Sacred Botanical Intelligence™

The Divine Guardian & The Sacred Seal · Purification · Protection · Return

Ancient. Revered. Chosen above all others as the sacred seal of every House of Excelsior creation. Sidr - the Lote Tree of Paradise has been honoured across sacred traditions for over three thousand years.

In ancient Middle East,  Sidr leaves were used in the ritual washing of the deceased before burial - a sacred act of purification and preparation for the divine passage. Across the Arabian Peninsula, it was gathered for ceremonial cleansing rites, its leaves steeped and poured over the body as an act of blessing and protection.

In Islamic tradition, Sidr holds a position of profound spiritual significance: Sidrat al-Muntaha - the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary - marks the sacred threshold between the earthly and the divine, the point beyond which no created being may pass.

In Jewish tradition, it is associated with purification and the sacred rites of cleansing. Within Christian traditionZiziphus spina-christi - meaning Christ's Thorn has long been associated with the Crown of Thorns, honouring the tree as a witness to the most sacred moment in Christian history.

In the ancient Levant and across North Africa, it was planted near sacred sites and used in rites of passage, healing, and protection. Its leaves, wood, and fruit have been present in human ceremony since before recorded history.

Symbolic of heavenly nearness and sacred boundary, it carries the mystery of what is seen and unseen - the sacred threshold between the earthly and the Divine. It does not merely accompany the formula. It consecrates it.

Present in every N° 99 creation, Sidr stands as sacred seal and guardian of the ritual itself: protecting intention, grounding the spirit, and guiding the return to what is sacred.

I am protected. I am guided. I return to what is sacred within me.

Prayer · Stillness · Elevation

For thousands of years, Frankincense has risen with prayer. Harvested from the Boswellia tree across the ancient lands of Oman, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the southern Arabian Peninsula, it was among the most coveted commodities of the ancient world.

The Incense Route - one of antiquity's great trade networks carried Frankincense northward through Arabia and into Egypt, the Levant, Greece, and Rome. In ancient Egypt, it was burned in temple ceremonies and used in the embalming process as a sacred preservative. 

In the Hebrew tradition, it formed part of the sacred incense blend - Ketoret burned daily in the Temple of Jerusalem.

In the Christian tradition, Frankincense was among the gifts brought to the Christ child, a symbol of divinity and prayer. In Islamic tradition, it is burned to purify the home and invite blessing. In the ancient Indian Ayurvedic traditionShallaki - Boswellia has been used for centuries in sacred and medicinal preparations. 

Across the ancient world, its smoke was understood as the visible form of prayer itself: rising, ascending, carrying intention upward toward the divine.

Burned in temples, carried in ceremony, offered in devotion - revered across sacred traditions for millennia, it symbolises devotion, remembrance, purification, and the bridge between the earthly and the Divine.

Frankincense, the key ingredient in every House of Excelsior creation, carries a sacred invitation: to slow down and be present. It encourages reflection, looking inward and finding stillness.

I am present. I am protected. I walk in reverence and truth.

Grounding · Reverence · Endurance

Myrrh has accompanied humanity through its most sacred passages -birth, death, anointing, and renewal.

Harvested from the Commiphora tree across the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Myrrh was among the first aromatic materials traded across ancient civilisations.

In ancient Egypt, it was a cornerstone of the embalming process and burned as sacred incense in temple rites. The Ebers Papyrus - one of the oldest medical documents in existence, dating to 1550 BCE - records its use in healing preparations. In the Hebrew tradition

Myrrh was a key ingredient in the sacred anointing oil described in the Book of Exodus, used to consecrate the Tabernacle and its priests. In the Christian tradition, it was brought as a gift at the Nativity and used in the preparation of Christ's body for burial.

In ancient Greece and Rome, it was burned at funerals and offered at altars as a symbol of mourning, reverence, and honour. Its name is drawn from the Arabic murr - meaning "bitter" a quiet testament to its depth and its unapologetic presence.

Across every tradition that has known it, Myrrh has been the resin of those who remain: who endure, who honour what is difficult, and who carry devotion through transformation.

In the N° 99 Collection, deep, balsamic, and enduring, Myrhh is the resin of resilience and devotion: for those who stay, who endure, and who honour what is difficult with grace and reverence. 

Present across centuries of ritual, ceremony, and remembrance, Myrrh carries the quiet strength of sacred commitment - the willingness to remain present through sorrow, transformation, and return.

I remain. I endure. I honour the sacred passage of my becoming.

Love · Grace · Devotion

No flower has been more universally revered. Rosa damascena takes its name from Damascus - the ancient Syrian capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. Its origins trace to Persia, where it was cultivated for centuries before spreading westward along the Silk Road.

In ancient Persia, rose water was used in sacred and ceremonial preparations, in cooking, and as a symbol of divine beauty and grace. In the Ottoman Empire, the rose was central to the culture of the hammam and the ritual of beauty, its water distilled in great quantities in the rose valleys of Bulgaria and Turkey.

In Sufi poetry and mystical tradition, the rose is the supreme symbol of divine love: the beloved, the heart opened, the soul in devotion. Rumi, Hafiz, and the great Persian poets returned to it again and again as the language of longing and grace.

In ancient Greece and Rome, roses were strewn at sacred ceremonies and offered to Aphrodite and Venus as emblems of love and beauty. In the Islamic tradition, the rose is associated with the Prophet, its fragrance said to carry the memory of the divine.

Carried along ancient trade routes and introduced to Europe during the Crusades, it became the most celebrated rose in the world of perfumery, ceremony, and sacred beauty.

The Damask Rose - treasured across centuries in perfumery, ceremony, and rituals of beauty softens everything it touches. Both delicate and enduring, it carries the language of love, grace, and devotion.

In the N° 99 Collection, Rose embodies the heart of renewal. It serves as a reminder that true beauty transcends vanity, devotion gives us purpose, grace is not a sign of weakness and honouring self-worth is a profound act of love.

I soften. I open. I love. I honour beauty within and around me.

Humility · Sacred Offering · Intimacy

One of the most precious aromatic oils of the ancient world, reserved for moments of profound devotion, honour, and offering.

Nardostachys jatamansi is harvested from the high-altitude valleys of the Himalayas, in the regions of Nepal, India, and Tibet.

In ancient times, it was transported westward along the Silk Road and the ancient spice routes, arriving in Egypt, the Levant, Greece, and Rome as one of the most costly aromatic materials available. 

In ancient Egypt, Spikenard was used in sacred anointing preparations and found in the tombs of pharaohs. In the Hebrew tradition, it is listed among the ingredients of the sacred incense of the Temple. 

In the Christian tradition, it is the oil with which Mary of Bethany anointed the feet of Christ - an act of such profound devotion that the fragrance filled the entire house, recorded in the Gospels of Mark and John. 

In ancient India, Spikenard has been used in Ayurvedic preparations for centuries, valued for its grounding and calming properties.

In Tibetan medicine, Spikenard is used in sacred preparations associated with the nervous system and the spirit.

Across every tradition that has known it, Spikenard has been the oil of those who give without calculation: who offer without performance, who surrender without weakness.

Within the N° 99 Collection Spikenard asks nothing except presence. It is the aroma of humility: of surrender without weakness, devotion without performance, and the quiet intimacy between the human and the Divine.

Rare, precious, and deeply symbolic, it carries the spirit of sacred offering - reminding us that some things are not rushed, demanded, or forced, but received with reverence.

I soften into presence. I honour what is sacred. I offer myself with reverence.

Mystery · Depth · Nobility

Born through wounding and transformed through time, Oud is among the rarest aromatic materials on earth.

Agarwood forms within the Aquilaria tree - native to the forests of Southeast Asia and South Asia only when the tree is infected by a specific mould and responds by producing a dense, resinous heartwood as a form of protection. This process takes decades. The result is a material of extraordinary complexity, traded across the ancient world at prices that rivalled gold.

In ancient China, Agarwood - Chen Xiang, meaning "sinking incense" was burned in imperial courts and Buddhist temples, used in meditation and offered to the divine. In Japan, the art of Kodo - the Way of Incense - elevated Agarwood to a form of spiritual practice, with ceremonies dedicated to its appreciation.

In the Arab world, Oud has been burned in homes, mosques, and at celebrations for centuries, its smoke used to perfume garments, spaces, and the body before prayer and ceremony.

In the Indian subcontinent, Oud has been used in Ayurvedic preparations and as a sacred offering in temple rituals. In the Islamic tradition, it is among the most honoured of aromatic materials, its fragrance associated with paradise and divine nearness.

Among the rarest and most coveted aromatic materials in the world, it has long symbolised status, reverence, and quiet power.

Dark, complex, and enduring, Oud reminds us that not all beauty arrives untouched. Within the N° 99 Collection, it brings a depth that cannot be manufactured - only earned.

I honour what shaped me. I carry depth with dignity. I become through what transformed me.

Meditation · Peace · Presence

Sandalwood has held the space for prayer and sacred ritual across civilisations for over four thousand years.

Santalum album - Indian Sandalwood is native to the forests of South India and has been at the centre of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain sacred traditions since antiquity.

In Hindu tradition, sandalwood paste chandan is applied to the forehead and body in acts of devotion, used to anoint sacred images, and burned as incense in temple worship.

In Buddhist tradition, Sandalwood is one of the most revered aromatic offerings, burned in monasteries and used in meditation practice across Asia. 

In ancient Egypt, Sandalwood was imported and used in sacred preparations and embalming. In ancient China, it was burned in Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies and used in the crafting of sacred objects and temple furnishings. In the Arab world, it has been used in incense blends and sacred preparations for centuries. 

In Ayurvedic medicine, Sandalwood is one of the most important aromatic materials, used in preparations associated with the mind, the nervous system, and the spirit.

Across every tradition that has known it, Sandalwood has been the wood of stillness: the material that creates the conditions for the sacred to arrive.

Soft, warm, and endlessly present, it does not demand attention. It simply creates the conditions for stillness - for the mind to quieten, for the body to arrive, and for the spirit to remember.

Within the N° 99 Collection, Sandalwood carries the grace of quiet presence: a sacred pause, a softened breath, a return to inner peace.

I am still. I am present. I return to peace within me.

Stability · Protection · Endurance

Temples were built from Cedar. Ships crossed ancient seas upon it. Sacred texts were protected within it.

Cedrus libani - the Cedar of Lebanon is one of the most storied trees in human history. In ancient Mesopotamia, the Epic of Gilgamesh - among the oldest written narratives in existence describes the Cedar Forest as a sacred and protected realm, guarded by the gods. In ancient Egypt, Cedar wood was used in the construction of sacred barques, coffins, and temple furnishings, and Cedar oil was used in the embalming process.

King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was built with Cedar of Lebanon, brought from the forests of Phoenicia, a symbol of divine favour and enduring strength.

In the Hebrew tradition, Cedar is associated with righteousness, strength, and the protection of the sacred. In Native American traditions, Cedar has been used in purification ceremonies and as a sacred offering for centuries. In Ayurvedic tradition, Himalayan Cedar - Cedrus deodara, meaning "wood of the gods", has been used in sacred preparations associated with purification and protection.

Across every civilisation that has known it, Cedar has been the botanical of those who stand firm: who protect, who endure, and who create shelter for others.

Steady, grounding, and enduring, Cedar carries the quiet authority of strength without force.

Within the N° 99 Collection, it serves as the foundation beneath everything: the structure that holds, supports, and remains.

I stand firm. I remain steady. I am supported and strong.

Grounding · Calm · Containment

Vetiver grows downward - its roots reaching deep into the earth, holding the soil in place.

Chrysopogon zizanioides - native to India has been used across South and Southeast Asia for centuries in both practical and sacred contexts. In India, Vetiver - known as khus has been woven into screens and mats for centuries, its roots releasing a cooling, earthy fragrance when dampened by water, used to cool and purify the air in homes and sacred spaces.

In Ayurvedic tradition, Vetiver is associated with the cooling of excess heat in the body and mind, used in preparations for grounding and calming.

In the ancient Tamil tradition of South India, Vetiver has been used in sacred preparations and as a symbol of rootedness and belonging. In West Africa, it has been used in traditional healing practices and as a protective botanical.

In the perfumery traditions of the Arab world and Europe, Vetiver has been prized for centuries as a base note of extraordinary depth and tenacity, anchoring compositions and giving them endurance. 

In the Caribbean and Latin American traditions, it is used in spiritual and protective preparations. Across every tradition that has known it, Vetiver has been the botanical of those who need to come back to themselves.

Earthy, smoky, and profoundly calming, Vetiver offers steadiness in moments of uncertainty and presence in moments of overwhelm.

Within the N° 99 Collection, it anchors both composition and ritual - creating stability, containment, and the quiet reminder that strength is often found close to the ground.

I am grounded. I am steady. I return to myself.

Warmth · Ancient Memory · Sensual Depth · Contemplation

Of all the botanicals in the N° 99 Collection, Labdanum / Cistus is perhaps the most storied - a resin gathered from the wild since the earliest recorded history of perfumery, revered across every civilisation that has known it.

Cistus ladanifer grows wild across the sun-scorched hillsides of the Mediterranean basin, from Portugal and Spain through southern France, Italy, Greece, and into the Levant.

Its resinous gum clings to the leaves and branches of the plant under the heat of the sun. In ancient times, it was gathered by shepherds whose goats grazed among the cistus shrubs - the resin collecting in their beards and fleeces, harvested by hand as one of nature's most intimate offerings. This practice was recorded by Herodotus in the 5th century BCE, making Labdanum one of the oldest documented aromatic materials in human history.

In ancient Egypt, Labdanum was a key ingredient in kyphi - the sacred incense burned in temples at sunset, a complex aromatic preparation used in ritual, healing, and the honouring of the gods. It is believed by some scholars to be the onycha referenced in the sacred incense of the Hebrew Temple - one of the most revered aromatic preparations in the ancient world.

In ancient Greece, Cistus grew on the slopes of sacred mountains, associated with the wild and untamed forces of the natural world. In ancient Rome, it was prized as a fixative of extraordinary depth and endurance. In the Levant, it has been gathered and used in sacred aromatic preparations since antiquity.

In the perfumery traditions of the Arab world, Labdanum contributes warmth and depth to incense blends across centuries of ceremonial use.

In European perfumery since the Renaissance, Labdanum has been prized as the closest natural approximation to ambergris - used by the greatest perfumers in history to anchor, deepen, and give enduring presence to their most revered compositions.

Across every tradition that has known it, Labdanum / Cistus has carried the same quiet truth: it does not announce itself. Its depth reveals itself slowly - only to those who remain long enough to notice. Rich, warm, and deeply resinous, it is the aroma of memory: of something half-remembered, deeply familiar, and impossible to fully forget.

Sensual without urgency and ancient without age, it brings a warmth that lingers long after everything else has settled - the hidden layer beneath the visible, the truth discovered only in stillness.

Within the N° 99 Collection, Labdanum / Cistus creates depth, softness, and the quiet comfort of remembrance. It is the botanical of those who look beneath the surface - and find something worth returning to.

I honour what shaped me. I become still. I trust what reveals itself in time. I return to the depth of who I am.

Softness · Warmth · Sanctuary

Sweet, warm, and enveloping, Benzoin has been a cornerstone of sacred incense traditions across Asia and Europe for centuries.

Styrax benzoin is native to the forests of Sumatra, Java, and mainland Southeast Asia - produces a balsamic resin that has been traded westward along the ancient spice routes since at least the 15th century.

In the Islamic world, Benzoin - known as luban jawi, meaning "frankincense of Java" - was burned as incense in mosques and homes, its sweet, vanilla-like warmth used to purify and perfume sacred spaces.

In the Christian tradition of Europe, it was used in church incense blends and in the preparation of sacred aromatic preparations. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Benzoin is used in sacred incense offerings burned in monasteries and at altars. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has been used in preparations associated with the heart and the spirit.

In the perfumery traditions of Europe, Benzoin has been used since the Renaissance as a fixative and base note, its balsamic warmth anchoring compositions and giving them softness and longevity. 

Across every tradition that has known it, Benzoin has been the botanical of sanctuary: of the space that holds, that softens, that invites exhale.

Rich, balsamic, and deeply comforting, it wraps the composition in warmth rather than noise. Within the N° 99 Collection, Benzoin becomes a place of refuge: for those who need to feel held, safe, and at rest.

I soften. I am held. I allow myself to rest.

Vitality · Awakening · Renewal

Sharp, green, and clarifying, Galbanum is one of the oldest aromatic materials known to humanity.

Ferula galbaniflua - native to the mountainous regions of Iran and Central Asia produces a resinous gum that has been gathered and traded since antiquity.

In the Hebrew tradition, Galbanum is explicitly named as one of the four ingredients of the sacred incenseKetoret - burned daily in the Temple of Jerusalem, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. The rabbinical tradition notes that Galbanum, despite its sharp and somewhat discordant scent on its own, was essential to the harmony of the sacred blend - a teaching that even what seems difficult has its necessary place in the whole.

In ancient Egypt, Galbanum was used in sacred incense preparations and in the aromatic blends of the temple. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was used in medicinal and aromatic preparations. In the perfumery traditions of the Arab world and Europe, it has been prized for centuries as a green, vivid top note that brings clarity and vitality to a composition. 

In traditional Persian medicine, it has been used in preparations associated with the clearing of stagnation. Across every tradition that has known it, Galbanum has been the botanical of awakening: the moment clarity returns and movement begins again.

Bright and uncompromising, it is the botanical of awakening - the moment air returns to the lungs, clarity returns to the mind, and movement returns after stillness.

Within the N° 99 Collection, Galbanum becomes the breath of renewal: the green spark that signals something new is beginning.

I awaken. I renew. I welcome what is ready to emerge.

Cleansing · Blessing · Preparation

Hyssop has been honoured in sacred purification rites since the earliest recorded history of the ancient world.

Hyssopus officinalis - native to the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia is one of the most frequently referenced herbs in ancient sacred texts.

In the Hebrew tradition, Hyssop is named explicitly in the Torah as the herb used in the purification rites described in the Books of Leviticus and Numbers: bound into a bundle and used to sprinkle the waters of purification, it was the instrument of sacred cleansing before ceremony, before offering, and before return. 

In the Psalms, it is invoked as the herb of spiritual cleansing: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." In ancient Egypt, it was used in aromatic and purifying preparations. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was used in medicinal and aromatic traditions.

In the Christian tradition, it is referenced at the Crucifixion - a branch of hyssop used to offer vinegar to Christ on the cross - marking it as a witness to the most sacred passage in Christian history.

In traditional European herbal medicine, it has been used for centuries in preparations associated with the respiratory system and the clearing of the body. 

Across every tradition that has known it, Hyssop has been the botanical of readiness: of clearing what no longer belongs so that something meaningful may enter.

Fresh, herbal, and purposeful, Hyssop represents the space between ending and beginning - the quiet preparation before renewal, devotion, and return. Within the N° 99 Collection, it carries the intention of beginning well.

I release what no longer serves me. I prepare with intention. I welcome what is meant for me.

Illumination · Vitality · Renewal

Golden. Radiant. Ancient. Turmeric has been revered across cultures for its luminous vitality for thousands of years.

Curcuma longanative to South and Southeast Asia has been cultivated and honoured in India for over four thousand years. In Hindu tradition, Turmeric holds a sacred place: used in wedding ceremonies to bless and purify the bride and groom, applied to the body in the haldi ritual as an act of protection and beautification before marriage.

In Ayurvedic medicine, it is one of the most revered botanicals, used in preparations associated with vitality, purification, and the restoration of the body's natural balance. In ancient Indian temple traditions, it is used as an offering and in the preparation of sacred spaces. 

In the Buddhist traditions of Southeast Asia, it is used in ceremonial preparations and as a sacred dye for the robes of monks. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has been used for centuries in preparations associated with circulation and vitality.

Along the ancient Spice Routes, Turmeric was traded from India westward into the Arab world, the Levant, and eventually Europe, where it was known as "Indian saffron" and prized for its golden colour and aromatic warmth.

Across every tradition that has known it, Turmeric has been the botanical of illumination: the quiet return of light, warmth, and movement.

Warm, earthy, and unmistakably bright, it carries the symbolism of illumination: the quiet return of light after darkness, warmth after hardship, and movement after stagnation.

Within the N° 99 Collection, Turmeric becomes the golden thread - the botanical of renewal from within.

I welcome light. I embrace renewal. I allow myself to shine.

Warmth · Abundance · Hospitality

Warmth · Abundance · Hospitality

Once more precious than gold, Cinnamon Bark travelled ancient trade routes and was offered within some of humanity's most treasured rituals.

Cinnamomum verum - true Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and has been traded westward since at least 2000 BCE. In ancient Egypt, it was among the most prized imports, used in the embalming process and in the sacred incense burned in temple ceremonies.

In the Hebrew tradition, Cinnamon is named as one of the ingredients of the sacred anointing oil described in the Book of Exodus - used to consecrate the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the priests of Israel. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was burned as an offering to the gods and used in sacred preparations.

In the Arab world, it has been used in incense blends, sacred preparations, and the culture of hospitality for centuries. 

In Ayurvedic medicine, it is one of the most important warming botanicals, used in preparations associated with vitality and circulation.

Along the ancient Spice Routes, Cinnamon was among the most coveted commodities, its origin kept secret by Arab traders for centuries to protect their monopoly. Across every tradition that has known it, Cinnamon has been the botanical of welcome: of warmth shared, of abundance offered, of the hearth that never goes cold.

Rich and fiery, Cinnamon Bark is the botanical of welcome - of doors left open, tables shared, and the hearth that never goes cold. Within the N° 99 Collection, it carries warmth outward and inward: a reminder that comfort, can be sacred.

I welcome warmth. I share generously. I create space for abundance.

Consecration · Movement · Devotion

A close kin to Cinnamon, Cassia has been honoured in sacred anointing preparations and aromatic traditions across millennia.

Cinnamomum cassia - native to southern China and Southeast Asia is one of the oldest spices in recorded history. In ancient China, Cassia has been documented in texts dating to 2700 BCE, used in medicinal and aromatic preparations across centuries of Chinese medicine and ceremony.

In the Hebrew tradition, Cassia qiddah  is named alongside Cinnamon as one of the ingredients of the sacred anointing oil described in the Book of Exodus, used to consecrate the most sacred objects and persons of the Tabernacle.

In ancient Egypt, it was used in the embalming process and in sacred aromatic preparations. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was used in medicinal and aromatic traditions.

Along the ancient Spice Routes, Cassia was traded from China westward through Central Asia and the Arab world, arriving in the Mediterranean as one of the most prized aromatic commodities of antiquity.

In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been used for centuries in preparations associated with warmth, circulation, and the restoration of vitality. Across every tradition that has known it, Cassia has been the botanical of consecration: present not through force, but through intention.

Warm, spiced, and purposeful, it carries a quieter authority - present not through force, but through intention. Restrained yet unmistakable, Cassia moves through the composition like an act of devotion itself: consecrating without overpowering, guiding without demanding attention.

Within the N° 99 Collection, it represents sacred movement - the quiet transition from intention into ritual.

I move with intention. I honour devotion. I consecrate my path with purpose.

Gentleness · Rest · Emotional Softness

Of all the botanicals within the N° 99 Collection, Roman Chamomile is perhaps the most tender and among the most ancient in its use.

Anthemis nobilis - Roman Chamomile has been used in herbal and aromatic traditions across Europe and the Mediterranean since antiquity. In ancient Egypt, Chamomile was dedicated to the sun god Ra and used in sacred preparations and in the embalming process, valued for its aromatic and preservative properties.

In ancient Greece and Rome, it was used in medicinal preparations and burned as incense in sacred spaces. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, it was one of the nine sacred herbs of the Lacnunga - an ancient collection of Anglo-Saxon medical texts - honoured as a plant of healing and protection.

In traditional European herbal medicine, it has been used for centuries in preparations associated with the nervous system, digestion, and the easing of tension and sorrow.

In the perfumery traditions of Europe, Roman Chamomile has been prized for its delicate, apple-like sweetness and its ability to soften and round a composition. 

In Ayurvedic tradition, Chamomile is used in preparations associated with calming the mind and supporting restful sleep. Across every tradition that has known it, Chamomile has been the botanical of permission: to pause, to receive, and to remember that softness, too, is strength.

It simply arrives, soft, warm, and unhurried - inviting the body to soften, the mind to quieten, and the heart to rest. Gentle without weakness and quiet without absence, Roman Chamomile carries the spirit of compassion.

Within the N° 99 Collection, it is the botanical of permission: to pause, to receive, and to remember that softness, too, is strength.

I soften. I rest. I allow peace to find me.

Purity · Blessing · Sacred Union

Myrtle has crowned brides and blessed new beginnings across cultures for thousands of years - one of the most universally revered sacred plants of the ancient world.

Myrtus communis is native to the Mediterranean basin, growing wild across the sun-warmed hillsides of Greece, Italy, the Levant, and North Africa. In ancient Greece, Myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, and was woven into the crowns of brides and victors alike. In ancient Rome, it was sacred to Venus and used in wedding ceremonies, victory celebrations, and rites of purification.

In the Hebrew tradition, Myrtle - hadas - is one of the four species of the lulav used in the festival of Sukkot, symbolising the righteous and the beauty of sacred union. In the Islamic tradition, Myrtle is among the plants said to have been brought from Paradise, its fragrance associated with blessing and divine nearness. 

In the Persian tradition, its branches have been woven into bridal crowns and offered as a symbol of love and fidelity for centuries. In ancient Egypt, it was used in sacred preparations and offered in ceremonies of blessing. In the Victorian tradition of Europe, Myrtle was woven into royal wedding bouquets - a tradition that continues to this day in the British Royal Family, with sprigs taken from the same plant used at Queen Victoria's wedding.

Across every tradition that has known it, Myrtle has marked the same sacred threshold: where one chapter closes and another begins. Delicate yet enduring, it carries the language of purity, grace, and devotion - the botanical of those who step forward into something new with an open and blessed heart.

Within the N° 99 Collection, Myrtle serves as the closing blessing - the final botanical in the ritual architecture. It arrives as ceremony always has: with softness, with beauty, and with blessing.

I welcome blessing. I honour union. I move forward with grace.

Crocus Sativus · Illumination · Devotion · Sacred Radiance

Of all the botanicals in the N° 99 Collection, Saffron is perhaps the most precious by weight - and among the most revered across the ancient world.

Crocus sativus - the saffron crocus - is native to the ancient lands of Persia and the broader Mediterranean and Central Asian world. Each flower yields only three crimson stigmas, harvested by hand at dawn before the petals open. It takes over 150,000 flowers to produce a single kilogram - a labour of extraordinary devotion.

In ancient Persia, Saffron was woven into royal robes, burned as sacred incense, and offered in ceremonies of the highest honour. Persian kings walked on saffron-strewn floors as a symbol of divine favour and sovereign radiance.

In ancient Egypt, Saffron was used in sacred preparations and as a dye for the garments of priests. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was strewn at temples, theatres, and royal courts - its golden colour and intoxicating fragrance associated with the gods, with light, and with divine presence.

In the Islamic tradition, Saffron holds a place of extraordinary reverence: used in sacred preparations, in the writing of Quranic verses for blessing, and as one of the most honoured aromatic gifts. In the Indian subcontinent, Saffron - kesar - is used in temple offerings, in the preparation of sacred foods, and in Ayurvedic preparations associated with vitality, radiance, and the elevation of the spirit. In the Kashmiri tradition, it has been cultivated for over three thousand years, its harvest a sacred seasonal ritual.

Along the ancient Silk Road and Spice Routes, Saffron was traded at prices that rivalled gold - carried from Persia and Kashmir westward into the Arab world, the Levant, and Europe as one of the most coveted aromatic and sacred materials on earth.

Warm, honeyed, and luminous, Saffron carries the symbolism of divine radiance: the golden light that does not announce itself, but transforms everything it touches.

Within the N° 99 Collection, it is the final botanical - the crowning thread of the sacred architecture, arriving last as the most precious always does: quietly, with extraordinary depth, and with the unmistakable presence of something rare.

I am radiant. I am worthy of what is most precious. I carry light with grace.

Begin Again. Excel to Live.

Divine Apothecary by House of Excelsior. The Art of Sacred Renewal Rituals™ 

ANIMA EXCELSA