By Susan Foster
The Wylder 33’s botanical apothecary line doesn’t merely lean on tradition; it operates on an energetic level, a concept akin to vibrational medicine and healing. Each bottle—whether labeled Love Potion, Beauty Potion or Alchemist—offers an ambitious pledge to transform your inner world, addressing everything from the sting of a breakup to the weight of social anxiety. The brand draws on over three decades of research led by its founder, CC Skye, whose expertise spans spiritual psychology, frequency healing, plant energetics and yogic philosophy, complemented by an apprenticeship under a revered Himalayan medicine man.
PURIST: How did you initially embrace this practice and discover the potency of liquid herbs, flower essences?
CC Skye: I was first introduced in Nepal in my early 20s. I opted in to an independent study with a medicine man who lived a four-day walk from Tibet out in the middle of nowhere. We would make concoctions of all kinds, and he taught me about plant spirits and how to make remedies. Later, when I started building the formulas for The Wylder, I loved how the liquid form affected me immediately, alleviating anxiety or overwhelm, and induced a state of calm almost on contact.
The surrounding Buddhist villages relied on him not just for healing, but for survival. And this wasn’t some plant medicine guru or pseudo mystic—he was the real deal, a true medicine man. He wasn’t just treating symptoms; he was entering trance states, moving between worlds and bringing people back from dire illness. His work wasn’t symbolic; it was profound. He was a warrior of the unseen, with a heart of pure gold.
After that life-changing week, he and I turned our attention to the plants. In Nepali, he explained that plants carry a life force—an essence that, when infused properly, can replenish and revitalize the body. He spoke about the consciousness within each plant, how they are not just substances but living intelligences with a soul, a spirit, a purpose. The botanical infusions we crafted felt like life force in a bottle.
What were your next steps in honing your knowledge of plant medicine and developing your six formulations?
I continued to work and learn and research, but now under an herbologist and yogi who also taught me a good deal about the specific healing energies of certain plants, and how to cultivate my own communication with plants. I also worked with a mentor in the U.K., who at age 90 further taught me how specific plants can change your emotional and energetic state. She would talk about how plants can help to manifest your desires easily by removing long-held emotional blocks and limiting beliefs through these botanical infusions from flower essences. All of these were combined and narrowed down to six formulas that I feel encapsulate our most innate needs.
I love the meaning and intention behind tinctures.
There is a lot of fascinating research that has been done, mainly case studies. One of my favorite ingredients in the Supra-Calm formula and Social-Light formulas is a plant called yarrow, known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, wound healing, and digestive issues. Also, metaphysically, I believe in its ability to build a protective energetic layer around you. It’s a plant that filters out what we don’t need. While in development, I started infusing the formulas with yarrow in order to dispel the onslaught of negative energy in Los Angeles that seemed to erupt after the pandemic. The environment was so intense energetically, so we took drops of yarrow and infused the tinctures. It dispels lower energy frequencies of all kinds. All of my blends are science-based and holistic.
I traveled the world looking for the answers, the magic bullets, and this is what I found: Everyone needs heart healing in a bottle—after a breakup, healing from shock trauma or just needing a moment of complete calm. The healing of reconnection to each other; healing by infusing the feminine, from remembering one’s innate beauty and inherent self-worth; healing from the societal messaging of perfectionism and comparison culture that can take us down.
And therein lies the deep intentions in each of your formulas.
Indeed. And in the end, I learned that raising your vibration is really the only way to truly rise above your circumstances. These herbal botanical formulas help us to do that. thewylder33.com