This article tells the story of how Brenda Rea, a mother of five, discovered the benefits of olive oil for sensitive skin and began making her own natural skin care products. Her experimentation led to the creation of a kitchen production center in her home, where her three daughters would help after school. Positive feedback from family and friends, and a growing demand from customers, led to the establishment of the Olivespa studio at the Queen Creek Olive Mill.
Brenda’s daughter Joey, who has a background in Western Herbalism and other holistic practices, joined the Olivespa team and brought a wealth of information and experience to the mission of helping people to live a natural, clean, beautiful life. The article explores how their location on a working olive farm at the Queen Creek Olive Mill impacts the freshness and quality of the ingredients used in their products, and how they stay informed about the latest developments in the natural skin care industry.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in creating natural skin care products?
My husband and I moved to Arizona with our young family with the idea of growing olives and producing extra virgin olive oil. Once we planted our trees and started our business, I found out that olive oil wasn’t just for eating but has been used for centuries in skin care. This gave me the idea to make some simple skin care products using our olive oil, and I started to experiment in my kitchen and would give samples to friends and family. These products were so well received, that I decided I wanted to make this simple, natural alternative (to the not so natural, commercially sold products at the time) available to the general public. I set up a table at our small market in Queen Creek and sold my homemade products there. That was back in the early 2000s. We now have our Olivespa production studio and retail shop located inside the Queen Creek Olive Mill and our product line has expanded to include a men’s line, a baby line and luxurious face oils, and continues to grow.
How did your experience as a mother of five children influence the development of your product line?
One specific incident that I recall was with my son Angelo in preschool. The children were constantly washing their hands and his hands were becoming rough and dry, and sore. I looked for something that would help him and ended up buying castile soap to put in his classroom and asked his teacher to make sure he used this soap. Angelo’s hands cleared up almost immediately. Castile soap is typically made from olive oil, it’s all natural and does not have additives such as detergents or synthetic fragrance making it gentle on the skin and an effective soap. Our olive oil soap is constantly a top seller for us and we offer it in a range of scents created using all natural essential oils.
Can you tell us about the process of creating your product line and any challenges you faced along the way?
The products that we make at Olivespa all start off very organically. Things I like to use myself, become things I want to make and sell, so that others may have benefit of such products. For instance, I became a grandmother 3 years ago and thought it was important to make the cleanest products for my daughter Estelle to use on this brand-new baby, thus the baby line was born. We now make baby oil, baby bum butter, baby wash, talc-free baby powder, bar soap, laundry soap and lotion sticks. These are all very gentle using herb-infused extra virgin olive oil as the base. You won’t find cleaner ingredients in baby products anywhere because I formulated these for my own grandchildren. I now am the grandmother of 2 and another on the way!
How does your daughter Joey’s background in Western Herbalism and other holistic practices inform the mission and approach of Olivespa?
My daughter Joey started working with me back in middle school when she and her sisters would help me to label lips balms and other products at our kitchen table after school. Joey went on to graduate from University of Arizona with a degree in French Studies and minors in Business Administration and Business Management. She spent a year in the Paris suburb of Massy after college and was inspired by the holistic living and natural lifestyle she encountered there. This led her to study Western Herbalism at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe when she came back to Arizona. This was a perfect segway to join me fulltime at Olivespa as my approach to life has always been to look at things from a natural perspective. Together we bring this perspective to each and every product we develop, always looking for the finest natural ingredients we can work with to combine with our own organically grown extra virgin olive oil. We both believe in the healing power of plants and try to incorporate this into our daily lives.
How does the location of your studio on a working olive farm at the Queen Creek Olive Mill impact the freshness and quality of the ingredients in your products?
We are incredibly lucky to be creating our products right onsite at the Queen Creek Olive Mill. We have access to the freshest oil available and we are picky about the oil we use. We choose an early harvest olive oil which contains a higher level of polyphenols. Polyphenols are a class of antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil, that are widely touted for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits. This oil is the base of all our skin care products.
How do you stay informed and stay current with the latest developments and changes in the natural skin care industry?
We manage to stay on top of developments in the industry by membership in relevant associations. Olivespa is a member of the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild as well as the Independent Beauty Association. Joey and I also attend relevant conferences and expos to keep ourselves up to date with the industry.
How do you maintain a balance between running a business and the other responsibilities of your life?
At this point in my life I finally have more time to focus on our business. I started making natural skin care products out of my home while I was an at-home mom of 5 children – all very active in extra curricular activities. The growth in the beginning was very slow as my family always came first, and I considered the business as more of a hobby – just trying to make these amazing natural products available to people who were interested in moving towards natural. Sometimes, the stock on the table was pretty low but that took a backseat to my family responsibilities.
The biggest change for me came when I moved my kitchen operation to my studio at the Olive Mill and hired my first employee. I was no longer responsible for making all the product myself. This certainly allowed me to grow my business while maintaining a good balance between business and family. As we continue to grow Olivespa, we’ve discovered that a strong team of likeminded individuals is crucial to keeping this balance and continuing the evolution of the business.
Can you tell us about any future plans or upcoming projects for Olivespa that you are particularly excited about?
I have been studying natural perfumery and am very excited to announce that we will be introducing the first Olivespa natural perfume this year!
How do you find time for self-care and what are some of your favorite ways to relax and de-stress?
It is certainly hard to find time for self-care but it’s so important to make some time for yourself. I enjoy reading, taking a salt bath, and working out. I also find that creating at home is very satisfying and de-stressing. I like to make candles at home and often have a beautiful aromatherapy candle (lavender is a favorite) burning. Although not made with olive oil, aromatherapy candles have also become a product that we make and sell at Olivespa, purely for their wellness benefits being complimentary to our natural-living goals.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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