As a Brighton based, ethical supermarket, we have the pleasure of working with a network of passionate, unique and inspiring small businesses. Each one with their own triumphs, struggles and stories. We decided that those stories are worth hearing, so we reached out to a whole range of small suppliers to learn about the people behind the products. We are so lucky that our first submission is @daisymaysprays!

"I'm Daisy, a trained Aromatherapist, and I absolutely love creating the perfectly balanced sprays, refining my wisdom through years of exploration and feedback, to create the present range of nourishing and natural sprays. I think Aromatherapy is really cool and I love that the sprays I create get the benefits and beauty of the amazing aromatherapy, flower remedies + spring water out into the world touching peoples lives positively... Yeh!

My story begins at my kitchen as small businesses often do! The sprays grew out of years of hands-on experience working as a trained Aromatherapy Masseuse [massaging a wide variety of clients from office workers to festival goers] and as a Yoga teacher, Life Coach and Reiki practitioner. By 2007 I was making bespoke Spray blends for clients on request to enhance their treatments. The sprays started building a growing fanbase with my clients and their friends through word of mouth, getting amazing positive feedback about how it transformed customers mood and space... 

So Daisymay Sprays was born at my kitchen table and has steadily grown ever since through word of mouth."

What motivated you to create your business?
"I wanted to share the joys and benefits of aromatherapy, in an accessible portable way, alongside creating a business with work/ play balance at its core. After retiring from being an Aromatherapist Masseuse, massaging thousands of clients over the previous 15 years, I just didn’t want to put all my knowledge on the shelf and close that book! Creating the sprays was a way to keep spreading the joys of aromatherapy with the all sorts of people without the physical massage part!"

How long have you been running your business?
"I started creating the aromatherapy sprays originally for my massage clients, then created the DaisyMay Sprays brand and online shop in 2015 and started stocking in shops in 2017. I now stock in 9 shops nationwide and do about 10 live events a year. I’m proud to say I still blend and handcraft every item myself still."

What moment in your journey sticks out to you most?
"When customers write to me or phone with amazing testimonials telling me how the sprays have touched their lives – that is really very special to hear and it infuses me with great joy. I still love the process of blending and creating new alchemical scents, although I’ve been an Aromatherapist for 21 years now! Also, creating and launching my Ritual Range Sprays has been very special for me. Celebrating sacred aromatherapy and its use in personal ritual is something I’ve always loved but was too shy to share until recently - I felt the world was ready for it!"

What struggles did you face as a small business?
"It can feel very lonely if you don’t know creators on a similar path. I now meet up with other creatives from other modalities through the year, to get different perspective and inspiration. Also, if you forget why you're making what you make, your energy can dive. Taking time to connect to your own inner calling and vision is super important to stay on your unique path, when no-one else is doing what you do. Take time out to recharge and connect with yourself and your bigger vision."

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
"I travelled the world for 7 years living in beautiful jungles, volcanoes; on pristine tropical beaches with my 2 young kids, all before I was 25 yrs old. It was a lot of fun and very inspiring!"

What do you do outside of work? Hobbies, passions?
"I love taking macro-photographs of flowers and seeing their intimate beauty close-up. Growing vegetables has brought me great joy this summer too, alongside getting into embroidery and puzzles, which I’ve discovered are really relaxing and mindful. I notice I also feel very happy spreading the love by raising money for charities – particularly the amazing WomenKind Worldwide and the Prison Phoenix Trust."

What inspires you?
"I adore the sacred geometry of flowers, ritual ceremonies out in nature and friends singing round the fire. I’m at my very happiest barefoot out in nature, lake swimming or at a drug free summer festival dancing."

What are your goals for the future of your business?
"I’d love to create a couple new ranges in the next years and expand my shop stockists. My bigger dream is to set up a log cabin boutique, where people can come and create their own blends and learn about amazing aromatherapy surrounded by nature. Keep in the loop via my newsletter!"

What advice would you give to future business owners?
"Get clear on your why: your purpose. That will hold you firm through the bumpy and quiet times. Oh, and just start making, rather than overthinking it all! Things will evolve as you go along but you’ve got to just start somewhere."

DaisyMay Sprays Links:

https://www.daisymaysprays.com/

Facebook: DaisyMay Sprays

Instagram: @daisymaysprays