If you've walked through the mall (any mall) lately, you've doubtless walked by the shops that sell all kinds of bath and body products, gagging from the overpowering synthetic scents, slick blandness and faux originality. Escape that, my friend, and take a walk on the natural side. It means a bit of a jaunt to 16th Street North -- just remember you can visit Frey's Doughnuts or Le Cheesecake, located nearby, to justify your gas usage.
Great American Natural Products is an eclectic little store that sells only the best of everything. One gets the feeling that all the items in this jam-packed market are carefully chosen by someone who knows about, uses and likes the product. Yes, you pay more for quality, but that only stands to reason.
But what do they sell? Hmmm....a large part of the business deals with bulk herbs and health products for people who want to go the natural route for healing. Then there's the aromatherapy aspect of the business, and you can ask the extremely knowledgeable staff to select and blend a special fragrance from a dizzying array of essential oils. (My favorite: orange with grapefruit and a hint of the most expensive rose oil -- marvelous!).
But that's not all. The aromatherapy counter also has funky jewelry pieces and beautiful blown glass perfume bottles that the oils can be stored in. Next to that area is a large section of all natural cosmetics and soaps from every corner of the world. A large amount of space is dedicated to candles, soaps, lotions, colognes, and other items by manufacturers like Crabtree and Evelyn or The Thymes. Testers are prominently displayed so that you can decide whether you truly like an item or not before purchasing it.
No, not done yet. Walk towards the back of the store and you'll find bulk bins of all-natural flours, dried fruits, seeds, sugar-free candies, and old-fashioned candies as well. The licorice section is my especial weakness, and I cannot leave the store without my little bag of licorice allsorts.
You think I'm finished, don't you? Nope. Check out the high-end home care items, like bureau and closet sachets, linen spray, fragrant ironing waters (spray your clothes with the water and you not only iron out the wrinkles, but smells good, too), fancy washing powders. Or the selection of doggie essentials, like rhinestone collars and cute dishes. There's even a collection of fun ladies' purses and pouches made from silk and other frou frou items.
Round the corner where the licorice bins are (yes, that's my touchstone) and you encounter all kinds of coffees and teas from around the world, as well as the paraphernalia to brew and serve them in.
Am I leaving anything out? Doubtless, but if I told you everything that they had you'd miss out on the delight of browsing through this phantasmagoric little marketplace. And it IS small; they have so much merchandise jammed in there that it amazes me.
Visit the store on a Friday and the exceedingly nice (and patient) staff asks you to select a flower of your choice as you check out. Do they have to do that? Clearly not, but like I said, this is a one-of-a-kind place run by people who care about their customers.
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