What are flower essences?
A gentle guide to flower essences and the 38 Bach flower remedies — what they are, how they differ from oils and herbs, how they are traditionally taken, and how a blend is chosen for one person only.
The flower's energy, held in water
A flower essence is made by letting flowers rest in spring water in the sun, then preserving that water. What remains is not the scent of the flower or any part of the plant, but its quiet energy — its own soft frequency. That is why an essence smells of nothing much and tastes of nothing much, and why it is chosen for how you feel rather than for anything physical.
It is not a perfume and it is not sprayed. It is not an aromatherapy oil, which works through scent. It is not a herbal medicine, which works through the substance of the plant. A flower essence is subtle, and it is gentle.
Dr Edward Bach and the 38 English essences
In the 1930s an English doctor, Edward Bach, left his practice to look for something kinder. He prepared 38 essences, each one matched to a familiar state of mind — the worry that circles at night, the tiredness that sleep does not fix, the grief that sits quietly, the small voice that says you are not enough. They are still prepared the same way today, and they are the essences we work with.
Because each one speaks to a feeling rather than a condition, a blend is always personal. Two women can arrive at the same moment in their lives and be given completely different essences.
How flower essences are traditionally used
Essences have been made and taken this way for nearly a hundred years. They are chosen by feeling, not by illness, and they are traditionally taken by mouth — seven drops under the tongue. Nothing needs to change in your day; the essence sits quietly alongside it.
Flower essences are a companion, never a medicine. They do not treat or diagnose anything, and nothing here is medical advice. Please keep any care you already have in place, and speak with your doctor about anything that worries you.
How your own blend is chosen
- You reflect. Short, unhurried sections that help you hear yourself again — how you feel, what stirs it, and where you hope to arrive.
- We review it for you. A practitioner reads every answer and chooses your essences by hand. Nothing is made or sent automatically.
- We post it to you. Your blend is made by hand and posted — anywhere in the world.
Common questions
- What is a flower essence?
- A flower essence is the quiet energy of a flower held in water. It carries no scent and no plant material — it is not a perfume, not an aromatherapy oil and not a herbal medicine. Essences are chosen for how you feel rather than for anything physical.
- What are the Bach flower remedies?
- In the 1930s the English doctor Edward Bach prepared 38 flower essences, each one matched to a familiar state of mind — fear, worry, tiredness, grief, self-doubt. They are still made the same way today, and they are the essences we work with.
- How are flower essences traditionally taken?
- Traditionally, by mouth: seven drops under the tongue. They are taken gently, as a companion alongside your ordinary life.
- Are flower essences a medicine?
- No. Flower essences are not a medicine and we make no medical claims. They do not diagnose or treat anything, and they are not a substitute for care from your doctor. Keep any care you already have in place, and speak to your doctor about anything that concerns you.
- How is a personal blend chosen?
- You answer a short, unhurried reflection about how you are feeling, what stirs it, and where you hope to arrive. One of our practitioners reads every word and chooses the essences by hand. Nothing is charged and nothing is sent until your blend has been reviewed.
- Can I get a blend outside New Zealand?
- Yes. We are a small New Zealand company and we post blends worldwide.