Beads N Botanicals

Great place for incense, essential oils & blends, candles, incense, soaps — all crafted by the store owner.
Really good selection of crystals/​stones at different price points.
Bead inventory is smaller than a big box store, but more unusual too — has some beads hand crafted by glass blowers who sell directly to the shop.
I found a terrific himalayan salt lamp here at a great price on my last visit.
The book selection is metaphysical, self-​help, Tarot, magickal, etc.- was bigger & more diverse than the selection at our local Barnes & Noble-​& you can ask Catherine & the staff about the books, too.
Catherine is an incredible font of information about everything in the store– and will be upfront about pluses and minuses.
No real upselling in the conversation, either, which I appreciate.
The staff has varying levels of depth as far as those sort of discussions, but Catherine is usually there on Saturdays if you really need to get specific information.
The prices are fair -& I’ve found some deals here, too.
Lots of different price points, which I like.
They have Psychic, Tarot readings, Reiki sessions, different seminars & fairs going on at different times, or you just contact the reader & get an appointment 1:1.
The readers are generally very good– have had some useful insights from readings there.
The shop’s public Facebook page is the best place for news/​info/​hours/​contact info.
It’s a small, independent woman owned business, which I like to support, as I’m a small business owner, too.
If you’re driving in, or if time is critical for you: Call ahead or check the Facebook page for current days/​hours.
Most small businesses/​boutique type places don’t have consistent big box store hours.
Sole proprietors are often a ‘one-​person band’ and emergency things can come up that cause store closures or weird hours.
Always– with a small independent business– ‘trust but verify.‘
Again, I’m a small business owner, so I ‘get it,’ but customers need to understand the realities of small independent business, too.

If driving in, the Black Dog Steak & Ale house (mentioned in Esquire magazine) is next door; the Dancing Dog vegan eatery is around the corner, as is Heel to Toe (fantastic shoe store for consultative shoe buying).
There’s also two food coop-​type stores nearby, too (so plenty to do/​see).
Parking is street parking, but there are city lots around, too.
There’s a city parking garage a block away– I’ve never had a problem finding a spot.
Am happy that we have Beads and Botanicals (& the other businesses, too) here in Urbana! :-)

Don’t bother. Drove 2 hrs after checking their website for days and hours of operation. Got here and SURPRISE! Found a ratty little printed sign on the door stating spring hours were in effect. Mind you, this was October 20, hardly spring time. Closed on Tuesday (website said open on Tuesday), open by appointment. Infuriating! Two hours wasted. Looked thru the windows, doesn’t look like there is much available for the serious beader/​jewelry designer anyway. Complete waste of time.

Cathrine hooked me up when I needed help picking out some complimentary essential oil scents. I won’t go any where else for my oils! She also gave my husband a reading which he said has been very helpful.

Went here yesterday for some «supplies» I have been needing. Shop keeper very helpful and they had all stones I required. They carry candles, incense, crystals, tarot, and more.

I’ve been here for products (lovely stones, excellent incense, nice candles, essential oils) and for Reiki and Reflexology treatments by Marlita.
I’ve always been happy with my purchases — the incense and oils that Catherine makes are top quality.
Treatments with Marlita are always special. No matter how I feel going in, I feel much much better coming out!
I’m lucky this store is not close to my home — I’d be there all the time!

Cute little store. I went in to look for dried sage smudge sticks. They had a wide selection at various price points. I would go back again.

Outright Fraud!!!
Do not patronize this business! On ALL their websites including
and ebay store:
they happily take your money and send you NOTHING! They will not communicate with you either by phone, e-​mail or snail mail, no matter how many times you try. Once you give them your money — it’s GONE FOR GOOD!
Bad business practices and bad people — AVOID!

i used to buy incense here on a bi-​weekly basis, because it is damn good. then i bought expensive massage oil here, and when the bottle fell off a table a foot from the ground, it broke. my husband tried to return it and the owner basically accused him of being a liar — they actually ‘tested out’ a separate bottle by filling it with water and dropping it on the floor. well congrats, assholes, that bottle is not dysfunctional LIKE THE ONE YOU SOLD TO ME WAS. beads and botanicals sucks and i hope it goes out of business. the end.