CBD treatments have opened up a new dimension in wellness and healthcare, and Canna Bath Co. is one of the leaders in this movement. Canna Bath Co.’ CBD-infused products deliver the pain-relief effects of the cannabis plant, minus the psychoactive elements of HTC, and the line is now available at 100 outlets across the United States.
Canna Bath Co. strongly believes in holistic healing approaches and offering the benefits of cannabis in a form everyone can enjoy. Calming the body and eliminating stress can have numerous health benefits and what better way to relax than soaking in a mineral-rich CBD-infused bath! Canna Bath Co. infuses hemp-derived CBD to enhance the experience and benefits of naturally soothing products.
Canna Bath Co is a woman-owned business and has formulated all products for sensitive skin. They decided in 2015 to take their passions for skin care and holistic wellness and combine them with their background in cultivating medical marijuana massage/aromatherapy to bring everyone another way to enjoy cannabis in their own home with the ultimate bath and body experience.
All of the products are natural, perfume-free and handmade with care in Oakland, CA. Canna’s essential oils and CBD are therapeutic grades and the products are tested for quality and potency. Jessica Bernando is extremely passionate about giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy the healing benefits of cannabis and creating products that help people feel better… naturally! #plantsoverpills
“When I was in massage school, my focus was on helping people feel better without harsh pain medicine,” she says. “I was already playing around with bath products and supplements using lavender, rosemary, and other natural ingredients such as cannabis oil. This is the perfect combination of my two passions.” Jessica Bernardo, Founder & Owner Canna Bath Co.
Trained as a massage therapist, founder Jessica Bernardo, has always had an interest in health and natural remedies. Making her own CBD-infused bath products with natural holistic ingredients that offer pain relief and produce glowing skin was a logical step.
How did you start Canna Bath Co? Did you start by yourself?
I started Canna Bath Co in my kitchen/bathtub. I had the idea alone, and a background in massage/aroma therapy. I started heavily experimenting with essential oil blends, cannabinoids etc. Once I knew I had a great product, I packaged it up and called in my youngest sister for help! She was definitely a part of the beginning process and building the business so thank you to her! The rest is history!
Who are your customers?
My Customer is you and I! I made this especially for moms who needed a break from the daily stresses and instead of a prescription pill or getting “High” they could easily absorb the benefits of cannabis in the most relaxing way possible. My Customer is a bath lover. She or He cares about the ingredients they put on their skin. They may be a cannabis lover already trying out topical products or someone who is new to cannabis and is not quite ready to fully use THC. My products will not get you high but you will enjoy the benefits of relaxation and relief. I wanted to give everyone a “safe” way to enjoy the cannabis plant without the “stigma”
How did you come up with the idea of using CBD in bath products?
I was looking at a menu for a dispensary one evening and saw so many different types of products available. I loved taking baths and already made my own natural bath salts and bath bombs, I started to research the benefits of cannabis being absorbed through the skin and decided to go for it! I started making THC Products because CBD wasn’t even a “thing” yet… I waws making THC oil in my kitchen and taking it to the lab to get tested then selling my product in dispensaries. When the regulation and recreational laws passing we transferred over to CBD so that we could reach a larger audience.
How do you know whats the right ingredients? Share a few tips to our readers who are looking to start their own bath/beauty line.
For me finding the right ingredients is all about quality. I believe less is more and I try to use the least amount of ingredients possible and keep everything as all natural as possible. You will not find perfumes or sulfates in our products because I myself have sensitive skin and do not want to soak in unknown chemicals. I also try to source from known trusted brands everywhere I can. Any tips I can give are to stick to your brand message and stay clear about your vision and where you want to go. When I rebranded Canna Bath Co. for CBD I had a major vison in mind to be on the shelves of big box stores for EVERYONE to be able to buy.
As an entrepreneur what motivates and drives you?
What drives me is knowing I have something to share with the world. I have creatively expressed a vision I had to make something better or someone feel better. When I get a review or a letter saying how wonderful my products are and that they have helped someone feel better means the most.
How do you make sure your clients are happy and satisfied?
I can only “try” my best to make people happy so I do that by creating a quality product that is consistent so that everytime they order they know what they are getting. I try to respond to all customer emails in a timely manner and make sure you are heard and taken care of. My customers are the most important part of this business so I treat them as so. ☺
What is your biggest business achievement to date?
Happy to share that my biggest achievement besides starting the business itself is the collaboration with Ayesha Curry’s Brand Sweet July. We are in the process as we speak creating a co brand for her physical store in Oakland and her online store. We have created three different custom blended Epsom salt soaks and also our coconut body oil. If I had to choose anyone to represent Canna Bath it would be her and I believe her customer base and mine blend well. For her to recognize my brand as quality and to use my products is the best feeling EVER! So to go into business with her in UNBELIEVABLE!
Share with us some tips from past work experience that have helped you where you are right now?
The most useful job that I had that has helped me to this day was my 6 year career with Nordstrom. They taught customer service as the backbone of business so I bring that with me everywhere. I also managed my own department then so I have trained employees I have had to hire and fire people and I can say I understand the retail world from both sides. Since I want my product to be in a big store like that knowing both sides helps for sure. I know what it takes to sell something and the chain of distribution.
What are your current areas of focus?
Currently I am focusing on advertising and marketing. We are still facing many many issues when it comes to advertising on platforms like facebook and Instagram. Ads are not allowed even thought my products are legal so its just that much more difficult to get my products in front of my customers. I am also working on distribution into some bigger retailers.
If you had just one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
Don’t Give Up! If you have a clear vision go for it. This vision was so clear when it came to me it was almost like it was destined for me. I have went through so much adversity and have learned how to adjust and stick through. What I have created is alive and to give up on It feels like I would be killing it so I owe it to the brand to keep going. Whenever I feel as if this is the end and ts not working or I am having a negative/rough couple days, Boom something great happens and I am reminded of how far I have come and I am so happy that I took action and have not given up!
![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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