Behind The Scents: May Edition
WELL, THIS MONTH FLEW BY!
Is it just me, or is it f***ing beautiful outside? I've been so focused on absorbing the natural beauty around me that it's almost June and I barely saw it coming! This spring in Chicago, we were lucky enough to have an incredibly blooming spring with Eastern Red Buds, Wild Geraniums, Bird Cherry, Lilac and more offering some of the most bountiful blooms I've seen in some time. EVERYTHING has been covered in flowers. It got me incredibly excited for this year's gathering season and my seeds are taking off:
As an avid gardener, cyclist, and general “I do stuff with my hands” kind of person, I've been thinking for some years now about a hand care kit for others like me. Aside from growing food, I’ve also been slowly transforming our grass into a native lawn to save water and to boost Native insects, so I have a lot of native lawn work ahead and I know that even with gloves, my hands are gonna get pretty beat up.
So I've been working on this hand scrub and hand balm kit to care for those summer hands and, well, I'm in love! Gardeners to mechanics are gonna love this kit, and it should be ready about mid June. I'm only making a few of these special babes:)
MORE COMING SOON
With June comes pride for many friends and family and as usual, I plan to stand behind them with support. This year, however, I'm doing something a bit different: we've always boxed our Rainbow soap but the truth is that, I've always hated how much the box blocked the color of the soap. So this year, it's going box free!
I'll be donating 10% of sales to Brave Space Alliance (https://www.bravespacealliance.org/) this year which is a great organization located on the south side of Chicago. Brave Space Alliance (BSA) is a Black trans-led LGBTQ+ center on the South Side of Chicago that creates and provides affirming and culturally competent services for the entire LGBTQ+ community of Chicago. Rooted in their Four Pillars of Dignity of Health, Housing, Food, and Identity, BSA provides dignified essential services, develops programs and initiatives for individuals and families, co-creates community spaces of care and connection, and conducts advocacy on issues that directly impact Trans, LGBQ+, and Black communities.
Just about every community currently needs some kind of support, and there is no better time to love thy neighbor unselectively. We are all stronger together.
CURRENT OBSESSIONS
Lately, I've been leaning HARD on my spring favs. All of the big blooms and cooler but somehow both sunny and wet weather have me leaning towards florals, earth, and the wet and cool coasts as of late. Y'all already know that I'm the layering queen and here are my current scent layers : I've been rotating between my Elderflower Cordial Bar Soap for a strong floral scent, my Matcha Latte Bar Soap for a mellow and earthy floral, and the Sequoia +Wild Sage Bar Soap for that herbaceous, woody, and oceanic scent. Following all of those, I've been using my Hinoki + Fern Hand and Body Wash to shave and the Hinoki + Fern Botanical Body Oil as my post shower moisturizer. Take a peak at all my spring favs here!
COST INCREASES COMING
Costs have been rising RAPIDLY and steadily every year since 2020, and as of June 1st I will be raising costs for a few core products. I will send another message about this in a few days with specifics. There will be a few trade offs, however: you’ll see even more improved packaging for items that I'm working to offer refills for (easier use and improved aesthetics) and deeper subscription discounts across the board. These changes will allow me to maintain high product quality and team support with my benefits and pay package as all costs have risen substantially.
Stay safe out there, and keep fighting the good fight. Happy Memorial Day!