Nola Aroma
Chatting with the founder of B + E Essentials
After my weekly hot yoga session last week I noticed these pretty little glass vials with B+ E Essentials written on them. But, it wasn’t until I spotted the same adorable logo again at the Clothing Exchange checkout that I realized it was a New Orleans based business! Of course, I then wanted to try them immediately! And what a treat! She’s got bath salts, linen spray, yoga mat spray and even kid’s blend oils. The aromas are light, serene, and natural. They also create custom blends for wedding and event take home gifts and even offer birthday party packages to create your own unique scent! In these insanely unforgiving times we can all use a little aromatherapy, right? Let’s chat with the creator and producer Melyne Holmes for more details!
Epiphany: How did you become involved in/learn about aromatherapy?
My mom has been using essential oils for years and has taught me so much about the benefits of oils as well as inspired me to make my own products. I always loved the individual oils but I am very particular about scents and was never quite satisfied with the blends offered by the big MLM’s and other companies so I decided to take matters into my own hands and create my own blends. My children have extremely sensitive skin and I really like controlling exactly what I use on them. I began experimenting and sharing products with friends and family and with lots of encouragement decided to turn it into a small business. I do tons of research on everything I use in my products. As essential oils have become more popular there are a lot more studies on certain oils and I read everything I can find.
Where do you create and bottle your oils? Do you use glass bottles for sustainability purposes?
All of my products are hand made in my home studio (my kitchen)! Sustainability is so important to me. I love re-purposing and up-cycling. My house is full of furniture, window treatments, you name it that I have collected from family, estate sales, consignment shops. We waste so much as a society and I feel a responsibility to leave as small a waste footprint as I possibly can. The glass bottles I use are recyclable and re-usable. I also use paper packaging for bath salts. Many of my clients bring their bottles in for re-fills which I love!
How do you devise the various blends? Do you start with an ailment and try to fix it or the other way around?
Usually I start with the problem and address it with oils. Headaches, sleep, focus, mood, etc. can be improved with aromatherapy. I recently branched out and created ‘perfume’ blends that don’t address a specific ailment but they do smell amazing and make me happy when I use them (in place of traditional perfumes). I used a more complex and sophisticated blend of essential oils along with organic Argan oil and Jojoba oil as carrier oils. They leave your skin nourished and smelling great! I really enjoy the creativity involved in making new blends especially seasonal blends and custom blends for clients.
Is sustainability a factor in which types of plants/flowers you use?
Yes definitely a factor. I purchase oils from extremely reliable and responsible companies that use sustainably sourced ingredients. The oils are guaranteed pesticide free, wild, or organic and free of harmful fillers. It is important for me to purchase the highest quality pure essential oils available. For carrier oils I use organic and fair trade whenever possible.
For people just getting started with essential oils, what's a good first product?
I would recommend the Be Calm blend as a great starting point. Be Calm is a blend of Lavender and Peppermint which are both crowd pleasers that address multiple issues. From anxiety and stress to soothing skin. Another great option for people getting started with oils are room, linen and yoga mat sprays. I use them to freshen up everything from tennis shoes, ballet shoes, soccer shin guards and more.
B+E Essentials is available directly on @b.e.essentials instagram. For custom events, contact Melyne at BandEessentials@gmail.com
**It is important to note that just like anything essential oils can be harmful when used incorrectly. All of the products are carefully created with proper use guidelines. When using essential oils on your own make sure you are using correct ratios of essential oils to carrier oils or drops of oil to water in diffusers.**