4 minute read
Healing Power
from sisterMAG Issue 15
by sisterMAG
photos ALPHA SMOOTinterview VICTORIA KAU
Q: What kind of products do you sell at Cold Spring Apothecary?
A: Our products are natural, remedy based skincare, hair care, body care and home goods. From oils to help ease inflammation or fight acne to shampoo that encourages hair growth, our recipes are fueled by the healing power of naturals and wisdom of the traditional apothecary.
Q: Why did you choose the word "Apothecary"?
A: The decision to use the word apothecary was based on the fact that our products from development to conception are often need (remedy) based. For example the first products I ever made were our Volume Scalp Oil and our Volume Shampoo. Formulated for the specific needs of my clients (I was a hair stylist at the time), they are a blend of oils and essentials that have healing properties, encourage hair growth, and promote overall scalp health. Staying true to the definition of the apothecary, I use herbs and other natural elements to blend and dispense remedy based products. Also, more recently we have added a tonic bar, herbal dispensary and treatment rooms to our retail location for natural wellness services like facials, massage, acupuncture and more.
Q: Where and how are your productsproduced?
A: We blend all of our remedies at our "wellness lab" hidden in the woods of Cold Spring, NY. We are an all female run team and we use very traditional methods of mixing. More simply put we don't use machines, everything is carefully mixed by hand.
Q: Where do you find the inspiration for your products/product line?
For the most part, inspiration comes out of need. I suffered from allergies and adult acne so that's why my skincare line was developed. Whether it's for family, friends, customers, or myself, some type of remedy is usually the inspiration. Often while researching a remedy I'll come across an herb or oil with a scent that inspires me and that becomes a part of our home goods line as a result.
Cold Spring Apothecary is located in Cold Spring, USA, about 1 hour north of New York, Manhattan
Q: Which product is your best seller?
A: It really varies depending on the line. For skincare, our facial oils do really well. For haircare, our shampoos are always good sellers but our sea salt spray has a bit of a following. For body care, it's our Turmeric and Neem Scrub and our therapeutic salves.
Q: What services (e.g. Wellness, consultations) do you offer?
A: Our wellness house currently offers facials, hair treatments, massage & acupuncture. There are a lot of new additions in the works for spring 2015. We also offer educational workshops from DIY product how-to's to wellness education.
Q: Does your shop have an odor? (When you enter it…) How would you describe it?
A: On any given day more then half of our customers walk in with the expression "your shop smells lovely!" It's actually become a bit of a inside joke with the sales staff, that's how we greet each other in the morning. The scent would best be described as sweet floral notes mixed with warm, woody, herbal notes. We generally have any number of candles burning, our reed diffusers, and of course on the weekends the scent of our warm tea samples that we give out to customers fills the shop.
Q: Your philosophy in three words?
A: Natural, medicinal, beauty
Q: Your advice for the approaching cold and flu season?
A: Funny you asked this question as I am in the middle of prepping for our fall workshop on Cold & Flu prevention.
You should begin with defense, adding naturally healing plants to your pantry. You can make a tea, syrup or even a tincture of the following immunebuilding herbs: guto kola, rosemary, Echinacea, rosehips, hibiscus, and turmeric (one of my favorites, not only for flavor but also its medicinal properties as an anti-bacterial and anti-viral. I add it to my foods, and drink it in tea. From mid-September to April it’s part of my daily diet). In the event that you do get sick the following are great: ginger, basil leaf and Chamomile for nausea and headache, and slippery elm bark, sage and licorice root, marshmallow leaf, and elderberry for sore throat and cough. These are only a few examples!
coldspringapothecary.com
