went through, we’ve updated SAL's Decoration and Lifestyle website (www.sal-shop.com). This new situation led to the restructuring of the business that existed as a physical store from 2015 to 2020, which has now embarked on a new stage: online sales.
With this change, SAL has embraced a freer, broader, and more global world. And this freedom is reflected in the brand’s new concept, inspired largely by nature. It appears in the shapes, textures, and patterns, in the curation of exclusive, handmade products manufactured in a more sustainable way, and in the choice of works of art – that space where freedom is fully expressed!
In our online store, you can find designer ceramics, paintings, photography, and sculpture, including works by Portuguese artists and designers, along with decorative pieces, jewelry, perfumes, and body lotions. Our most recent additions are furniture and lighting items that, in line with SAL’s concept, are produced with an emphasis on sustainability and concern for the environment.
Because salt is powerful and valuable. In ancient times, it was a bargaining chip that was worth even more than gold. Because salt cleanses, purifies and refreshes.
Because we love the salty sea and the maritime lifestyle, and because we know that a
“well-seasoned” life is far more interesting.
Have you heard about the benefits of bath salts? At Per Purr, we’ll give you some very useful ideas to get to know and use a product that will benefit your daily routine.
You've probably already taken a super relaxing bath with your Natural or Herbal Per Purr shower gel. But what if you add a little more? Bath salts have been used since ancient times. With a high content of magnesium, calcium and minerals, they were used to treat several bone, joint and skin problems.
When you add them to your bath water, the steam from the water will release the smells of the salts, causing a stimulating or relaxing effect (depending on the aroma).
At Per Purr, you can find a wide range of original bath salts for your daily routine:
Start off autumn invigorated and choose your favorite salts from our Autumn Essentials.
On one summer day, a friend took an industrial brand deodorant spray out of her bag and used it. As I hadn't used this type of deodorant for years, the smell disgusted me. I couldn't ignore it, it was so unpleasant. She then opened a bottle of hair mask and ran it through the ends of her hair. Another strange, sweet, artificial smell invaded the room.
I asked her to let me read the label on the mask and was surprised by the amount of harmful ingredients in the product. How was it possible that this friend, who takes such good care of her diet, health and body, could use this type of product?
No, it's not nonsense, nor am I being radical. I am a demanding person when it comes to what I use on my skin and in my hair.
I explained that the mask had dyes, silicones and petroleum by-products. She was shocked: "What? That's disgusting! What do I do now? I want to start using natural products.”
A new world opened up for her. I sent her articles explaining the damage that many ingredients in everyday products can cause. I explained to her that the exfoliant she so enthusiastically and proudly showed me contained plastic microbeads that can contaminate the oceans and be ingested by fish. I recommended that she use exfoliants made of sugar or salts, such as the Per Purr exfoliant or even exfoliant recipes using coffee.
I explained to her that it was a gradual change for me, especially because it takes time to find an ideal natural shampoo for your hair, a facial cream that suits your taste and, most importantly, your wallet.
My advice is to start by changing 3 everyday products: soap, deodorant and toothpaste. These products are easy to find in their natural versions, and making those adjustments is already a significant change. After adapting to these products, I recommend trying plant-based oils and/or clays.
I'm a big fan of coconut oil, for example, which can be used as a makeup remover, moisturizer, aftershave, and can even be used in a natural deodorant recipe. Clay can be used as a face mask or exfoliant. At Per Purr, we have developed a clay shampoo that is incredible!
It’s important not to make a radical change, and instead switch to buying natural products gradually. Try out different products and options. One suggestion is to try the mini samples that many brands offer: at Per Purr, you can buy a sample pack with all the Per Purr products so you can try out each one.
When we start using natural cosmetics, I think we understand our bodies better. Much of our skin is just a reflection of what we eat and use. When you swap your shampoos, conditioners and masks for natural ones, you’ll discover what your hair really looks like.
Keep in mind that when cosmetics are replaced by natural alternatives, the effects may not be immediately clear. Each person’s skin/hair/body reacts differently, and there’s no way to predict this when we don’t know the characteristics of that person. So, be patient!
High-quality raw materials and natural active ingredients are more expensive than synthetic ones.
In fact, you end up saving. For me, I tend to see long-lasting results with natural cosmetics, and I see this as an advantage. For example, I wash my hair less often if the shampoo is natural and of superior quality. When I use Per Purr's shower gel, I don't have to use a body moisturizer every day.
I'm sure many of you don't know this, but the composition of natural cosmetics makes them versatile.
Per Purr's natural soaps can be used on both the body and face. Our conditioners can also be used as a hair treatment mask or a leave-in conditioner. Per Purr's orange and ginger facial oil has an anti-wrinkle, anti-acne and toning effect. In other words, over time you’ll discover how to enjoy the versatility of each product.
Once we realize how getting back to the natural world positively affects different aspects of our lives – our health, our wallets and the environment – we can see that it’s not a trend, it’s a matter of urgency. When we see the boost we get from this process of transition, we can’t put a price on that.
