Women With GRITT: Nina Hargrave From Serene Body Health On The Power Of Determination & Why Essential Oils Are So Essential
“As I've grown along the way, what I've realised is so much of it is my mindset. If I can stay really strong and keep believing in myself, then I can do it.”
Welcome to Women with GRITT: a series where we interview the resilient, hardworking women who have kicked in the glass ceiling and inspire us to do the same.
As the founder of Serene Body Health, Nina Hargrave knows all about the power of essential oils for mindfulness. Nina is a horticulturalist and self-taught perfumer, who uses her knowledge to create Serene Body Health’s range of beautiful essential oil fragrances, including perfume oils and soon-to-be-released eau de parfums.
Here, Hargrave tells us all about Serene Body Health’s philosophy when it comes to formulating essential oil fragrances. She also talks about overcoming challenges throughout her business journey and gives us a rundown of the importance of staying true to your vision.
Gritty Pretty (GP): Hi Nina, thank you so much for joining us! Serene Body Health is essentially a startup, so I’d love to know where you got the idea for your brand?
Nina Hargrave (NH): I think it was like a series of events. I went through a period where I experienced a lot of grief: my mum died and my sister passed away about seven months later. I started using essential oils and finding them quite helpful. I was studying meditation, I was bringing all of these mindfulness practices in, and I was breathing in the essential oils. So it all started from there.
GP: I would love for you to explain some of the therapeutic benefits of essential oils because we assume not all essential oils are created equal?
NH: That’s right—and it’s about finding the right formula. In terms of the quality of essential oils, there’s a huge variation there. It’s a very unregulated area, so you need to trust the supplier that you are purchasing from. I’m very particular about the oils that I use [in Serene Body Health] and I use two main suppliers. I think sometimes the confusion that people have with essential oils, they’re like, ‘Well what does it do?’ It’s like any modality, right? They’re not magic, they’re not going do all the work for you. But of course as well, they can have anti-inflammatory properties, or a scent such as lavender is going to help you relax. Part of what I really want to do is the education around [essential oils] and the ritual, I suppose, of using different oils. The idea of using essential oils as fragrance is really that it’s natural. Anything that is scented basically, if it says fragrance or parfum, the manufacturer or the maker of the product doesn’t have to tell you what’s in the product. So that’s something I think to be really mindful of. And then when you become aware of that, you start realising that this word fragrance is in everything.
GP: How did you approach your first formulation?
NH: The first one was called Ground. I had that in my mind and knew the ingredients I wanted to use. And I remember making that and going: ‘That’s it!’ I was really happy with it. Sometimes that can happen. But when I made the Lift perfume oil, I couldn’t get that right and that took at least six months but it’s probably our best-seller. I think sometimes formulations come really intuitively but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to sell more of them. Scent is very personal!
GP: That leads us to our next question! I would imagine you’re extra invested in your work because it’s a brand you’ve created yourself. How do you navigate the boundary between yourself and your work?
NH: That’s tricky because I still work a lot from home. I’ve got a manufacturer who’s making some of the product, but I’m still making a portion of the product at home. I find that helpful in a way because I can still be a mum and I can still prioritise that because that’s really important for me. But it is tricky because you’re wearing lots of different hats all the time. It’s a lot of trial and error.
GP: What advice would you give other entrepreneurs on starting their own businesses?
NH: If I could give advice, I would say it’s tricky, because what my journey is, and what works for me, is very different to what’s going to work for another brand. You’ve got to have a really strong determination. As I’ve grown along the way, what I’ve realised is so much of it is my mindset. If I can stay really strong and keep believing in myself, then I can do it.
GP: Before you go, we have to ask you about your beauty routine! So what are your big three? Your favourite cleanser, serum, and moisturiser?
NH: I’m actually using a Vanessa Megan Cleanser (Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser). It’s a cream cleanser and it’s got essential oils in it! Of course! At the moment I am using lavender oil to cleanse my face and I use oils [for hydration]. I’ve also been getting into regular skin needling!
GP: Love that! Thank you so much for joining us, Nina!
Gritty Pretty (GP): Hi Nina, thank you so much for joining us! Serene Body Health is essentially a startup, so I’d love to know where you got the idea for your brand?
Nina Hargrave (NH): I think it was like a series of events. I went through a period where I experienced a lot of grief: my mum died and my sister passed away about seven months later. I started using essential oils and finding them quite helpful. I was studying meditation, I was bringing all of these mindfulness practices in, and I was breathing in the essential oils. So it all started from there.
GP: I would love for you to explain some of the therapeutic benefits of essential oils because we assume not all essential oils are created equal?
NH: That’s right—and it’s about finding the right formula. In terms of the quality of essential oils, there’s a huge variation there. It’s a very unregulated area, so you need to trust the supplier that you are purchasing from. I’m very particular about the oils that I use [in Serene Body Health] and I use two main suppliers. I think sometimes the confusion that people have with essential oils, they’re like, ‘Well what does it do?’ It’s like any modality, right? They’re not magic, they’re not going do all the work for you. But of course as well, they can have anti-inflammatory properties, or a scent such as lavender is going to help you relax. Part of what I really want to do is the education around [essential oils] and the ritual, I suppose, of using different oils. The idea of using essential oils as fragrance is really that it’s natural. Anything that is scented basically, if it says fragrance or parfum, the manufacturer or the maker of the product doesn’t have to tell you what’s in the product. So that’s something I think to be really mindful of. And then when you become aware of that, you start realising that this word fragrance is in everything.
GP: How did you approach your first formulation?
NH: The first one was called Ground. I had that in my mind and knew the ingredients I wanted to use. And I remember making that and going: ‘That’s it!’ I was really happy with it. Sometimes that can happen. But when I made the Lift perfume oil, I couldn’t get that right and that took at least six months but it’s probably our best-seller. I think sometimes formulations come really intuitively but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to sell more of them. Scent is very personal!
GP: That leads us to our next question! I would imagine you’re extra invested in your work because it’s a brand you’ve created yourself. How do you navigate the boundary between yourself and your work?
NH: That’s tricky because I still work a lot from home. I’ve got a manufacturer who’s making some of the product, but I’m still making a portion of the product at home. I find that helpful in a way because I can still be a mum and I can still prioritise that because that’s really important for me. But it is tricky because you’re wearing lots of different hats all the time. It’s a lot of trial and error.
GP: What advice would you give other entrepreneurs on starting their own businesses?
NH: If I could give advice, I would say it’s tricky, because what my journey is, and what works for me, is very different to what’s going to work for another brand. You’ve got to have a really strong determination. As I’ve grown along the way, what I’ve realised is so much of it is my mindset. If I can stay really strong and keep believing in myself, then I can do it.
GP: Before you go, we have to ask you about your beauty routine! So what are your big three? Your favourite cleanser, serum, and moisturiser?
NH: I’m actually using a Vanessa Megan Cleanser (Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser). It’s a cream cleanser and it’s got essential oils in it! Of course! At the moment I am using lavender oil to cleanse my face and I use oils [for hydration]. I’ve also been getting into regular skin needling!
GP: Love that! Thank you so much for joining us, Nina!
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