Burt’s Bees, one of the longer-established natural body-care companies, has been introducing new products at a fast and furious pace lately. As a companion group to the popular Baby Bee line for infants and small children, the Mama Bee line has recently emerged. Although they are ostensibly tailored for expectant and new mothers, the Mama Bee products are suitable for adults of any parental or non-parental status, and gentle enough for children themselves.

My pick from this line, the Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil, offers a simple and self-explanatory list of ingredients: sweet almond oil, lemon oil, wheat germ oil, vitamin E, and rosemary extract. The blend is 98.50% natural, according to its label. I am already happily familiar with Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Apricot Oil. I’ve been using it for several years, and it reminds me of one summer in particular when I applied the oil to my arms and legs every morning and walked to work breathing in the scent of ripe apricots. The Mama Bee is not as exuberantly scented as the Baby Bee, perhaps in keeping with her more responsible spirit. This oil’s mouth-watering fragrance of freshly cut lemons rises and fades quickly, leaving the wearer free to tend to business around the hive…

Read the rest of this article »