Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Meet Juniperus communis — juniper. 🌲 Most people know it as the botanical that gives gin its flavour — but juniper's relationship with human health goes back thousands of years before anyone thought to distill it. In this video I break down its chemistry: the flavonoids and tannins that give it its astringent and anti-inflammatory character, and why it's historically been one of the go-to botanicals for skin complaints across European herbal traditions. Clarifying, antimicrobial, and deeply aromatic — this one earns its place in the formulation.