Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Foster.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

February 2025 marked 4 years that I have officially been a business owner. As, I look back on not only the past 4 years but the past 45. I like to think I started this journey as a young alchemist, creating herbal potions in my backyard of my childhood home as I collected wildflowers, herbs, and florals. When I was about 8 years old, I remember telling my aunt I was going to be a witch, she just giggled and said, “you already are!”. To this day those words endlessly roam around in my mind, “I already am.” They echo when I have doubt around trying to accomplish even the smallest thing. They give me courage and a simple voice of understand when I question where I’m going.
Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. You work more hours than you truly ever would for someone else. While, I’ve worked to help other companies flourish for over 30 years, I knew it was my time to live my dream! My very first job was for a company that sold Kirby Vacuum cleaners. I did what was known as cold calls. Basically, I would be given a letter and i would open the yellow pages and call every number listed. I really loved that job. It was my first and I was so good at it. I got award after award for booking appointments, selling vacuums, and breaking goals every time I worked. I gave that company 2 years of my life, only to be told No every time I asked for a pay increase. I knew my value and I truly believed they saw it, they didn’t. I was just another girl in the call room that was replaceable. One Summer Day I went in asked to have a meeting with my boss and requested to have a pay increase. I was told a firm NO yet again. and I handed him my 2-week notice. I walked out, got in my car, sat and cried for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t grasp why someone wouldn’t want to reward a person for their hard work. I also couldn’t understand how I only made $6.75 per hour, and $1.00 per vacuum sold, when I could see how much each one sold for! Granted this was back in 1998, and technically I was making almost 2 bucks over minimum wage.
When I got home, I talked to my dad about it. and he said, “Well, do you really want to sell vacuums for the rest of your life?” That, hit me hard and I knew the answer was NO. So why was I so upset? Younger me never got that answer, but me now I know.
I was upset because I gave my valuable time to a company who didn’t see the value in me.
As, I navigated through the workforce I never stayed where I wasn’t valued, I found myself always leveling up in job, after job. From birthday host at Chuck E Cheese, to Sandwich Artist at Subway, to Fitness Guru for Health Rider, to Beverage Slanger at Local Bars, and all that seem to fall between I’ve probably done it.
It wasn’t until covid hit in 2020 that I said, no more. I found myself like many struggling to see the good in the world. So I thought, why not create it. I can be the good. I already am, echoed once more…….

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I don’t believe any road is smooth and if someone tells you it was for them, they lied. The journey is always full of twists and turns and unplanned obstacles. Yet, it’s how you navigate through the waters that creates the grandest adventure. It helps to shape, build and mold the foundation of the very business one is creating.
For me, about a year after Alchemy5 was launched, my best friend who I began the venture with moved across the country to the UK. I don’t think I’ve ever said this out loud, but I felt abandoned. Not that I wasn’t over the moon in excitement for her, because I was. I was so happy, but man was I sad. Not only did I lose my best friend that day, but I lost the person who also helped create this incredible company. I cried a lot, I don’t think I actually shared that with anyone either, even typing this now I am getting emotional. Doubt creeped in, What if I can’t do it? What if I fail? Then I thought, wait you are already doing it. My best friend helped me fom a far. We had zoom dates, and laughed, cried, and created magic together. My fears of losing her, were more about me not being able to stand on my own.
Although, I already am……

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

I am a self-taught alchemist, kitchen witch, tarot reader and herbalist. I try to incorporate those basic practices into my business as well as my everyday life. Which help to create a vast array of intention-based products. Each item is careful curated with the help of natural elements like the sun, the moon, and frequency.
As they are intention based, each oil, body butter, room spray or even pair of earrings are cultivated around a particular time or celestial event. The name Alchemy5 is just that, it’s an incorporation of the 5 elements of alchemy: Water, Earth, Fire, Air and Eather. I take immense pride in not rushing any process. It’s in the journey that magic happens.

I offer a wide range of organic, non gmo, natural products to help heal not only your skin on an external level but due to the way they are infused they tend to help on a spiritual level as well.
My most sought-after product tends to my Witchy Water. It’s my herbal version of Florida water. It’s used as a metaphysical spray to help raise one’s vibration, relax nerves, and keep negativity at bay. With beautiful blend of aromatics that help to ease even the most over thinking mind. I offer it in 3 ways, a mister, roller, or a bulk option that you can use as “hard surface cleaner”.

Now, for the tarot side. I don’t usually label myself, as I am an eclectic blend of many aspects. In short, I can see, talk too, smell, and get visions of those who pasted, or places I’ve never been. These gifts have helped me specialize in shadow healing. Basically, I tap in to see what has been creating obstacles in your life, help you identify the seed, and we uproot it. I take you my clients through an emotional healing journey to help them begin to navigate their best life.

The products I create, and the services I offer accompany each other well.

Any big plans?

Recently, I just went through a huge rebranding. New, website design, new labels, new marketing. For now, that’s the big change I got!

As for planning, my goal is to have all my sales be navigated through my website and throughout my brick-and-mortar locations. I am currently gracing the shelves within 3 locations throughout Northern California. I create the body butters for an incredible herbal store in Cordelia, CA called, Total Body Enhancement Herbs (TBEHERBS). I have selected items that help align with the massage/ wellness motif at Mindful Massage and Wellness located in Vacaville, CA. I also have selected items located inside a metaphysical shop in Woodland, CA called, Soul Garden Holistic Healing. Definitely, suggest checking them out if you happen to be in the area.
I’d love to branch out and get some of my products in 3 more locations by the end of this year.

Pricing:

• $13
• $23
• $33
• $88
• $111

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alchemy5.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alchemy5soapco/