Welcome
Carmen Miraglia. What a pleasure to have you here to talk about your company
and ideals. The background story on how you got started with Erbe is so rich
and filled with authenticity. Your products are truly an “ideal find” for those
who haven’t discovered Erbe yet! You studied biology at Rome’s La Sapienza
University and researched herbal alchemy dating back to the 16th century.
After working in your parents 18th Century pharmacy custom blending
curative creams from essential oils you went on to develop products for major
cosmetic companies. What motivated you to create your own line of
phytocosmetics (phyto meaning plant based) called Erbe?
Carmen
Miraglia(Erbe owner and product developer): Growing up in Italy it was customary to be acquainted with the natural
healing methods from the folk medicine, everyone knows that Chamomile soothes
and Rosemary stimulates. These plants are our foundations applied in the
everyday life, including beauty receipts used for centuries and improved
overtime. As a former product developer, for other cosmetic companies, I became
more and more disenchanted with this world of ordinary formulations with no
functional activity but only for commercial purposes. I felt I had to go back
to what I knew best, personalized natural formulations, ready to use receipts
for beauty and personal hygiene, based on extremely pure ingredients and
without additives or chemicals but no shelf life. They were classic
preparations previously available only custom made in local pharmacies. Soon my
small artisan activity became a business and started researching for the
appropriated additives to incorporate in my formulations, without altering or
diminishing the effects of the botanical ingredients but, enhancing their
efficacy to convey and maintain the properties of our herbs, roots and flowers.
Lauroly Q: The inspiration for your line is so interesting. You
studied the work of Italian herbalist, alchemists and physicians from
celebrated ancient monasteries. How do you combine ancient alchemy with modern science? There
are so many companies claiming “all natural” but we often find a natural herb
like lavender listed last after a long list of chemicals. As former Marketing
Director of the HBA Beauty show (tradeshow for cosmetic manufacturers) in New
York, I talked to many product formulators who talked about the difficulty and
challenges of natural product formulation. Can you tell us how you address the challenges?
Carmen Miraglia: There are “chemicals” deriving from plants and
“transformed” into a preservatives or antibacterial that may complete or
enhance the functional activity of the plants. Essential oils, in their pure
form and extracted in a safe way, are great preservatives and anti-oxidants, if
we extract the active principal of the Lemon, we obtain the “ascorbic acid” used
as a preservative and so on. Many plants, once they go under a transformation
process may assume a fantasy name, we rigorously select the additives to
incorporate in our products. The process of “transformation”, of vegetal origin
ingredients, is fundamental to realize our line of products.
Lauroly
Q: How do you insure quality in your
production and manufacturing?
Carmen
Miraglia: We rely on the work of family owned business for years who are
determined to continue and maintain a traditional method of manufacturing
passed on from generation to generation. We work very close for over 25 years
now. Actually the new generation is more dedicated to quality, they have chosen
to improve and grow with particular attention to quality and integrity. From
our sources of the plants, their transformation and their employment, we
control every aspect of production, including our packaging and designs. My
suppliers, my graphic designer, my lab collaborators and I have formed a
trustworthy team and by learning from each other, we create these products that
are designed to be safe, functional and pleasant to use.
Lauroly Q: Okay we understand what makes Erbe so unique and special but
let’s get to Italian culture. What botanical blends from nature did your
ancient ancestors in Italy use? And what is your best selling product?
Carmen Miraglia: Everyone knows Chamomile soothes, Rosemary stimulates,
Mallow soothes if the gums are irritated, or Calendula cream helps if your skin
is flaking dry. In Italy it is our everyday life, we always used natural
remedies to cure minor ailments, mixing and blending mixtures of herbs for all kinds
of needs. The association of various different herbs in one single product is
the key to aim at various skin conditions. These associations and relative
ratio of dosages is a precise science and this is what makes all ERBE’sMoisturizers the
best appreciated products in our lines. Our skin care products contain a blend
of truly precious essential oils and extracts, designed to target a wide range
of skin conditions. Our blends contribute in enhancing the skin’s immune
system, improve the appearance of dull skin, refresh and rejuvenate, while also
delaying signs of aging.
Lauroly Closing: All I can say is Bellissimo! Carmen, thank
you so much for sharing your Italian cultural wisdom and inspiring business
story. I should remind everyone that Erbe products are
free of synthetic fragrances, animal products, waxes and colorants.
ERBE has brought the Italian valuable botanical active principles in the United States, by
embracing and modernizing the work of 15th and 16th century
Italian herbalists, physicians and herbalist monks from celebrated
monasteries,and combining our local and centuries-old knowledge of the Italian
beauty culture formulations with the most recent cosmetics preparation's
procedures and modern technology. Our practices are informed by the
accumulation of information that has been researched, tested, improved, and
enhanced over hundreds of years.
Our story and
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