In an age filled with artificially scented perfumes, candles, and other toiletries, Blended Wellness aims to be different. Inspired by aromatherapy, the company is committed to creating natural products that support the health and well-being of its consumers, while also giving back to the community and supporting organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. For founder and developer Nicole Lavery, her business isn’t just about selling products, it’s about creating cleaner, safer products that people can feel comfortable bringing into their homes.
LaBarrie, a mother of three from the Hudson Valley, became fascinated with aromatherapy after researching product ingredients in an effort to make her home and environment safer for her family. She went back to school to learn how to create a holistic lifestyle and discovered the aromatherapy program, which immediately intrigued her. Now, as an integrative nutritional health coach and certified aromatherapist, LaBarrie is passionate about maintaining healthy habits in her daily life, especially with the products she uses in her home.
As a result, Blended Wellness was born in 2019. At first, it was just a small idea to display products at pop-ups and craft fairs. But earlier this year, Lavery launched a website to give customers a central place to shop. Currently, the company sells primarily online from Lavery’s Hopewell Junction home, but the products are frequently featured at regional vendor shows. Lavery also hopes to eventually have her natural products on the shelves of local farms and stores. She also hopes to operate her own brick-and-mortar store once the business grows and host workshops and informative discussions centered around aromatherapy.
In terms of inventory, Blended Wellness makes a variety of products, including room sprays, lip balms, hand soaps, scented sachets, candles, body sprays, and gift sets that bring together a variety of items. Lavallee says that the candles and sprays have been bestsellers so far, especially the Orange Grove and Tranquility scents. The company’s lip balm scents have also become more popular as the colder months can dry out your lips.
Every product Blended Wellness makes is handmade, from infusing the candle wax to labeling the jars. Not only are the candles made with pure, paraffin-free soy wax, but they’re also scented with phthalate-free fragrance oils. Lavallee uses natural materials like dried rose petals and chamomile to decorate their products, rather than harsh dyes.
The aromatherapy company will have seasonal scents available for the upcoming holiday season, in addition to its current scent line, which features Sandalwood Rose, Orange Clove, Rosemary Lemon, Lavender Thyme, Peppermint Eucalyptus, Mango Melon, Sweet Basil Neroli and Twisted Grapefruit. Lavery also has new product ideas in the works for next year, including rollerball scents for on-the-go use and a scent for men that focuses on deeper, musky notes rather than her typical light, floral creations.
At Blended Wellness, Nicole LaBarrie puts her heart into everything she makes, and her care and attention to detail is apparent to everyone who enjoys her products. With a loyal following and an honest mission, her company has made a positive impact on the Hudson Valley community. LaBarrie also supports her community by donating a portion of sales to organizations that provide food and shelter to the homeless and help feed families with cancer.
“When you buy from Blended Wellness, you’re not just buying a product, you’re supporting our efforts to contribute and make a difference in people’s lives,” she says.
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