Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to Zen Life, a botanical wellness brand inspired by the plants, scents, and traditional self-care rituals of Southern China. Our collection brings together handmade soaps, natural incense, herbal hair-wash powders, botanical bath products, and other simple rituals designed to make everyday life feel calmer and more intentional.

About Zen Life

What is Zen Life?

Zen Life is a botanical wellness and self-care brand inspired by traditional plant-based rituals from Guangxi and Southern China. Our products are designed around simple daily practices such as bathing, hair washing, incense burning, foot soaking, and handmade cleansing.

Our philosophy is simple:

Simple rituals, a brighter you.

Where does Zen Life get its inspiration?

Zen Life draws inspiration from the founder’s upbringing in Guilin, Guangxi, and Yao cultural traditions, as well as the plants commonly found throughout Southern China.

These include sweet osmanthus, ginger, tea seed, mugwort, golden camellia, loofah, jasmine, and many other regional botanicals.

Some Zen Life products reinterpret traditional practices for modern homes, including tea-seed hair washing and Yao-inspired botanical bathing rituals.

Are Zen Life products traditional Chinese medicine?

No. Zen Life products are sold as botanical personal-care, bathing, fragrance, and lifestyle products.

Although some ingredients and rituals have long histories in Chinese and Yao culture, Zen Life products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Handmade Soap

Are Zen Life soaps handmade?

Yes. Our botanical soaps are produced in small batches and may feature ingredients such as mugwort, loofah, golden camellia, osmanthus, jasmine, centella, or other plant-based materials depending on the variety.

Because they are handmade, slight differences in color, shape, texture, scent, and appearance are normal.

Why does my soap look slightly different from the product photo?

Natural ingredients and handmade production create small variations from batch to batch. Botanical powders, flowers, oils, and plant extracts can naturally vary in color.

These differences are part of the character of a handmade product and do not necessarily indicate a quality issue.

How should I store handmade soap?

Allow the soap to dry between uses. A draining soap dish is recommended.

Keeping the bar away from standing water will help it last longer.

Can I use Zen Life soap on my face?

Some customers may choose to use botanical soap on both the face and body, but skin sensitivity varies.

We recommend checking the individual product ingredients and patch-testing first, particularly if you have sensitive skin.

Ginger Hair Wash Powder

What is Ginger Hair Wash Powder?

Zen Life Ginger Hair Wash Powder is a water-activated botanical hair cleanser made with ginger and plant-based ingredients.

It is inspired by traditional herbal hair-washing rituals and is designed to help cleanse the scalp and remove everyday oil and buildup.

How do I use Ginger Hair Wash Powder?

Mix a small amount of powder with warm water until it forms a light paste or slurry.

Apply it to thoroughly wet scalp and hair, gently massage the roots, and rinse well.

You can adjust the amount of powder and water depending on your hair length and thickness.

Does Ginger Hair Wash Powder foam like shampoo?

Not necessarily.

Botanical powders generally produce far less foam than conventional shampoo. A large amount of foam is not required for the cleansing process.

Tea Seed Hair Wash Powder

What is Tea Seed Hair Wash Powder?

Zen Life Tea Seed Hair Wash Powder is inspired by a traditional Southern Chinese hair-washing practice using Camellia oleifera, commonly associated with tea seed cake or tea seed powder.

Tea seed materials naturally contain plant saponins, which are responsible for their traditional cleansing use.

Is Tea Seed Hair Wash Powder the same as liquid shampoo?

No.

It is a concentrated dry botanical cleanser that is mixed with water immediately before use. Its texture, aroma, and level of foam are very different from conventional liquid shampoos.

How do I use it?

Add warm water gradually to a small amount of powder and mix into a thin paste.

Massage it gently into wet scalp and hair and rinse thoroughly.

Because tea seed cleansing is naturally low-foam, do not expect the large amount of lather produced by synthetic surfactant shampoos.

Yao Herbal Bath Soak

What is Yao Herbal Bath Soak?

Zen Life Yao Herbal Bath Soak is inspired by the botanical bathing traditions of Yao communities in Guangxi and other areas of Southern China.

The product combines aromatic roots, stems, leaves, and other traditional botanicals in convenient filter sachets for use in warm baths and foot soaks.

How many sachets are included?

Each box contains 5 herbal sachets, with approximately 30g per sachet, for a total net weight of 150g / 5.29 oz.

How do I prepare a foot soak?

Place one sachet in hot water and allow it to steep for approximately 10–15 minutes.

Transfer the infusion to a foot basin if necessary and add warm water until the temperature is comfortable.

How do I prepare a full bath?

For a full bath, we recommend approximately 2–3 sachets depending on the size of the bath and your preferred herbal concentration.

Steep the sachets in hot water before adding the infusion to the bath.

Why does the bath water become brown or dark?

This is normal.

Roots, bark, leaves, stems, and other dried botanicals naturally release color into hot water during steeping.

Can I open the sachet and pour the herbs directly into the bath?

You can, but we generally recommend leaving the herbs inside the filter sachet.

This makes cleanup easier and helps prevent loose botanical material from entering your drain.

Mugwort and Herbal Bath Products

What is mugwort?

Mugwort is an aromatic herb that has been used in East Asian household and bathing traditions for generations.

Zen Life may use mugwort in products such as botanical bath products, foot soaks, incense, or handmade soap.

Are herbal bath products medicine?

No.

Zen Life herbal bath and foot-soak products are intended for external personal-care and relaxation rituals only.

We do not claim that they treat medical conditions.

Natural Incense

What types of incense does Zen Life offer?

Zen Life’s incense collection is inspired by botanical fragrances such as jasmine, sweet osmanthus, mugwort, rose, pomelo leaf, and other plant-based aromas.

Availability may vary as we develop new seasonal and botanical blends.

How many incense sticks are in each tube?

Individual incense products may vary, but many Zen Life incense tubes contain approximately 10g of incense, or around 25 sticks, depending on the thickness and handmade variation.

Please check the individual product page for the exact specification.

How long is each incense stick?

Many of our current incense sticks are approximately 21cm long.

Because they are produced in small batches, slight variations may occur.

How should I burn Zen Life incense?

Place the incense securely in an appropriate incense holder on a stable, heat-resistant surface.

Light the tip, allow it to catch briefly, then gently extinguish the flame so the incense continues to smolder.

Always use incense in a well-ventilated area and never leave burning incense unattended.

Is natural incense completely smokeless?

No.

Any traditional burning incense produces some smoke. Natural incense may have a softer scent profile than highly perfumed incense, but it still involves combustion.

Ingredients and Natural Variations

Where can I find the ingredients for each product?

Ingredient information is listed on individual product pages and packaging whenever applicable.

Because each botanical product has its own formulation, please check the product-specific ingredient section before use.

Are Zen Life products fragrance-free?

Some products are naturally aromatic, while others may contain botanical fragrance ingredients.

“Natural” does not automatically mean “fragrance-free,” so customers with sensitivities should always review the ingredient list.

Can natural ingredients cause irritation?

Yes.

Even natural botanical ingredients can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals.

We recommend patch-testing new skin or hair products before broader use.

Discontinue use if irritation occurs.

Product Safety

Can I use Zen Life products if I am pregnant?

Because many botanical traditions use complex herbs and individual health circumstances vary, we recommend speaking with your healthcare professional before using herbal bath products during pregnancy.

Can children use the herbal bath products?

Unless a product specifically states otherwise, our botanical bath blends are primarily designed for adult use.

Keep loose botanicals, incense, and powdered products out of reach of children.

Can I eat or drink any Zen Life botanical powders?

No, unless a specific product is explicitly sold and labeled as food.

Our hair powders, bath powders, herbal soaks, soaps, and incense products are intended for external or aromatic use only.

Shipping

Where do Zen Life products ship from?

Many Zen Life botanical products are shipped from China, where we work close to the botanical materials and production sources that inspire the collection.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Zen Life is designed as a global botanical lifestyle brand, and we ship to many international destinations.

Availability may depend on local customs and import restrictions.

How long does shipping take?

Most international orders are expected to arrive in approximately 7–10 business days after shipment, although customs inspections, holidays, weather, or local delivery conditions can occasionally cause delays.

How much is shipping?

Orders of $100 USD or more receive free standard shipping.

Orders below $100 are charged a $10 flat shipping fee.

Returns

What is your return policy?

We generally accept eligible returns within 14 days of delivery, subject to the conditions listed in our Return Policy.

Because soaps, bath products, hair powders, and other personal-care products may come into direct contact with the body, opened or used products may not be eligible for return for hygiene reasons.

Shipping charges are generally non-refundable unless required by law.

Please review our full Return Policy before purchasing.

What if my product arrives damaged?

Please contact Zen Life as soon as possible after delivery and include clear photographs of the product, packaging, and shipping label.

We will review the issue and determine the appropriate solution.

About Natural Products

Why do some Zen Life products have an earthy or unusual smell?

Real botanical ingredients do not always smell like conventional perfumed cosmetics.

Roots, herbs, leaves, seeds, wood, flowers, and plant powders each have their own natural aroma.

We consider this part of the botanical experience.

Will the color or scent change over time?

Natural ingredients may gradually change in color or aroma, particularly when exposed to heat, humidity, air, or sunlight.

Store products tightly closed in a cool, dry location whenever possible.

Still Have Questions?

We want Zen Life rituals to feel simple and enjoyable.

If you have questions about a specific product, ingredient, shipping destination, or how to use an item, please contact us through the Contact Us page before ordering.

Zen Life
Botanical rituals from Southern China.
Simple rituals, a brighter you.