Spooky season is finally upon us, and what better place to find metaphysical supplies than Monsoon Mystics Apothecary & Mercantile?
Owner Torrie Dueñas started Monsoon Mystics 10 years ago, offering candles, skin care and apothecary products that incorporated regional desert plants.
Dueñas said that when designing her business, she wanted to create the store that she was looking for, that sold the items she wanted in her practice, with a focus on inclusivity.
A glimpse inside Monsoon Mystics, Tucson's newest mystical shop and apothecary located at 657 W. St Marys Road C9.
“Our overall theme is acceptance,” she said. “Creating a space that allows for people to access the things that they want for their own personal spiritual path, but also just their own enjoyment.”
Inside the shop, you’ll find herbs, books, altar tools, and other curiosities, as well as teas and skin care products made by Dueñas. In her products, Dueñas said she prioritizes sustainability and affordability, using desert botanicals to stay connected to the Arizona landscape.
Over the years, Dueñas has grown Monsoon Mystics from a booth selling candles and hand salves at St. Philip's Plaza, to a brick and mortar shop on St. Mary’s Road, and now, Dueñas said she’s preparing for the next great venture.
On Oct. 4, Monsoon Mystics will be hosting the third Bewitched Market from 1-6 p.m. at 657 W. St Marys Road. Dueñas said attendees can expect 40 local vendors, snacks, a coffee cart, a scavenger hunt and tons of witchy fun.
“We'll have tarot readers, astrology readings, aura photography, flash tattoos, oddities, and like curiosity stuff, and then henna as well,” she said. “We'll be having a scavenger hunt activity with a stamp card that everybody can participate in. All the activities are free, and you just go around the market and find the things on the card and get a stamp. If you get all five stamps, you get to enter your card into a giveaway for a $150 basket."
Customers shop the assortment of oils, sprays, candles and bath bombs for sale at Monsoon Mystic Apothecary and Mercantile.
The market will also be a farewell to the current St. Mary’s location as Monsoon Mystics will be moving to a new, secret location which will be revealed on Sunday.
Throughout this weekend, everything in the shop will also be half off every day, Dueñas said.
The last day to shop at the store before the move will be Monday Oct. 5. Monsoon Mystics will reopen in the new location on Oct.15. with a grand re-opening party from 12-7 p.m.
“There will be free tote bags with gifts for the first 25 customers, and then we'll have little snacks and cupcakes and drinks and that kind of stuff for the first day,” Dueñas said. “We'll see everybody there on the 15th.”
Dueñas said she is looking forward to the new opportunity, and hopefully expanding the shop’s reach in the community.
“I'm just really excited to see how much more we can grow for the community,” she said. “And how much that can help overflow into the support we can give other makers, and then the events that we can host, and the resources we can provide.”
This week for the $25 Challenge, I stopped by Monsoon Mystics to see what whimsical, witchy treasures I could find for under $25, here are just a few of my favorites:
Soaps from Monsoon Mystics.
Monsoon Mystics is of course known for natural skincare products, and you can find a variety of homemade face oils, salves and soaps among the crystals and herbs. Some of the soap scents include “Mal de Ojo, Evil Eye,” which smells like sage, blood orange and chamomile; “Naughty Bits,” which is scented with sweet orange, patchouli, and spearmint; “Creo-Soap,” with creosote and rosemary; “Prickly Pear;” and “This Bar Smells Gay,” which smells like lavender, lemon and vanilla. Each bar costs between $7-9.
Mud Mask Bar from Monsoon Mystics.
I was also drawn to the Mud Mask Face Bar, a two-in-one charcoal mud mask and gentle cleanser with chaparral, mint, oatmeal and coconut oil. It’s also extremely beautiful, and is made in a shimmery moon design. The bar is priced at $6.
Teas from Monsoon Mystics.
If you love a good cup of tea, Monsoon Mystics has you covered with a selection of house-made tea blends. Many of the blends have medicinal benefits like the “Honeybush Tea,” which is meant to help with hormone, skin and blood sugar balance. Some of the other teas you can choose from are “Sisters Tea,” with cinnamon and sage; “Dream Tea” with chamomile; and “CreosoTé,” a creosote tea with butterfly pea and ginger. Each 2 oz. bag costs $16.
Chai from Wild West Oracle for sale at Monsoon Mystics.
If herbal isn’t your thing, they also sell jars of Masala Chai from Wild West Oracle for $22.
Monsoon Magic Bar at Monsoon Mystics.
One of the more unique offerings in the shop is the Monsoon Magic aromatherapy bar where you can make your own delicious smelling shower steamer sachet for only $9. For scents you can choose from citrus, sage, mint, jasmine, rose, rosemary, cinnamon and more.
Vending machine at Monsoon Mystics.
Around the shop, between shelves of tarot cards, jewelry and oddities, you’ll also find vending machines containing cross stitch pins, charm bracelets, mystery tarot spreads, pine and palo santo sticks, crystals and more. Each item in the machine cost between $6-12.
Simmer Herbs at Monsoon Mystics.
If you’re looking for something truly witchy though, why not pick up a pack of their Simmer Herbs for rituals and cleansing. Their Cleanse & Reset mix includes sage, palo santo, lemon, peppermint, apple, and obsidian crystals for luck, healing and protection. They also have both full moon and new moon ritual herbs. New Moon Attract consists of rosemary, patchouli, orange, marigold, cinnamon and amethyst crystals, while Full Moon Release has sage, lavender, bay, cardamom and quartz. Each bag is priced at $13.
Cat candle at Monsoon Mystics.
They also have many, many different kinds of candles for spellwork, intentions or just decoration. I was especially fond of the bright pink cat candle which was priced at $13.
