We were lucky to catch up with Tracy Knake recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

What I feel I do differently from the industry standard is create products with the main focus being on aromatherapy and the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants. In many skin care products the fragrance may be the afterthought. Something that is added to enhance the product but not necessarily be its main focus. In the products I create the aromatherapy is the main focus. I consider and curate blends based on the synergistic qualities and properties of essential oils. I then incorporate those blends into natural organic bases for skin care use. The delivery system of essential oils into our bodies is useful to enhance ones wellness and state of mind. In many commercial skin care products the word “fragrance” at the end of an ingredient deck can include up to 500 unlisted ingredients that may or may not be naturally sourced. I discovered this by battling my own troubled skin issues after using standard commercial products that made my skin look and feel worse. By age twenty five I started to infused the therapeutic properties of essential oils into natural bases and Essence Maker Aromatherapy was born.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Essence Maker was founded in 1998 by Tracy Knake. Tracy has a bachelor’s in chemistry, a minor in business and certificates in herbal studies and aromatherapy. Essence Maker’s purpose is to take the principals of aromatherapy and apply them to a natural skin care line. Therefore the customer can breathe in all the benefits of aromatherapy while using everyday skin care such as soaps and lotions.

Our Promise

Each EM product is formulated for a specific healing response. Natural ingredients are hand selected and mingled with 100% pure essential oils. The result is a unique skin care line that alleviates many skin problems and positively affects the senses.

We promise that you will never have to worry whether or not your skin care is harmful. We formulate products that are good for the skin, the mind, and the earth. Our goal is to enhance the well being of each customer while doing business in a mindful way. The result is skin care formulas that are infused with modern day knowledge and old world therapies.

I want my customers to know that I put my whole heart and soul into my products. I study, research and infuse my formulas with the intention of health and well being for all that use them.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have been running a small business for 26 years. I have had to pivot many times in order to grow and move forward. I began at age twenty five by selling by products at craft shows and flea markets. For may years this was profitable, however markets were slow and my income was unpredictable. I made a move into home parties where I created my own format and rewards program that keep my customers booking my events. This was a long road of building trust with my customer base one person at a time. I treasure this time of my business because these absolutely wonderful ladies opened up their homes and invited their friends to listen to me tell my story. When my children were little they came with me, and with joy the party guest passed my babies around, played and entertained them while I shared knowledge on essential oils and aromatherapy. I still have most of these customers today. We often laugh and reminisce about this time. After many years parties started to fade and I found myself again looking for more ways to connect with people. Then the internet came! yeah! Our first site was very primitive and we continue to grow and learn online with our 3rd generation site. I can honestly say that change is the only thing that is constant. As a woman, wife, mother and business owner pivoting is necessary to move forward. The constant for me is to listen to my customers and create what the need and want. To connect with other people and share my love and passion for aromatherapy.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was self doubt and seeking outside approval of myself. I remember somewhere around 2002 I was standing in the living room in my pajamas watching Oprah with my fussy first born on my hip listening to the guest on the show talk about how to start a business. They were talking about top five things never to do. I can’t remember all of them, but one was to get up and get dressed even if you work at home. Second, was don’t work with your children, arrange for child care while you are working. Then the list went on but I had seemly already broken the first two rules! What I had to unlearn was the exceptions of what things should be. What a successful business should look like to myself and others. There seemed to be all these rules to follow. I didn’t follow any of them. I raised my two children while I worked (sometimes even in my pajamas). It was hard at times but it was also joyful. I had to let go of what society told me was successful and redefine it for myself. I had to stop seeking outside approval and take myself seriously on my own terms. I learned that if I did not take myself and my business seriously no one else would. This realization has helped me redirect pressure into focus. I now focus on connecting to my life’s purpose and sharing that with others in my community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.essencemaker.com
• Instagram: essence_maker_aromatherpy
• Facebook: essence maker aromatherapy
• Other: google: essence maker aromatherapy

Image Credits
Heidi Campany Photography Max Simon Photo