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The FDA says fragrances are responsible for 30 percent of all allergic reactions. Yet this hasn’t stopped the growth of this multi-billion dollar industry.

Auric Blends has a new line of all natrual perfumes

There’s a small but growing trend within the perfume industry – quality perfumes made with natural ingredients. Auric Blends, a Sonoma County company, has created four unique, handcrafted natural fragrances.

The company’s tag line – “the evolution of perfume” – says it all.

Our purpose is to bring an evolution to the perfume industry, says Danielle Letourneau, Auric Blends’ Sales and Marketing Director.

The company’s been making perfumes and incense since 1993. In 2007, they developed their natural line or roll-on perfumes. Since they’d always produced roll-on fragrances, it was a natural to do it with their natural line too.

Auric Blends is trying to change the industry.

Lots of essential oil manufacturers have put out natural perfumes, Letourneau said. But they smell like essential oils – “more like aromatherapy,” she said.

“We’re striving to make beautiful perfumes that women would love to wear”

Their four natural perfumes are made with natural ingredients including rare flowers, sweet fruits, clean citrus, and natural refined woods, with a base of jojoba and vitamin E oils.

There’s a story behind each fragrance’s name. 

• Tara (my favorite) is named for the Tibetan female embodiment of Buddha.
• Layla is named for a character in a 12^th century Persian love story.
• Siren is named after the Sirens of Greek mythology.
• Pele is named for the ancient fire goddess of the Hawaiian volcano who, mythology says, created the Hawaiian Islands.

Each perfume is a distinct blend of floral scents and plant-based ingredients.

Tara has some of the most highly prized essential oils on the market,” said Letourneau. Its complex blend of rose and jasmine absolutes also has fruity notes of pineapple and raspberry rounded out with a woody background of patchouli, orris root and sandalwood.

Layla’s floral scent is a mix of Moroccan and Bulgarian rose, jasmine and orange flower blossom, with touches of India in its sandalwood and vetiver notes, blended with a touch of clove.

Siren is a rich floral blend of fresh lemon oil and lemongrass, sage and thyme.

Pele, their unisex fragrance, is a spicy floral mixture of geranium and lavender with patchouly and vanilla.

Made with unfiltered natural ingredients, these perfumes have a naturally occurring sediment.

Essential oils change when exposed to natural light and oxygen, Letourneau said. “We recommend people keep them in a darker, cooler place to extend the shelf life,” which, she said, averages two to three years.

These compact perfumes come in attractive, eco-friendly packaging. Each lists the ingredients, not yet an industry standard.

First time orders of these natural perfumes qualify for a 15 percent discount with the code #RDD0310, with a minimum order of $21.00, at Auricblends.com until May 31^st, 2010. For smaller orders phone 800 882-7247.

Japan eats an estimated three-quarters of the world’s annual bluefin tuna catch. Over the past 50 years, the adult population of eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin has plunged 74 percent, most of this in the past decade. In the western Atlantic, the population has fallen a whopping 82 percent.

Late last year Monaco proposed the bluefin ban . This year the U.S. governmenet said it supports a proposed ban on international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna because the species is at risk of extinction. The European Commission has asked that member governments go along with the ban.The ban needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

The proposed ban will be considered in mid-March when representatives from 175 countries meet in Doha, Qatar, to vote on measures to protect bluefin tuna and other at-risk species under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

It seems that the issues comes down to tradition and money versus purdent stewardship and protection of a species, posturing versus scienfitic evidence. And when the fish are gone, what will Japan say then?

Instead of utilizing the dreaded plastic clamshell (it’s so difficult to open), the telecommunications company will ship batteries in paper boxes.

The company anticipates a reduction of 30% in plastic packaging and a 60% reduction in paper packaging with their eco efforts.

They also plan to make their cell phones and devices more recyclable.

Sounds good. Wonder when we’ll actually see the new packaging? No word on that.

“This lapse in judgment not only violated FAA’s own policies, but common-sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. 

The air traffic controller allowed his son to read some routine instructions to pilots, then brought another child to work the next day.

Pilots seemed amused and pleased. “I wish I could bring my kid to work,” one of them said.

All this was brought to light when a recording of the radio calls was posted on the internet, then reported by a Boston television station. Such transmissions are routinely streamed live on the internet. One user of the popular site LiveATC.net, which is devoted to air controller talk, posted the recording not long after it occurred on February 16th, when New York schoolchildren were on winter break.

According to the recording, the boy made five transmissions to pilots readying for departure.

Control towers are generally highly secure areas, though the agency sometimes gives employees permission to bring their children for a tour.

Dave Pascoe, founder of LiveATC and a pilot and radio enthusiast, said he was sickened at the thought that the controller could be disciplined.

“I believe that this is being blown out of proportion,” he said. “This is just a completely controlled situation. A child was being told exactly what to say.”

He added: “I think it’s just fantastic that this guy cared enough to take his kid to work. How many parents take their kids to work these days?”

Is this a case of the FAA coming down hard to avoid a media frenzy? What do you readers think?

JFK's air traffic control tower

We’ve all heard of “Take your Son / Daughter to Work” days. Okay, but in New York, the idea may have gone too far.

A just released audio reveals that in February a child directed pilots from the air traffic control center at John F. Kennedy Airport, one of our country’’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Association has said it’s investigating.

In an official statement, the FAA said “This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees.”

In mid-February, schoolchildren throughout the New York area had a week-long winter break. The audiotapes show that during that time kids authorizing pilot take-off wasn’t a single incident.

A child can be heard on tape making five transmissions to pilots. 

In one instance, the child can be heard saying, “JetBlue 171 contact departure.” The pilot responds: “Over to departure JetBlue 171, awesome job.”

The child appears to be under an adult’s supervision, because a male voice then comes on and laughingly says, “That’s what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school.”

In another exchange, the youngster clears another plane for takeoff, and says, “Adios, amigo.” The pilot responds in kind.

FAA spokesman Jim Peters said children of the tower’s employees are allowed to visit but need to get approval from the FAA first.

The union representing air traffic controllers condemned the workers’ behavior.

Was this a potentially dangerous situation? Or was it a Dad giving his kid a chance to try their hand at something amazing, to inspire him / her, while closely monitoring for “just in case”?

What do you think?

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Selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program, Kohl’s will receive the award March 18th at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Kohl’s has implemented a wide range of sustainable business practices. This commitment led Kohl’s in December 2009 announce their plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by the end of 2010. Last year the Environmental Protection Agency recognzied this family-focused Wisconsin-based company as a 2009 Green Power Partner of the Year.

Expect to hear more about Kohl’s sustainability initiatives.

SunRidge Farms uses all natural and certified organic ingredients in all their products

Santa Cruz is known for its beaches winding along Monterrey Bay, a boardwalk, its amusement park and the University of California at Santa Cruz. And it’s adjacent to Watsonville, one of the produce capitals of the world.

It’s also home to an award-winning food company, SunRidge Farms, maker of more than 1,000 certified organic and natural snacks and trail mixes it sells in bulk to retail stores and distributors across the country.

For more on this story, go to http://3.ly/DSev.

Image Microsystems is facing this challenge head-on.

For more on this story, see Green Gadget Spotlight at http://3.ly/dl3.