Olivewood Ritual Tools: The Complete Guide

What it is

Three small tools that make a natural ritual easier and cleaner: a spatula to mix and smooth on a masque, a spoon to scoop clay and powder without wet fingers, and an applicator that carries a single drop of oil to your lash line and brows.

Where it comes from

Sfax, on Tunisia's coast, is olive country. Olive trees there can bear fruit for generations. When an old tree finally stops, family workshops give its wood a second life, carving it into tools like these, and a new tree is planted in its place. It has always been done this way.

Every piece is carved, sanded and polished with olive oil by hand, so the grain, color and shape vary a little from one to the next.

Why olivewood

Olive wood is one of the densest, hardest woods around the Mediterranean, with a tight grain that holds up to water far better than softer woods. That is why it has been used for kitchen spoons and bowls there for centuries.

• Not metal: metal can react with clays and some oils.
• Not plastic: nothing to scratch, shed or throw away.
• Lasts for years with a little care, and looks better as it ages.

How to use each tool

1. Spoon: scoop dry. Scoop Argil or Poudre de Barie with a dry spoon, so water never gets into the jar.
2. Spatula: mix and apply. Mix the clay with Roseau or Géran in a glass bowl, then use the flat end to smooth an even layer on your face.
3. Applicator: one drop. Dip the tip into Black Castor or Henna Oil and draw it along the upper lash line and through the brows at night.

Beyond the bathroom

Our customers tuck the spatula into a purse for honey in tea or a cup of ice cream, and use the spoon at the table. Olivewood has been a kitchen staple around the Mediterranean for centuries. Just keep beauty tools and kitchen tools separate.

Care

1. Rinse. Warm water and a little soap, right after use.
2. Dry. Pat dry and let it air-dry fully. Don't soak it, and don't put it in the dishwasher.
3. Season. Once in a while, rub in a drop of Hoba Oil or olive oil to bring the grain back up.

For professionals

The spatula and spoon are part of the complimentary starting accessories in our Spa Back Bar: a plastic-free way to scoop and apply in the treatment room. Ask us about wholesale.

Questions