Oxmantown Skincare - Made in Dublin
Tell us about what you make:
I make natural plant based skincare & perfume using botanical, organic and active ingredients. All products are made by hand in small batches in my studio in Stoneybatter in an ethical and cruelty free manner. The company is named 'Oxmantown' after the area in which the products are made.
What led you to choosing this craft as a profession? What do you love most about it?
My background has been in the health & wellness industry. Being an aromatherapist, my passion is in how people experience the world through smell. I love creating fragrances from essential oils, and the idea of creating something new and that people will enjoy.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I take inspiration from my travels. I've created my scents & perfume from the experiences I've drawn from travelling. For example Jasmine, Ylang ylang is inspired by my trips to India. The Cedar Atlas is from my trip to the Atlas mountain in Morocco. Lemongrass from my time in Thailand.
I also get inspiration from what the Irish landscape has to offer. Some of my favourite scents remind me of growing up in Ireland. I am forever fascinated between the link between smell and memory, how it can remind you of a person, a place, or an experience and the effect that it can have on your mood.
Could you describe your studio to us? What is your favourite thing about the space and how do you get into the mindset of making?
I'm in the process of building a new workshop, but for now I work from a small studio in Stoneybatter.
To get into the correct mindset for making, I find getting the light, music & smell right can really help. So I allow as much natural light in as possible. I burn oils to get motivated and to help me concentrate such as rosemary & basil or orange & bergamot to feel uplifted. Coming into autumn and winter I graduate towards burning the warmer scents such as ginger, sweet marjoram and black pepper.
What is your favourite tool/ describe the making process?
The process of making a cream/lotion involves heating the ingredients to desired temperatures in different stages, allowing them to cool & adding the heat sensitive ingredients at the very end such as vitamins and essential oils. It's hard to choose a favourite tool as all are equally as important as the other. If I had to choose, a good whisk is vital when making creams, lotions and body-butters. The blending process is time consuming but the result is rewarding, it is key to ensuring all the ingredients emulsify properly so that you get the desired consistency, texture and smell.
To find out more and to purchase Oxmantown skincare products, click here.
