Healthy creations at Botanicals Wellness
Taos is no stranger to the commercialization of alternative medicine, and Botanicals Wellness has been one of the leading brands in the local market. Made with organic ingredients, the Taosbased business continues to grow after three years in operation.
Brooke Wright founded the business to capitalize on her experience with alternative medicine, which she studied at the University of New Mexico. After she graduated, some of her close friends encouraged her to start a business based on her aromatherapy and bodywork sessions. Much of what she does is based around essential oils and herbal infusions, which garnered fans before she opened Botanicals Wellness.
Wright has been selling her infusions under Botanicals Wellness for a few years, but her experience goes back more than a decade. Her business is exclusively wholesale, and while she has a studio in town, Botanicals does not have its own walk-in, physical store to exclusively sell its products. Instead, Wright’s products can be purchased at different stores and spas around Taos County and Southern Colorado. According to her, being wholesale extends the reach of her business.
“I really want to get my offerings out to people,” Wright said. “I noticed if I just stayed and did a retail storefront in my space, I wouldn’t really be able to reach as many people, and I want to get them out to my community and then also to other locations in other communities.”
Wright brings her products around to various festivals and events as a pop-up shop as well. Early in her business, she saw the benefits of her public appearances, which resulted in her building bridges with other business owners who were interested in selling her products. It’s this engagement with the community that not only improves business but also connects her with individuals who are also interested in her mission.
Although primarily a wholesale business, Wright also enjoys working with individual customers, doing one-on-one consultations to discover their needs. She said this process always begins with a conversation — asking them about their limitations and openness to experimentation, she will even make a custom infusion or remedy that suits the customer. This type of customer service allows Wright to under
stand how her clients relate to her practice.
“I’ve always been an energysensitive person,” Wright said. “I feel like it’s a purpose and calling for me to work with my community.”
Although her wholesale business model undermines the needs for a traditional brick-andmortar shop, it’s this aspect that makes everything run smoothly. With just one customer in her studio at a time, she can give them her full attention. Also, having a physical storefront is expensive, so selling products under another roof, although there are more logistics, saves Wright time and resources. This way, Wright can have an efficient yet accessible business.
As she continues with Botanicals Wellness, Wright looks forward to expanding her product line with more tinctures and infusions, with a strong emphasis on lavender. The business owner recently planted 500 lavender plants at her home that she is looking forward to harvesting next year.
Many of her oils and products she makes herself, distilling them in a copper still. In other cases, some oils she sources for her shop come from as far as Egypt or India.
She also aims to use all organic ingredients, which cost more than commercial alternatives, Wright said. Despite the financial hurdle of sourcing organically, she believes that the best way to create an effective medicine is to use healthy ingredients.
“I’m like a one-man band. I don’t have people yet that I can employ, but I definitely want to create a team eventually and have a few people that really believe in what we’re doing. That’s what’s most important to me. I’m so passionate about this because I really believe in the plants, and I think we need to work with them more.”
Wright said it’s “empowering” to run a business that aligns with her passions.
“Realizing when you have something that’s important to you, and it’s part of your path in life, you have to put a lot of energy and focus and intention and love into it,” she said. “It’s been a lot easier for me to do that for something I truly believe in.”
Wright will be selling her wares at the Taos Folk Winter 2023 Holiday Pop-Up, which lasts from Nov. 18 through Dec. 24. Appointments with Wright for consultation can be made on her website, botanicalswellness.co. Her availability is every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but she’s able to make an exception for Saturdays as well.
“I’ve always been an energy-sensitive person. I feel like it’s a purpose and calling for me to work with my community.”
Brooke Wright, owner, Botanicals Wellness