I received a pound of dried Skullcap last month, as I was running low on my own cultivated Skullcap that I use in many of my tea blends. I was deeply disappointed when I saw it in it's clear plastic bag. I have been ordering dried herbs when my own supplies are low or if I can't grow something particular, for over 25 years now, so I am used to seeing that the commercial stock usually doesn't compare to my own small scale, home grown and dried herbs. This Skullcap however, had no inkling of life left in it; it was a matted green, didn't smell and felt like dried, crushed grass cuttings devoid of any energy or spirit. The comparison to mine didn't help - mine was a vibrant green, still with some humidity in the herb (though adequately dried) and definitely still full of life and energy. It's ok, it motivates me to grow more of my own.