Selene Anointing Oil
Selene Anointing Oil is a heartfelt tribute to the Greek lunar Goddess, illuminator of the night sky and guardian of dreams. Crafted with love, this oil was inspired by my daughter, a Cancer ruled by the moon, whose Greek name is Selene. In modern Greek, Selene refers to the full moon gracing the night sky, and its ancient etymology, rooted in "selas," means "to gleam," "illuminate," or "shine."
Housed in a convenient 10mL roller bottle, Selene is spill-proof and perfect for daily use, even with little ones. Simply roll it directly onto the skin to experience its sweet, earthy aroma, a harmonious blend of rose and mastic. Beyond its delightful scent, these botanicals offer soothing properties, helping to calm redness and inflammation.
10ml Bottle
How To Use
Apply to the body as desired.
Ingredients
Pistacia lentiscus (Mastic), Rosa Damascena (Rose), Organic Grapeseed Oil.
DISCLOSURE
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Here is the story of how this oil came to be. We had been gifted a Rose oil in a tiny bottle by my friend + herbalist, Payden and we used it all up anointing our heads at the altar with it daily. Shoutout to P for the inspo! I wanted to combine something earthy and rooted with the inviting, sweet Damascus Roses. I considered Frankincense, but something told me no. That week, my sister had gifted me a lip balm made with Mastic resin from Chios, Greece. The smell of it was intoxicating and really taking me back to my childhood, chewing mastica in Greece. The resin is a yummy chewing gum! We are very famous for this resin which is cultivated on the island of Chios for commercial trade, however it is native to Eastern Greece, Turkey and Northern Iraq. It has naturalized in parts of North Africa as well and is a member of the Pistacia genus, of which Pistachios are part of.
Mastica is a very unique resin which is traditionally produced in the island of Chios, Greece. It is known as the Tears of Chios. Growing up, we would always have mastica chewing gum, ice cream and sometimes we would add it to our coffee. It’s a sweet and floral resin that really enlivens anything you add it to. Recently, an Egyptian friend said he grew up eating it cooked in rice! It’s truly endless the things folks use it in. Liquor, loukoumi, coffee, face creams, toothpaste, etc! It is very antibacterial and antioxidant.
Mastica is not easily cultivated. For some reason, the climate in Chios is one of the only in the world which mastica can thrive and be produced in some level. Trees take 30 years to mature to be ready for harvesting resin! Mastica can only be harvested in ‘Mastihohoria’ (Mastiha villages) in the southern end of Chios, where undersea volcanoes affect soil and micro-climate to create a unique terrain.
When creating this oil, I knew I wanted it to be a sweet, rose-heavy blessing and anointing oil. Mastic resin came to me as the perfect companion. Its association with the moon and emotions felt deeply resonant. Selene, the goddess of the Moon and my daughter’s namesake, is said to weep tears down to her eternal lover, Endymion, as he dreams of her forever. These “tears” of mastic reminded me of this myth and the moon’s connection to emotions and tears.
Roses, too, have been central to Greek herbalism since ancient times, tied to Venus and the Moon. This oil was born as something special for anointing myself and my daughter each morning at our altar—a blend of tradition, memory, and love.