The story of Thieves

    Antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial. This famous herbal remedy has quite the lore behind it. By all accounts the use of this essential oil blend dates all the way back to 1413. A time when the Bubonic Plague was devastating most of France. Citizens and doctors alike. The plague did not discriminate and all who contracted it met their end. 
    At the time though there were four thieves running around taking advantage of the situation. They stole from the sick, knowing they were too weak to fight back. Eventually these men were captured and charged for their crimes. The punishment they faced was being burned alive. Despite having come into repeated and close contact with the plague they themselves had not contracted the disease and this intrigued the judge. He made a deal with them. If they were to tell him how they managed to stay plague free he would have mercy on them and they would not be burned alive. Quite the deal. They explained that they were perfumers who, due to port closures were out of work. They had mixed up a blend of essential oils that when applied to their hands, ears, temples, feet & a mask over their mouths, kept them safe from becoming infected. Satisfied, the judge kept his word and the men were not burned alive, but instead hanged for their crimes. 
    From that day forward the doctors who treated the plague victims wore this combination of essential oils on their hands, ears, temples & feet. They wore beak-like masks stuffed with cloths containing this special blend, Thieves. Interesting enough that bizarre (and unsettling) beaked mask is how doctors earned the nickname “quack”.