The other day a friend sent me a copy of an ingredient label from a jar of body cream that another friend of hers was raving about. She was asking my opinion on whether the ingredients in the cream were safe. The list of ingredients was long as they often are, but in between the pure ingredients was a long list of chemical ingredients that caught my attention. You know, the chemical names that you can't pronounce and have no idea what they are until you look them up. There were lots of those! She told me that her friend was selling this cream through a network marketing company and folks were purchasing it like crazy. She had told her friend that she didn't think the chemical ingredients were good for her skin and her friend replied that the people buying it didn't care. They loved the way that it felt on their skin so it didn't matter what was in it. Not what I'd like to hear, but in the business of skincare I used to hear this often. Nowadays, I hear it less, and I'm thankful for that.
As we got to talking she mentioned to me how she felt that Bittersweet should boast more about the transparency of the ingredients in their soap and skincare products. I often take these transparency thoughts for granted since it's always come naturally for me to create a pure and chemical-free product for the skin. Taking thoughts for granted happens sometimes when you manage your own business. You somehow think that everyone should just automatically know what's good and what's not, but this just isn't the case, and her comment helped me to be more aware.
Over the past twenty-plus years Bittersweet has not only taken great pride in creating a chemical-free line of body essentials and we will never waver in those pure thoughts. After all the time it takes to make a skincare product from the ground up it has never made a speckle of sense to pollute that product with harmful ingredients. In fact, I've always used myself as a guide. If I wouldn't put something on my skin, I'm sure not going to offer it to a customer!
I believe that this manifesto is why Bittersweet has been successful. Rest assured, I will never abandon these thoughts! I also believe in offering the best skin care at an affordable price! So often there are too many fingers in the cream! The topic of wholesale, retail, etc. comes to mind and I'm not going to touch on that, but in a nutshell, less is more!
It's challenging to make folks aware of this, and I feel fortunate that my shop is pioneering the wave of clean products to the consumer.
Boy oh boy, am I loving the new shop layout!
It is funny how my shop really isn't very large, but the placement of furniture and objects of attraction seems to be endless! We love having our Scent Station in the back room. The new space offers more room for the unique department.
I'm working on yet another new line. Honestly, it's becoming a challenge to keep up with all of them! This is the most recent and will follow, Bedtime Bath. At least that's the plan for now.
We're getting ready to bring these back! I'll be putting together the diffuser formulation next week and introducing them at the shop. I'm making this old, but new aroma tool part of our Scent Your Own so you'll be able to choose from our large menu of essential oils and fragrances to scent your diffuser. How fun is that?
A few years back my Aunt Vivian visited me from Santa Fe and we visited one of my favorite Missouri antique shops. She spotted these pretty china saucers. I purchased them and then captured this image alongside a bouquet of seeded eucalyptus. It's one of my favorite pictures and makes me think of my aunt and spring! The flowers remind me of how much I love them! I'm yearning to pick up our fresh flower orders again. We offered fresh bundles of seasonal flowers at our shop last year. There's nothing better to surround yourself with better than flowers! Well, maybe artisan soap and apothecary! Feeling it! Lucky Girl! I hope that the feverfew is available. It's one of my favorites. It may be a tad bit early. The fresh seeded eucalyptus can be hung from the showerhead to help clear nasal passages. If you've never done it, you should!
What is it about the two of these? Linen and Indigo, love! We're getting in our spring/summer lines and they are blowing us away! It's an exciting time at Bittersweet!
Our Zero Waste line is humming a happy song! Have you ever used wool dryer balls? If not, you may wish to start! Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the balls, or not, if you prefer unscented. Their main job is to control static. They are amazing! My only issue is that if you have a dog, you may very well find some missing!
It's time again for this Lip Balm! I'm obsessed with anything peach! Looking forward to bonding with a new Peach Soap soon!
Another collection! I'm kind of fond of collections...That little coffee or teacup sold fast! I believe we have two left at the store and we're not able to order any more. I'm finding that to be the case in our wholesale ordering. Items are here, and then they're not. At least you don't need to worry about that with Bittersweet products because Jill will make more!
I made a lot of fresh Car Spice before I left the shop yesterday. It's coming at that time of year when we want to freshen our cars and closets and spaces with scent.
Now just look at that rich and frothy moisturizing lather! Take a close look. Then think to yourself how it's chemical-free and so yummy for your skin! I enjoyed taking this picture. I grabbed an enamel basin from the back room and filled it with warm water. Then I took a bar of Bittersweet and swooned it around in the water. The lather filled the bowl!
Our newest Bittersweet addition, Rosewater Face and Body Creme made its debut last week! We almost sold out! No worries, I'll make more!
Then the hats... The summer hats are coming!
I've never been more excited to share our collections!
Keep the faith and spread some love...
Jill
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