The idea to start a bath & body products company had been in my mind for about 6 mos. and at the end of December 2004, while driving through Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, the name came to me. Klean. It wasn’t the most unique name but it was clear. Klean Bath & Body inspired me to get going. Once the name was in my brain and heart, I began to intensely research, explore, and spend time in product development. I was already showing my other wares at local events and took the first products along with me to test the market. Since I had already gotten a resale license and tax ID for a biz, I was able to keep seeing how the customers responded to the products. My first product was our delicious (don’t eat) body scrub. The clients love it! That was all I needed to add that spark to my step!

My first memories of engaging with fragrance were created at a young age when I discovered Mr. Sketch scented markers, which I called “smelling pens” and Japanese “smelling erasers” that exuded juicy candy-like flavors of grape, green apple, and watermelon. While these notes are that of a younger palette, some of those scents provided the inspiration for the “flavors” of my skin-silkening KleanSpa Body Polishes, which are made primarily of sugar, moisturizing oils, and beautiful signature scents.

Years later, I discovered perfume oils on a trip to San Francisco. The experience was so pivotal that I now view myself as “scent virgin” prior to my metaphorical romp in the hay with “Rain.” So began a life-long love affair between me and the perfume oils I now orchestrate into my scentual and aromatic KleanSpa offerings.

We offer body scrub, lotion, body butter, body oil, perfume etc…

After sharing a retail space with a friend for over 8 years, the Universe put the perfect spot for us to branch out and open our own Brick & Mortar. We didn’t want new customers to think we were a spa, so we called our shop, Phoebe Peacock, named after my great-grandmother. The shop has evolved since we planted ourselves there. Surviving a pandemic was just part of our growing pains, but it was a positive evolution.

And NO bath and body shop would be complete without a scent-blending bar! This began a more intensive practice in creating bespoke fragrances for new and old clients with many returning for a new blend each season.

In a phrase. The Pandemic.

When I began the business in 2005, I self-funded it. I worked my full-time job, did events, and continued to invest in the business. I didn’t use credit cards until later. Credit cards are the devil in my opinion but at one point they helped me fund certain parts. I used them to move into two spaces before we landed in our current location. I have paid off our credit card debt and invested back into the business on a cash-only basis for the last 12 years.

When we moved into our current location, I learned to save money and used these methods for our opening funds:

Personal Savings
Indie GoGo
Current sales money
My mom gifted me some money

I always recommend that if it’s at all possible, don’t use credit cards.