Rachel with Astrid and Aurora still gets butterflies when she makes skincare products. She's always been artistic, but her creativity flourished in 2016. While pregnant and on bed rest, she started making soap and got hooked. Now she sells luxury scrubs, body oils, creams, and more at her store in Nashville. Get to know Rachel below!
How long have you been making skincare, and how did you get started? How long have you been selling your products?
As a kid, I always had a knack for chemistry. I also made art all the time, particularly dabbling on sketches, paintings, jewelry designs, and clothing. Back then I didn’t know it was my passion, and didn’t really think much of it. Art was in everything I did, just like how we breathe in air - it was just something I did.
When I was pregnant in 2016, I was told to rest in bed as I had minor complications and was also told not to move too much, so I decided to start a hobby that allowed me to sit in one spot. I then started soaps and got hooked throughout my pregnancy. It felt like it was some sort of meditation for me. It carried on for about a year and I developed my own soap carving technique, which at the time I call the “Fleur Glass.” I remember the night I finally completed a design, I was so excited about the other things I could do from that technique that I couldn’t sleep that night as my mind was jogging around. After compiling a few of them, I decided to sell them on Etsy and sold a bunch of them.
I started becoming more serious about expanding my production in 2019 after I learned more about the world of natural skincare and after I enrolled in aromatherapy certification lessons. The delicate aesthetic of the Fleur Glass soaps really was the start of it all and it inspired me to create my first line of body oils. Product expansion has been going uphill since then.
What do you love most about making bath and body products?
It’s always very exciting! I get butterflies every single time. The process of concocting new formulas and combinations of aromas stimulated internal creativity. Creating something new and deciding what ingredients to use are definitely my favorite methods of discovery.
What inspires you to create?
While I always have an urge to create things, life happens and you get distracted with regular day-to-day activities, so most of the time I try to be patient whenever I can. Just being out and about with nature inspires me in general. Just like how discoveries in the Amazon rainforest yields to new types of medicinal discoveries, I know that there are a million things in nature that are untapped in my line of products, waiting to be explored.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get started?
No one is ever fully ready to start something. But that personal barrier can be mitigated by doing your research, whether it’s just reading on a small subset of information, or attending certification programs. We also need to accept failure really is an integral part of the discovery process.
Who’s another maker you admire? What do you love about their work?
Another maker I admire is Kazumi Kinoshita (Aromatic Labo). She is a maker of beautiful and delicate crystal clear soaps and the inspiration behind my Fleur Glass soaps. It would be an honor to meet her and get a few insights as to how her creations have materialized or where she draws her inspiration from.
Why did you decide to open a storefront? What are some of the advantages of doing so?
It seemed like the next logical step. It seems counterintuitive in today’s age where everything is pretty much sold online. The sense of smell has to be engaged from aromas, the sense of touch has to be felt from the product textures - it is quite hard to sell the product just by product description alone. Astrid & Aurora is all about stimulation of the senses from the moment they enter the store. It’s an experience that I like to think provides positive energy and healing, and brings happiness to people’s lives.
Have you experienced a fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Failure is a part of life, and I have experienced it countless times. It’s sad to think of the wasted time and money that were products of failures, but I consider it as the price that we have to pay in order to learn and grow. One notable failure I’ve experienced was when I tried reaching out to an online retail company where I wanted to sell my products but was ignored. Some time later, that same company contacted me and they now carry my products. They don’t seem to remember that I requested an audience with them before, but we’ve come full circle now. With every rejection, there is bound to be some learning somewhere, whether you should take a different approach, or diversity/differentiate your product offerings.
What plans do you have for your business moving forward?
My business is still in its infancy stage. I’m working on developing more products and collections. Having limited capital can stun and limit the growth of any company, so I’d like to standardize my processes so that in the event of investors coming in, it can be scalable where needed. I also dream to open more brick and mortar stores throughout the US and internationally, with the intent of spreading self-care and self-love with our products.
Rachel's top Bramble Berry picks
- Optiphen - I have several products that contain water. It is essential to put a broad spectrum antimicrobial in any product that has water/hydrosols in it.
- Botanical extracts like green tea and aloe vera - I love using botanical extracts in most of my products like creams and mists. Green tea and aloe extracts are amazing antioxidants that help repair, depuff, and calm the skin.
- Hyaluronic acid - I use it in my products such as the Supple Skin Mist. It’s a great natural ingredient that draws moisture into your skin and makes it feel hydrated and plump.
- Polawax - I make creams and lotions from scratch and this is a must. Water and oils don’t mix and this is what keeps them together, forever!
What’s the first Bramble Berry project you tried?
I remember, before delving into cold process soaps, one of the first soap projects I have ever made was a melt and pour one called Gentle Oatmeal Soap. This project was easy, fun, and smelled heavenly. I would still have fun doing this.
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