About Melissa’s Botanicals French Medical Aromatherapy Redefined.

As a certified herbalist and aromatherapist, Melissa Farris has been revealing the secrets of nature’s healing power for more than 20 years. When she isn’t inspecting the lavender fields of Provence or perfecting her latest formula, Melissa uses her expertise to educate the public about the role of pure essential oils in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Melissa Farris in Lavendula Angustifolia fields of S.A. Plantes Aromatiques du Diois. Notice the bush is small and the colour is variegated. These help distinguish the difference between Lavender and Lavandin.

Farris founded Veriditas Botanicals in 1995 and a year later Simplers Botanical Company, LLC, located in Forestville, California. Her companies were the first to introduce ECOCERT organic essential oils to Whole Foods and the U.S. marketplace, and the first to provide education on how to use them medicinally. After selling Simplers Botanical Company, LLC in 2002, Farris returned to her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she established Veriditas Botanicals as one of the Midwest’s leading providers of pharmaceutical-grade, organic essential oils. She sold Veriditas Botanicals in 2016 and now works with the largest essential oil cooperative in the world, S.A. Plantes Aromatiques du Diois. (SAPAD)

Melissa Farris creating a Jasmine Perfume for a company in Paris, France.

A Rose distillation in Grasse, France for Chanel. This is the “leftover, or compost” after everything has been removed from the Roses.

Farris is a member of an esteemed, organically certified cooperative called SAPAD, located in Provence, France. The SAPAD network expands to over 30 countries around the world.

Sustainability through organic and biodynamic farming is at the core of her mission because she knows firsthand how much land and care are required to produce each drop. Farris is proud to reveal the sources of her products, which is a true rarity in the usually tight-lipped market of herbal extracts and essential oils. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications including msn.com and Alternative Medicine Magazine (now called Natural Solutions).

She conducts annual seminars at the prestigious Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington and has delivered lectures around the world, including in Greece, Czech Republic, France, and Japan. In the Twin Cities area, she has worked extensively with clients such as HORST (founder of Aveda and Intelligent nutrients), Prince, Aveda and more.

Our Commitment to Ingredients

Spilled Roses at Enio Bonchev on top of still during the rose distillation.

True Lavender angustifolia in Provence, France. The small bush and variegation of color indicate this is true lavendula angustifolia rather than Lavindin.

We have the deepest respect for our distillers because they produce the highest quality medicinal essential oils offered world-wide. These organic essential oils are produced with the intention of being used medicinally for their healing properties. Organic farming and distilling is not just a job, it’s a way of life. Encompassing a passion for plants and combining modern and historic techniques is a fine art that can take decades to develop.