#37 Michael Isted on Capturing the Scent of Time and Place, Crafting Herbal Products, and the Lore of Plants

Pacific Rim College Radio

Michael Isted is dedicated to integrating the power, beauty, and joy of plants into everyday life. As the founder of The Herball, a herb-inspired company that crafts and sells beauty products and curates beverage, cosmetic, and scent-based creations for the hospitality industry and innovators, Michael’s genius-like craftmanship is sought after around the world. To date he has created thousands of herbal beverage recipes and draws inspiration from nature itself, historical texts, and ancestral knowledge. Many of these are captured in his beautiful book The Herball’s Guide to Botanical Drinks.

As a fully qualified phytotherapist, Michael also maintains a practice seeing patients and helping them experience health and vitality. Additionally, he is passionate about scent and determined to capture time and place through aroma. His current project is recreating the experience of a storied Jamaican music studio through a natural fragrance.

This diverse episode peeks inside the mind and inspiration of a true master of his art. For me it was a wonderful plant-based journey around the world and through the ages. We ground many of Michael’s lofty creations and aspirations with the reality of the practicalities of bringing products and projects to life.

If you are interested in letting your passion lead, then exploring the filaments, petals, and beakers in Michael’s life can help guide you along the way. The pleasure he draws from his work is infectious, and his spontaneity admirable.

Please enjoy this episode of Pacific Rim College Radio with Michael Isted.

Episode Links:

The Herball

The Herball’s Guide to Botanical Drinks by Michael Isted

Learning Links:

School of Western Herbal Medicine at PRC

Online Herbal Medicine courses at PRCOnline

Student Clinic at PRC