You may never have heard of Clear Light, the little cedar-based body-care products manufacturer nestled in the affluence of Placitas, in the northern foothills of the Sandia Mountains. But the company--and its outstanding line of wares--has made a big splash with Prince Osman of Egypt, that country's current ruler. In fact, so satisfied is the Prince that he has decided to confer upon Clear Light the Egyptian Royal Warrant--the ancient stamp of Egyptian royal approval, coveted worldwide for its very sparing distribution. That would be impressive enough, but in this case Prince Osman had to revive the tradition, which had fallen into disuse, in order to bestow the warrant on Clear Light.
    Company founder, film actor Joshua Peine (pronounced Pine), first came to New Mexico 22 years ago, drawn by the light of the high desert in the late 1960s. In the process of trading Native American jewelry and weavings from his motorcycle throughout the state, he began learning about green cedar's herbal and medicinal qualities from Hopi and Navajo traders.
    In collecting the aromatic needles for his own use, he discovered a unique method of curing them to enhance and preserve their tangy aroma. (The curing method is still a trade secret.) He started giving sachets to friends, who asked for more to give to their friends, and so on.
    The company has always grown by leaps and bounds--but it's enjoyed sharply increased attention and sales recently, says Peine, as increasing numbers of people discover the products.
    Today, the sachets that were the core of the business for the first eight years make up only a small part of a complete line of top-quality, naturally-scented products. New products are always in progress, and Peine tests them all by giving samples to friends and loyal customers, using their responses to gauge product acceptance and quality for the general market.
    At the moment, Peine is working on a heavy-weight version of one of his most popular products, Cedar Mountain Moisture Lotion. The product will be named in honor of the royal warrant, and Peine expects to have it out by fall.
    Clear Light products are available at Wild Oats Markets in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Spectrum Cotton Wear in Albuquerque, Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, the Laughing Bear Ranch in Placitas, and select other locations, or by calling 1-800-JJ-PEINE.