Coming from a science background has shaped how Maria McKindley approaches creating her bath and candle products as part of her brand, Florence & Myrtle, which she also injects with her passion for natural Australian ingredients.
“I have a science background and a strong interest in aromatherapy and herbal medicine,” she says. “As a teenager I would spend hours researching and this continued into my adult years.”
McKindley currently produces a range of handmade soaps, bath bombs and hand poured candles from her base in Melbourne using locally grown, sustainable ingredients.
“Being a bit of a geek, I’m really into the science and research behind it all and how each product performs when combined with other ingredients,” she says. “I spent my first year in business formulating my recipes.”
Having children with allergies made the testing process more important and McKindley says she was determined to create products that smell great but are also natural and eco-friendly.
“Florence & Myrtle stemmed from a need to go back to basics and understand what goes into the products we use every day,” she says. “While I understand the changing landscape of busy households, I don’t necessarily believe we should give way to mass produced, chemically laden bath and body products manufactured in factories overseas.
“The research and testing behind the scenes to ensure it’s a superior product in its benefits to skincare and ability to fragrance a home without polluting the space [is what sets Florence & Myrtle apart].”
Florence & Myrtle recently rebranded and will be launching its new packaging along with new fragrances including passionfruit at Life Instyle Melbourne.
By Ruth Cooper
