By Kelli Samson
The first thing you should know about Pure Luxe Apothecary is that owner Leslie McNeilus does not make spa products.
Yes, among the many things she creates are body scrubs and creams and makeup removers. But, make no mistake. She makes wellness products that just happen to be luxurious.
“Everything we use on our skin and in our homes should invite health, well-being, and joy,” states McNeilus on her gorgeous website.
Her products aren’t just formulated to smell good or to pamper you. Rather, their purpose is to keep your mind and body functioning at their best.
This is one way Pure Luxe Apothecary sets itself apart from others in the industry, but it’s not the only difference. McNeilus, originally from Iowa, does not just dabble in making her products. She has a degree in Integrated Health: Complementary Therapies from the University of Westminster in England. She knows essential oils, both their medicinal properties and the quantities in which they should be dispensed.
When I sat down with the friendly, ever-smiling McNeilus in the Olympia Farmers Market garden after closing time, I asked her what knowledge she would like to impart to those who have attached themselves to the essential oil craze.
“I could spend a lifetime learning about oils and still just be scratching the surface of all there is to know,” she begins. “There’s a lot of safety to be aware of. These things get absorbed and they do affect you. I would advise others to treat these as therapeutic and medicinal and not just a fun thing to play with. It is fun and amazing and beautiful, but it is like a supplement, in a sense.”
Not only are Pure Luxe Apothecary’s products effective, their packaging and display is classically stunning, making it difficult to pass by McNeilus’ stall at the farmers’ market without stopping for a closer look. With old-fashioned bottles reminiscent of, well, an apothecary (always glass, never plastic), and clean black and white styling, the packaging keeps the focus on what is inside of each bottle, yet offers its own, no-nonsense credibility.
Both the classic design and the fact that McNeilus makes natural remedies can be traced back to her seven years residing in London.
McNeilus’ first career was in higher education, specifically in advising students in study abroad options. “After grad school, I had a choice between a real job and a poorly-paid internship in London, and, of course, I took the opportunity in London,” she laughs.
When her internship was up, McNeilus found herself wanting to stay on in England, so she became a student. She’d always been interested in botany and naturally gravitated toward a program in wellness.
“I love learning, and I always, always, always wanted to study these things, even as a kid. Who knew there was an actual degree in it? I’d never looked into this field to study while I was in the U.S.,” shares McNeilus. “I wanted to help people learn how to take care of themselves. I wanted to create and I didn’t want to sit an office anymore.”
Katrin Fuernschuss, McNeilus’ neighbor while living in London, has gone on to become the graphic designer behind the enticing, elegant look of Pure Luxe Apothecary. “She’s amazing,” gushes McNeilus. “She’s lovely and full of energy and creativity. She’s always offered to help and has been a great source of inspiration and support.”
After her return to the United States, and following her fiancé to Olympia from Iowa, McNeilus found herself making her helpful potions for friends and family as gifts. She opened an Etsy shop a year ago, then took the plunge and secured a space as a guest vendor at the Olympia Farmers Market. She creates from a workshop space at her Olympia home where she also delights in gardening.
“I’m always in the garden or planning things incessantly in my head,” she laughs. This hobby is evident in the fabulous floral displays at her market stall and makes sense for her, given her interest in the wellness properties of plants and their oils.
McNeilus’ products contain no parabens, synthetics, colorants, gluten, additives, or preservatives. One of her personal favorites is the Neroli Face Mist. “It smells beautiful and is so soothing,” she shares. She also loves the Rich Regeneration Cream. “I love the smell and the feel,” says McNeilus.
She has a few different cleansers in the works, along with cold and flu remedies. “I want to play with smelling salts a little bit, too. I love that old idea,” she says.
When the Pure Luxe Apothecary stall is not at the market, McNeilus and her products can be found at her online shop, Focus Fitness, and at various fairs, festivals, and markets.
McNeilus encourages market-goers to stop by and say hello. “I love being down here at the Olympia Farmers Market, getting to know people and what they’re interested in. That’s been really fun. I really enjoy that aspect of my business. I get a lot of ideas from my conversations with people that I jot down in my notebook. Come chat!”
Pure Luxe Apothecary
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