Birdsong Botanicals is an internet- based business primarily located in rural Siskiyou County, California.  The company began when the owner Cathy Macay decided to combine her nearly twenty years of herbal practice and study with her experience as a certificated educator, healing arts practitioner and martial artist.   

To connect to the sacred or accomplish a desired result, plants were often burned as smudge or incense.  While there are additional ways to accomplish this without burning plants, Cathy wanted a naturally scented herbal product that was simple and convenient to use in a classroom setting, after a healing session, or around the home.   

Inspired by Juniper trees that grow prolifically throughout Siskiyou County and that have historical cross-cultural use circumboreal, Cathy created her first room spray.  With over six scents to choose from Cathy refers to her sprays as Incense in a Bottle.  Like incense, her sprays do more than just scent an area they work with energy.   

The singing birds in rural Siskiyou County and urban San Francisco inspired our company name.  The Western Meadowlark was chosen (chose us?) as our mascot because of its harmonious presence in Siskiyou County grasslands where the Juniper trees also reside.  You can further read about the Meadowlark by clicking the link on our site. 

Since the early ‘90s the owner Cathy Macy has been working with plants.  She was fortunate to live in an area of San Francisco that had a magnificent garden.  “I walked in the yard and immediately knew that some of the plants were fragrant just by looking.  I remember thinking they looked as if they were sticky.”  Well they weren’t sticky but definitely fragrant!  What she had been viewing were Lemon Verbena and Rose Geranium. Both plants grow well in the SF Bay Area due to the Mediterranean climate, which is similar to the climates of Chile and South Africa where respectively both plants are native.  Cathy began self-study and eventually took classes in aromatherapy and herbalism where she studied and practiced the medicinal uses of plants.   Cathy initially began to study plant medicine when she found herself without health insurance in the late 80s.  She had moved from the east coast and had an office job downtown SF when she decided to transition into the healing art of Shiatsu.  With no health insurance and a history of sore throats and bronchitis she quickly learned the fine art of kitchen medicine and beyond.

Birdsong Botanicals creates products that are natural, safe and effective.  Our products use plant ingredients that have been used historically by many cultures and whose use holds much value and promise in the hustle and bustle of contemporary society.  We use our products in our own homes and businesses and we are confident that you too will be satisfied with their quality and authenticity.  In addition to online purchase you can find our products at select stores and at local fairs/venues in the Northern California and Southern Oregon area.