Ancient Ways has such a sparkling vibe: but my favorite part of Ancient Ways is the opportunity to…read moredo a tarot reading with Bear Paw! I love being able to receive wisdom both from indigenous Bear Medicine and the orishas of Santeria. Bear Paw's multiracial lineage gives them a fresh approach on spiritual questions. But the best part is the way Bear Paw supports me through making needed changes in my life. It's rare to find spiritual support that is both compassionate AND forceful, and Bear Paw is definitely both. That's the magic of Bear Medicine, I guess. When you think about it, in nature, bears are fuzzy and adorable-- but they are also HUGE and STRONG. So be prepared for that strong Bear Medicine, okay? It's a good thing! Sometimes it takes a bear to push me off my ass and make me deal with my shit. We all need that, right?! Over the years, Bear Paw has helped me navigate my father's death, the reconstruction of my sexual self-image following a nasty divorce, and most recently, preparing for new partnership and motherhood. If you are navigating a challenging transition, Bear Paw is a powerful guide to have. I also love the way Ancient Ways will dress your candles for you and help you get whatever you need while staying within your budget. It really is so affordable. All my altar candles are Ancient Ways at this point I think.

I've been coming here for almost two years. The staff is great, but Bear Paw is the GOAT. I have a…read morestrong connection with her. Her candle dressing skills are incredible. Once, she put a car in my candle; I asked how she knew I was trying to buy a new car. She said she felt it. I've been burning candles with the intention of buying a fully loaded MY performance. Two weeks later, I was approved with a 1% interest rate, and I'm now driving my new car. Just so you know, these things don't happen overnight; I've been burning candles every full moon since September 2025. On June 19th, 2026 Bear Paw brought the candle to its final stage, and my thoughts came to fruition. I'm now working on freeing myself from all whom try to have Dominance over me. I'm confident I will soon be free of these strong holds and forces and I will use them all as my foot stool. I love Ancient Ways and I love me some Bear Paw. She works on Thurs & Sunday. Tell her Nube said hi.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this store!! It's the cutest shop with a wide variety of scents. They…read morehave a focus on non-alcoholic and organic smells, which isn't a priority for me, but it's nice. I absolutely love the gardenia scent and am hoping it holds! The prices here are not too crazy. A lot of these essential oil/soap stores will overcharge, but I thought this place was reasonable. You can get a small bundle of items for $28, a potent diffuser with 15 mL of essential oil for $18, and the soap bars are around $5. They also have a happy hour sale! Very worth it for local, small batch scents, which I usually see going for more. The two women working there today were super welcoming and sweet as well. I will definitely be coming back :)

I had the most enriching fragrance-blending class experience at Scents By the Bay! The moment I…read morewalk-in, Tarah and Kiki made me feel at home. They were super friendly, highly knowledgable, & answered all my questions. Their passion & positive vibes were contagious. Being a fragrance lover who blends scents at home, I appreciated the clear, beautifully crafted guidance. The class balanced simplicity for beginners with deep educational insights. On top of that, their fragrance selection was unbelievable--literally a library of scents! They had over 700 options, from designer oils to pure essential and aromatherapy scents. As someone who's taken other classes with fairly small options, having such an eclectic, rare selection to choose from was next level. This was a perfect act of self-care after a busy weekend, and I left with new knowledge, a beautiful custom fragrance, and immense joy. This truly was a one-of-a-kind experience. Highly recommend! I love supporting local businesses and see myself being a frequent customer--probably will pop-in once or twice a month! I am excited to bring friends here for birthdays and special occasions. Already, planning to bring my husband for a date--so we can create a fragrance together! I'm just thrilled that something like this exists right here in the East Bay. This experience was a gem, and I can't wait to return again and again!

Amazon driver here..I came to deliver package for Liz! They were so kind! Offered snacks and water…read moreon a very hot day! Thank you so much :) -Breyson

Liz Nelson at Olfactorie is a total gem! I booked a sports therapy massage two days before my…read moresoftball playoffs, and it made all the difference. She really took the time to understand where I was feeling tight and sore, and focused her work exactly where I needed it most -- hips, shoulders, and calves took a beating this season. Her technique is a great mix of deep tissue and targeted stretching, and she knows exactly how to loosen up muscles without overdoing it right before a big game. I walked out feeling looser, more mobile, and mentally ready to compete. Honestly felt like I had an edge out on the field that weekend.

Nice selection of good smelling handmade soaps - I enjoy just looking around here as well as…read moreshopping. They organize their herbs and teas by intention and I find that logical and accessible. Friendly service and tasty tea, recommend coming in if you're looking for a healthy looseleaf tea blend.

Groovy shop with helpful wonderful people and magical potions. They have the far out items I need…read moreand of quality source.

I stopped by here to pick up some incense. Great selection on hand…read more This place is OG as it's the first black-owned Crystal shop in Oakland. Definitely coming here again, the owner was great!

Vibes-What a beautiful and serine space. Smells amazing and such a welcoming atmosphere…read more Love all the explanations of the different chakras, imbalances, and which crystals can assist. The queen- was personable and so helpful. Really talked us through what we wanted from the crystals and incense. She's a true practitioner and encouraging about her craft. She offers information and services. Then in the end, she even gave us advice on a few tasty black owned spots in the area.

Always the best spot for gifts. Megan was an absolute gem this afternoon. Wonderful energy and her…read morewrapping was such a sweet added touch. Reminded me why I keep coming back!

Nathan & Co has a bit of an odd and uncomfortable vibe…read more The service was non-existent (watched but never greeted) and their wares leaned toward low quality high sparkle/high price party supplies and general gifts. Think a more saucy Therapy. They carry some Gentlemans Hardware items, map themed cups and dish towels, but most of them don't feel unique, more like stocking stuffers or hen's party flavors. I'd really land on more of a 3.8 but even rounding up Nathan & Co wasn't my thing and I don't see myself coming back.

I bought two birthday cards here because I like their greetings and design. Aside from greeting…read morecards, Palm + Perkins has a ton of other items that range from small gifts and home decor to overlooked kitchen utensils (like wine stoppers) and other knick knacks. Considering the small space, the store has a surprisingly large selection of items and it's all well organized. When checking out, the cashier was friendly and rang me up quickly. When I'm looking for a greeting card, gift or needing to stock up on utensils/tools for the house and kitchen, I will come back to Palm + Perkins. Just a thoughtful, gem of a store in the neighborhood.

Stopping by Palm + Perkins is like therapy (this was especially true this holiday season since we…read moredidn't see family or go anywhere). It's really like a candy store for adults - there's something amazing (and made my local makers) in every corner you look! On this most recent visit, I went a couple days after Christmas and stocked up on holiday cards and ornaments for 2021 since all their holiday items were 50% off. The entire store was also 25% off as per their end-of-year sale. They have a fantastic selection of cards, gifts, homewares, jewelry, accessories, and select clothing items. It's the perfect place to treat yourself or others. They're doing a great job limiting people in their store and have hand sanitizer available.

I honestly don't recommend coming here at all. One of the employees assumed I didn't know Spanish…read moreand started speaking badly about me for no reason. Everything is overpriced as well. I walked out with three items, and the total came to over $50--three items I could have probably bought on Amazon for under $20.

Unfortunately, I found out this is the kind of place where you will get overcharged if you don't…read moreask for prices or have an idea of what things cost. If the employees think you don't know about these things they will take advantage. If you're in a hurry to get something - they definitely have the selection but ask for the prices before you head to the register. I was charged about 4-5x times over what some of these basic supplies usually cost. I was aware and took note - still purchased because I didn't want to drive around to look for more stuff but in my first time visiting, they showed their intentions.