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Tell me a little bit about yourself!
A bit about me. Well, I am pregnant with baby girl #3 and celebrated my 10 year anniversary with my hubby this past summer. We met in college on the first day of school and somehow over the last decade we have slowly become a little bit "granola" I guess you could say. When people ask me to tell them one unique thing about myself, I can always shock folks by telling them I delivered my second baby in a parking lot in Germany. Fun times! Kids change things (in SO many ways!) One of those ways for me what becoming aware of what I was putting in and on my body. I slowly started buying more whole foods, switched toothpastes and shampoos and all that stuff. At some point I started making my own deodorant and realized that I could sell it for not much more than Secret or any other name brand. I felt that people would be willing to try something natural if it didn't cost them an arm and a leg. And then came smell-swell.com!
Where did the name of your store come from?
Smell Swell came from wanting to smell swell of course! Then came Sun Swell and Skin So Swell. As I started expanding, I decided that All Things Swell was more appropriate because it encompassed the other products as well, and plus I hit a roadblock when I was trying to name my lip balm. Swell and lips just don't make a good combo. People don't want to buy a lip balm if they think it might make their lips swell, so then we have Lip Bliss (which is pretty swell I must say :) )
Why did you start making goods for Smell Swell?
I first made the deodorant for myself, and then I put some in a cute vintage mason jar that I got at a garage sale for my friend's birthday. Her husband started using it and said, you should sell this stuff! And so I did!
What is your favorite item?
If you were to just buy one item…hmmmm, I think I would say please just try them all! The studies on aluminum in regular deodorant and the links to Alzheimer's are scary! So, you want to switch if you can. And then sunblock, you really should be using some everyday and in that case, you want to make sure you are using a zinc based sunscreen. As for lip balm, mine is actually cheaper than Carmex! Four bucks for twice as much! And did you know that Carmex contains phenol which is actually banned in the European Union? And lastly, body butter. Everyone needs a good body butter, and not a body lotion. What's the difference? Well, there is no water in body butter and water is a drying agent, so when you are looking to moisturize your skin, you don't want to lather it in a lotion that has water as one of the main ingredients. And so for those reasons, I can't say which item is my favorite! They all seem so necessary!
What is your most popular item?
However, as for popularity, I would have to say that online it's the deodorant and at shows it is Sun Swell and Lip Bliss. People can easily justify these purchases and love how moisturizing they both feel when they sample them.
Where do you get the inspiration for your work?
People give me ideas on my Facebook page, AllThingsSwell, and then sometimes I go with them! I have been asked to make a toothpaste. I am considering branching out to more items, and offering them for a "limited time only". That would allow me to make a variety of products and see how people like them.
Do you take custom orders?
Yes! I take custom orders! Some people ask for a deodorant with a specific scent and I can do that, or a lip balm as well. It may take me a bit longer since I have to make a special order, but I can definitely do that! And likewise, I can make something unscented for individuals with allergies or who would just prefer a product unscented!
When is the last day I can order in time for Christmas Day?
My products make the perfect gift for a gift exchange, teacher or coworker and it won't break the bank! They are also a great stocking stuffer! If you would like to receive your order by Christmas, make your purchase by the 17th of December!
Where can I see more of your work and buy a gift?
Website: smell-swell.com
Etsy: PrincessAndThePie
Facebook: All Things Swell
Anything else to add?
Come see me this Sunday at Patchwork in Santa Ana! I will give a free Lip Bliss to the 5th person who tells me I am SWELL :)
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Happy Shopping!
Thanks for dropping by! I love that I had the chance to share with my readers, and I am sure you will have a few Smell Swell addicts on your hands soon!
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