Success Stories - Seychelles
The Seychellois economist who saw an opportunity in natural body products
Maria Sullivan was a trainee economist before venturing into her own business in making handmade soap and body products using natural ingredients. What motivated her to this genre of business is her personal struggles as a child. “I had sensitive skin problems as a child and natural products were not available on the market at that time so as I got older I started making my own which later turned into a business,” she said.
The entrepreneur started her venture in 2005 and initially made craft items, soap packaging, whilst specializing mainly in jewelry making. Maria and her partner John Sullivan decided in 2013 to venture fully into handmade natural products including vegetable oils, plant and fruit extracts, as well as other essential oils. Hence the birth of Exotic Scents.
The venture specializes in spa products such as:
• Moisturizing body lotion
• Shower cream
• Room diffuser
• Room spray
• Massage oil
• Bath bombs
• Mud masks
• Lip balm
• Soaps
“There is a lot of potential in this sector as people are more aware of what they put on their skin and want more healthy alternatives and the market for natural cosmetics is growing,” Maria said.
Absolute Koko is her recent new line of skin care products using only coconut products.
Maria feels that coconut is not being used to its full potential in Seychelles. “If in the days gone by, copra was the pillar of Seychelles’ economy, why can’t we look at how to make use of the resource which is found in abundance on the islands?” said Maria.
The Absolute Koko range includes cold press coconut oil, soap, sugar scrub, and body butter are proving to be a success and selling very well. Maria explained that through her products she is using all of the coconut so as to ensure that nothing is wasted.
“The soap I have made has used the coconut oil, the coconut milk, the coconut cream, and the coconut water. I ground the coconut shell to make a soft exfoliator which I have put in the soap. And the coconut that I have grated to get milk from, is also put on top of the soap,” she explained. Even the husk of the coconut is used as part of the packaging.
Starting a business is not hard in Seychelles however staying in business can be. Being a woman is no different because here in Seychelles I feel that women are very empowered however problems like finding dedicated and loyal staff is hard as employees are not committed to staying in a job and use it more like a stepping stone to get to another job,” Maria affirmed. Maria further explained how business tax is very high in Seychelles and can be crippling at times.
Maria and partner John Sullivan
Exotic Scents currently employs 8 Seychellois - all women - and has outlets at Eden Plaza shopping center, Savoy Resort and Spa, Coral Strand Hotel and at the departure lounge of the Seychelles International Airport.
Contact info:
Exotic Scents
Eden Plaza
Eden Island
+248 2718484
Email: exoticscents2803@gmail.com