Orbella Fragrant Moss // Patchouli

Orbella Fragrant Moss is a line of home fragrances cultivated in a glass terrarium. Using nature’s simplest ingredients – sunlight, CO2, and water – Orbella delivers a healthier, eco-friendly alternative to chemical-based air fresheners. No solvents. Just home fragrance the natural way. Created by Taxa, a biotechnology startup in San Francisco, Orbella combines living moss with a beautiful fragrance that lasts longer than cut flowers. But Orbella isn't just a home air freshener. It is also a symbol of a more sustainable future in which nature and science enjoy a symbiotic relationship, a future full of eco-friendly, bioengineered home plants. This particular terrarium freshener features a Patchouli fragrance. It's earthy and spicy with hint of incense, creating a natural aroma that will freshen your space.

When you receive your package, remove the petri dish of moss from the top of the box and place out of direct sunlight, and empty the stones from the cloth bag into a strainer. Run the stones under water for 30 seconds to rinse off any dust. Then, pour clean stones into a cup and leave them to soak in water overnight. Then, open the petri dish containing the moss. Using a fork, gently lift the moss off of the nutrient gel-coated disc. Submerge the moss in a dish containing a half-inch of water, and save petri dish for the next step.

Retrieve the cup with the stones and pour out the water. Using a teaspoon, scrape the gel out of the petri dish and add it to the cup with the stones. Add a teaspoon of fresh water to the cup and mix with teaspoon. Carefully spoon stone-gel mixture into the base of the glass terrarium. Take care to avoid touching the sides of the terrarium with the gel. When the mixture has been fully transferred, use the base of the spoon to flatten the stones across the bottom of the terrarium.

Retrieve dish with moss and remove plastic backing to the moss, using a fork to get under the moss if required. Using your fingers, roll the moss into a cylinder that can fit through the terrarium opening. Place the moss inside the terrarium on the stone-gel mixture. Position the moss with your fingers or a fork. Once you are satisfied with the position of the moss, gently press it down, taking care to not squeeze the gel out of the sides of the moss.

When caring for your terrarium, remember that orbella doesn't respond well to hot, dry climates, and prefers temperatures below 77°F (25°C). Place Orbella in a room with a window where it will receive natural light or where the lights are on at least eight hours a day. Avoid intense, direct sunlight.

Water Orbella twice a week. Keep the gel under the stones hydrated by pouring a quarter of a cup of water into the terrarium, or enough to ensure the moss is submerged. Fully soak the moss for 2-5 minutes. Then, pour away excess water. You may also add home plant fertilizers to the terrarium if you wish.