My favorite place that I need to visit again hopefully soon! Atmosphere there is truly so inviting for me and my energy. They offer everything a spiritual, or witch could dream of. Or a person who enjoys oddities and unique experiences. I always feel super relaxed there. They offer many services as well Also in chances the owner sees this review I wanted to mentioned when I've gone in the past I did run into issues with the website hours being off and not aligned with the operating hours. I live a distance away so I get emotional when I drive but I think I learned what hours are open now..maybe! Lol I'll try and call ahead to double check, but would be good to correct it online please! read more

Nice environment and a huge variety of herbs. The pricing seems pretty fair and I liked the little descriptions on the bag. The dude with the face tattoo who works there could be a little nicer though. read more

This place is so warm and inviting! It's my favorite shop! It always smells great! The tea selection is amazing! As is the amount of herbs she carrys. And the crystals!!! I'd just like to take them all home!! Lol The owner is a Master Herbalist who truly knows her stuff!! Truly worth a drop in! read more

I love this shop alot, they make you feel so welcomed and the energy is so relaxing, I love all the beautiful crystals, the many types of tea's, herbs, books. Everything is just wonderful, my hubby got me a couple things from there that I really love. I definately reccommend this place if just want a place to relax, or if your looking for that special something to help heal your chakra's, or find out what your future holds with a tarot reading, or maybe sit and relax with a good cup of herbal tea. read more

Wow what an inviting place! Carmella the owner has really created quite a beautiful environment where you can have tea, choose from an assortment of oils, crystals, art, and many other healing or healthy beneficial items. Everyone is so nice and it is great to enjoy conversation with such caring, helpful, and peaceful people :) A must visit in Portland located in Sellwood! read more

Essential Elements is the herb shop that I've been looking for my entire life. I needed cypress oil for consecrating candles. One of the interns (Sevra) showed me exactly where it was, let me open it to smell, and even though I didn't end up purchasing any that day she offered to let me wear some of the scent home. I returned the next day and had the muscle relaxation tea, along with a great chat with some interns and a couple of hours spent on a comfy couch in a cozy room, soaking up the good vibrations. The energy at Essential Elements is so relaxing. I felt at home before I even walked up the front steps. If you've got an ailment or need advice, chances are they can help you. read more

I LOVE THIS SHOP! And yes it is true it has a strange vibe... but never so strange you feel like you need to get the hell out of Dodge !? I stumbled upon this little store a few years ago... since then I've made and kept many friends that frequent this magick shoppe. ANYONE that ever goes there.. GET A tarot READING FROM RAVEN!! I am quite a powerful/ telepathic/ hindu witch and SHE is the ONLY person I let read my cards. I love her, and Carmella of course... Everyone else... Hi!!!!!! Elizabeth ~ Namaste read more

Another fantastic trip here. The owner is super sweet and always gives me good suggestions on new oils. Today I got the emmoliant body lotion with "tea blossom". It's perfect for fall and the lotion is really hydrating. I will always be a fun unless they kill my dog. Or, they go back in time and bring my old dog back to life, only for me to be filled with joy, then kill her again. Then I definetly would not shop here again. read more

I went to Essentials today to see if I could but some oils to get some for a health issues I suffer from. The staff was VERY friendly and understanding. They found a great oil to try. I love the way I was treated and look forward to coming back. read more

Amazing herb collection, good energy, always smells good, very inviting, I always feel very wholesome coming here. I love this spot!

When Essential Elements Apothecary moved into my old house (true story!), I was convinced I would hate them and would try my hardest to chase them out of the neighborhood. I couldn't possibly be more wrong or more grateful for their presence in my old 'hood. Let's start with Carmella, the owner and enchanting master herbalist. She is completely knowledgeable, patient, helpful and absolutely stunning. I recently picked up a few necessary items I was after and I could never have done it without the assistance of Carmella or the existence of this magical little shop. Next, their extensive herbs and teas collection is either locally grown and/or certified organic. I personally refuse to buy my sage anywhere else as the one they carry is wild harvested in Oregon and burns incredibly clean. Finally, their healing stones collection is abundant and inexpensive, in fact everything in the whole store is beyond reasonably priced. If you are into natural remedies and healing herbs, this is the shop for you. If you've never been, do yourself a favor and stop in, have some tea, say hi to Carmella, pick up some incense, get some bulk herbs and I promise you you'll walk out with revitalized energy. read more

I can't say enough good things about Essential Elements and Carmella, the owner. My dad has been playing guitar for 50 years and had to stop these past two years because the eczema on his hands got so bad that it made his fingers bleed and scab. During those entire two years he was seeing the head dermatologist at OHSU and various other doctors about it, and he'd tried every topical cream and medication under the sun trying to fix it with virtually no results. Some of the topical creams were steroids and actually thinned the skin on his hands. I went in and showed Carmella a picture I took of my dad's hands, and she gave me a salve that she makes herself which I passed on to him. It's been three days and his hands are almost completely healed. No more bleeding, just all new skin growing where the cracks have been for years. I went to visit him yesterday and he was playing guitar and I almost cried. Thank you Carmella and thank you Essential Elements. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, as someone who's only ever really been exposed to western medicine. You've given me a lot of faith in a holistic approach (at least in -your- holistic approach) :) read more

We were here yesterday, I have been guided to our tea spot. They have wonderful interns and an amazing selection of stones, teas, and herbs. This is destined to become my favorite place. read more

I just LOVE this place. It's another place that reminds of the old Atlantis Rising store off 82nd and Stark (alas, no longer there!). And actually, the owner, Carmella, used to be at Atlantis Rising! Everyone is friendly and very laid back. There are various metaphysical classes offered on a regular basis and at good prices. Herbs and a variety of metaphysical, natural, and ecletic gifts and books are also available. The best thing is the tea. Love the tea! And we're not talking little Celestrial Seasonings baggies of tea. We're talking the REAL thing! You can pick from the tea menu, or ask one of the workers to custom mix one up. Awesome! This has a feeling of kind of a second home. Comfy couch, tea, friendly chats, good prices - what more could a person want? read more

After two years here in Portland and many more experiences with Herb shops, this one fell very quickly to the bottom of my list. Folks did not continue to be as helpful and nice and I realized that their method for storing the herbs actually took away from the quality of the herb (keeping herbs in jars that keep the sun out helps the herb maintain it's potency). There are a few times I went in and got either no service at all or was treated a bit rudely. Now, there is no outright wrong doings here, there are just much better sources for your herbs and stones and the like. read more

This place has an interesting vibration, and if you've been there you will know what I mean...there is a good selection of herbs and crystals and people are friendly enough but I always feel a little bit like there is some 'inner circle' going on that I, as a customer, am not a part of. This place is in a big old house with many herbalists, hypnotists and travelers who are earning their keep by learning the trade, so there is a lot of interesting energy there. I never feel comfortable lingering too long but it is definitely an affordable and approachable place to find what you need. read more

There is a wide variety of herbs. However, the man who was working there did not say a single word to us. He didn't say hello, or goodbye. I was extremely disappointed and have never had such a negative experience in an apothecary. I felt like the man was judging us. I would have bought something, but I felt so unwelcome I did not. I love talking about plants and herbs and I had a lot of questions, but the man clearly did not want to talk. I will be going to apothecaries with employees who treat customers like they actually care about them in the future. Isn't that the point of doing this work? read more

Me and i few friends were looking for a place to pick up some salvia, and we decided to try this place we saw while walking down Hawthorne. The first thing i noticed was that it had a very relaxes, laid back feeling, and everyone who worked there was very nice. The person who helped us was more than knowledgeable about all of the products in the store, and went out of his way to find out anything he did not know. They also had a huge variety of products, and it seemed that everything had a story behind it. It was a great experience and would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Like anything profound and magical, there are no words to describe the Essential Elements Apothecary without having experienced it for yourself, but, like anything profound and magical, we still have to try. The shop has been open since February of 2008, and has continued to flourish in ways beyond our imagination since. Run entirely by volunteer effort, the apothecary has become more than just a shop - it is place where profound healing occurs on a daily basis, a place where massive amounts of information and energy are exchanged and transmuted, and a community center where people from all walks of life may come to share skills, inspiration, knowledge, and love. Whether you're just stopping in to enjoy a cup of tea, or if you are in seeking of healing, the Apothecary's doors are open to all genuine souls seeking peace, health, and knowledge. Our master herbalist Carmella Cook has been helping people help themselves through herbal medicine for over a decade. With a selection of over 400 organic and wild-crafted herbs, along with professional herbal extracts, tinctures, healing teas, natural care products, and essential oils, the apothecary's medicine cabinent is well equipped to aid many ailments. In addition to our herbal remedies, the apothecary is also home to many other forms of healing as well. We cooporate with a network of local healers to provide diverse, specialized forms of care, including Massage Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Free Meditation Classes, Flotation Tank Therapy, Support Groups, Herbal Workshops, and much more! Check out our calender to see a comprehensive list of events, classes, and workshops. We are entirely run by volunteer effort; no one has ever profited from the establishment other than the community itself - all proceeds go to expand the shop in its service to the community, as we work together to create a more concious, beautiful, and sincere world for all sentient beings to coexist in harmoniously. read more

This week i found this little place online and wanted to go as soon as i was done reading their website. I walked into the store and was greeted by this enchanting woman I felt a true connection with her when i was telling her what ails me and she was so helpful I purchased a couple bottles that she recommended along with some tea it was fantastic, that night i went home made my tea as she suggested and i was so tired and relaxed as i deal with so much pain it seemed to actually help my pain and i was able to sleep, When i woke the next morning i was full of energy and even made it a point to drive down to this new enchanting little store i highly recommend this store if you are into pagan You will feel right at home. Brightest Blessings read more

Honestly I have mixed feelings about this place, love the herbs and stones and crystals but some of the artwork ain't so cool. My husbands spirit guide happens to be a dragon and they got a pic of a dragon in chains, that made my husband hurt, upset, and and sick to see (he prefers to see free roaming dragons). A young girl behind the counter was a tad rude like she has no manners and lost her mind. plus you have to climb stairs to get into the building so its hard for those of us with knee and feet problems or can't walk at all. the atmosphere felt weird and a lil off and auras of those who worked there was really not good. read more

They sell a ton of essential oils... great selection, and the best ear coning candles I've ever bought. Very nice place, and a calm and peaceful vibe. read more

They literally have everything you could need when it comes to holistic medicine. The owner Carmella is one of the nicest most caring women you will ever meet and the staff is always caring, upbeat, and helpful and if they don't know something they are honest about it and will direct you to Carmella, the master herbalist. Also the vibe of the place is just spectacular. You will leave feeling better than you came. They also have tons of crystals and books. It's just super fun to browse and wander around. read more