Living Libations was born from Nadine Artemis’s lifelong enchantment with the natural world and its healing potential. From childhood experiments with petal potions to crafting botanical perfumes in university, Nadine’s journey has always been guided by curiosity, intuition, and a deep reverence for plant intelligence. With a background steeped in aromatherapy, she founded North America’s first full-concept aromatherapy store before choosing to retreat to the forest—where Living Libations truly took root. Together with her partner Ron, Nadine has created a line of products that are a celebration of nature’s wisdom and purity. Each formulation is a living expression of botanical alchemy—carefully crafted using the most pristine ingredients on Earth. At its heart, Living Libations is a reminder that beauty begins in nature, and that when we align with it, we thrive.
A Q&A WITH Nadine Artemis
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start Living Libations?
The spark for Living Libations began when I was a little girl with acorns in my pockets, sitting in a mud puddle, mixing up potions of petals and leaves. My first foray into the world of botanical oils was recreating L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci with essential oils for a school science fair. Captivated by the alchemy of essential oils, I started making pure perfumes and some skin care items for my friends and family while I was in university. Within months of graduation, I opened Osmosis, North America’s first full-concept aromatherapy store. Yet I longed to live in nature, and craved a pause in life to think, so after a few years I closed the store. Then I met Ron, my partner. After days of playing with botanical oils and elixirs, Ron became impassioned about working together. So, we did! We moved to the woods, and Living Libations blossomed.
How does the natural world support and shape your modern life?
Nature is my lifelong passion and inspiration. I love grounding myself in nature and disconnecting from the modern world by wandering our land and marveling at the abundance of life in the forest, the lake, and the swampy places in between. I always bring my camera to capture the wildflowers and creatures I encounter. Swimming in the lake and basking in the sun to dry off is my favorite way to recharge, and I’m really looking forward to summer.
With so many beautiful natural and organic ingredients out there, how do you decide which ones to include in your products?
The world is full of amazing botanical oils. Deciding what to include in our products begins with sourcing only the purest of the pure oils. We develop relationships with growers and artisan distillers, and we trust their dedication to their craft and to our purity standards.
For me, formulating a new product involves a tapestry of inspiration, intuition, and experience. I may envision a particular need, feel intrigued by a scent I discover in the woods, or innovate a new product, like a dental serum. In the creative process, the recipes just flow! Then, I rely on intuition and over thirty years of experience to select the botanical oils with the best constituents to perfect the formula.
Do you have a consistent daily AM and/or PM routine? What are they?
I always take my mornings sunny side up!
I begin each day with sun-gazing. As the sun begins to rise, I step outside and let the gentle morning rays ignite my eyes, prime my pineal gland, and align my circadian rhythm for the day. As I enjoy the early morning light, I consider all the things I’m grateful for, counting my many blessings.
Are there any particular foods or botanicals that play a key role in your personal self-care practice?
My favorite botanical self-care often changes by the season, and I’m guided by my nose! I love to wash my face and body with Seabuckthorn or Rose Best Skin Ever and then dab on some Rose Glow Crème for extra moisture and to enjoy the rosy aroma. In the cold and dry winter months, I often slug at night with Castor Oil + Occulta Frankincense to lock in hydration.
I also really love mint, which inspired me to formulated Triple Mint Enamelizer Toothpaste. Brushing with this zesty gel is a real treat for me.
What are some of your favorite brands currently on Baile?
Baile is a beautiful collection of practical pantry finds like the Vita Clay Cooker which makes such nourishing one pot meals. The Circadian Lightbulbs are essential for blocking blue light after sunset and of course we love The Fullest Saffron.
What inspires your approach to creating products, and how do you ensure they stay true to the heart and philosophy of Living Libations?
I draw inspiration from nature, tapping into its ancient wisdom, enlivened by plants and the verditas of the earth. This wisdom ignites my innovation, guiding me to create botanical formulas that extend creation’s essence. Every Living Libations formula is comprised of pure botanical oils—a translation of infinite plant intelligence into physical form, and that is the heart of Living Libations’ philosophy.
Nadine's Favorites
