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Ms Carmen Miraglia,owner and product developer of Erbe
line-the authentic Italian beauty culture,answers some interesting questions
What
was the catalyst for you to start your company?
“My work is the testimony
of an ancient tradition of Italian Herbalism.
From a dream of quality, herbs and alchemy came a business.”
Born into a centuries old tradition I refined my knowledge studying herbs and
their therapeutical benefits for the health and beauty, with herbalist monks in
the Italian country side.This allowed me to discover and access a vast library
of information and philosophy of the Authentic Italian Beauty Culture, with all
its history, practices and work of herbalist monks and physicians from the 15th century.
Part inherited part collected, I accumulate a considerable knowledge and
methods of the phyto/aroma cosmetics, improving and optimizing classic
formulations, combining science with nature to make the world’s finest
cosmetics and perfumes. After spending several years working in the family
pharmacy, where each cream was made of fresh fruits, essential oils and herbs
with no preservatives that expired after two to three weeks. I remember as a
young girl in the summer my aunts making me creams out of fresh herbs and
fruits and how amazing that was every summer. I expanded into making custom
cosmetics for some of Italy’s leading families. These custom cosmetics caused a
sensation, being that each product was custom blended specifically for each
client’s skin type. Of course all was done on a small scale and before I
dedicate my entire time in developing ERBE, I collaborate part time as a
product developer for some of Europe’s most prestigious cosmetic companies, I
found myself frustrated with the synthetic nature of the products I was
developing under request, so I decided to do what my ancestors have been doing
for centuries and put it in packages and sell it on a larger scale.
What is the essence of your business and your product line?
ERBE specializes in plants transformation,
extractions and distillation.
Our product lines have their origin in the methods and practices of
Phyto/therapy (healing with plants) and Aromatherapy (healing with essential
oils)
That branch of Aromatherapy known
as aroma/cosmetica uses the power of
penetration through the tissues of the essences, to
establish beauty treatments that are not limited to the
surface of the skin but, to be corrected in a
stable cells renewal process. The therapeutic properties of
the essential oils in pharmacology are also the foundation
of their special and profound action in dermo-cosmetics.
Essential oils perform the function of stimulating the exhausted
tissues, promote cell renewal and maintain constant the level of
purification. The best results are obtained with blends
of essential oils that work synergy with oils or
creams or emulsions and extractions. The most recent
research has developed dermo-cosmetic functional
products based on specific essences for various
treatments that integrate the therapeutic
aspect-base with the aesthetic. More practically, the
plants can be considered as a laboratory containing many
chemicals, extractable in different ways depending on the
method used. From each of these methods it is possible
to obtain a final product with specific requirements
and characteristics, with specific therapeutic
indications. The extractive techniques applied
to material of vegetable nature, are employed as well
as for obtaining the pure active principle, removing unwanted
components from the plants. Aroma-cosmetics are based on the
therapeutic action of extracted herbs and flowers and essentials oils. The
sources and quality of the row natural ingredients play a primary role, harvest
must occur in season and in the (balsamic time) when the plants offer the most
of their therapeutic properties
What was the catalyst for you to start your company?
From a dream of quality, herbs and alchemy came a business.”
Born into a centuries old tradition I refined my knowledge studying herbs and their therapeutical benefits for the health and beauty, with herbalist monks in the Italian country side.This allowed me to discover and access a vast library of information and philosophy of the Authentic Italian Beauty Culture, with all its history, practices and work of herbalist monks and physicians from the 15th century. Part inherited part collected, I accumulate a considerable knowledge and methods of the phyto/aroma cosmetics, improving and optimizing classic formulations, combining science with nature to make the world’s finest cosmetics and perfumes. After spending several years working in the family pharmacy, where each cream was made of fresh fruits, essential oils and herbs with no preservatives that expired after two to three weeks. I remember as a young girl in the summer my aunts making me creams out of fresh herbs and fruits and how amazing that was every summer. I expanded into making custom cosmetics for some of Italy’s leading families. These custom cosmetics caused a sensation, being that each product was custom blended specifically for each client’s skin type. Of course all was done on a small scale and before I dedicate my entire time in developing ERBE, I collaborate part time as a product developer for some of Europe’s most prestigious cosmetic companies, I found myself frustrated with the synthetic nature of the products I was developing under request, so I decided to do what my ancestors have been doing for centuries and put it in packages and sell it on a larger scale.
What is the essence of your business and your product line?
ERBE specializes in plants transformation, extractions and distillation.
Our product lines have their origin in the methods and practices of Phyto/therapy (healing with plants) and Aromatherapy (healing with essential oils)
That branch of Aromatherapy known as aroma/cosmetica uses the power of penetration through the tissues of the essences, to establish beauty treatments that are not limited to the surface of the skin but, to be corrected in a stable cells renewal process. The therapeutic properties of the essential oils in pharmacology are also the foundation of their special and profound action in dermo-cosmetics.
Essential oils perform the function of stimulating the exhausted tissues, promote cell renewal and maintain constant the level of purification. The best results are obtained with blends of essential oils that work synergy with oils or creams or emulsions and extractions. The most recent research has developed dermo-cosmetic functional products based on specific essences for various treatments that integrate the therapeutic aspect-base with the aesthetic. More practically, the plants can be considered as a laboratory containing many chemicals, extractable in different ways depending on the method used. From each of these methods it is possible to obtain a final product with specific requirements and characteristics, with specific therapeutic indications. The extractive techniques applied to material of vegetable nature, are employed as well as for obtaining the pure active principle, removing unwanted components from the plants. Aroma-cosmetics are based on the therapeutic action of extracted herbs and flowers and essentials oils. The sources and quality of the row natural ingredients play a primary role, harvest must occur in season and in the (balsamic time) when the plants offer the most of their therapeutic properties
What makes ERBE remarkable and memorable?
I think the absolute pure scent of the products is a consistence
positive first approach.
The natural, delicate and elegant smell that characterizes all our products, is
inviting and evocative, creating an immediate feeling of trust and confidence
for a traditional and solid history of cosmetic manufacturing and not just
another cosmetic brand with no other origin but a lab born chemical
product.Texture also plays a big role and after using ERBE products, the
biggest comment I hear “ it really worked for me, cannot go back to other
commercial products” . What is remarkable is that I still have a
faithful and growing clientele for so many years without ever making an
advertising campaign.
From where or whom do you draw
your greatest inspiration?
Of course the first “ maestro” is
the work of famous herbalist physicians from the 15th centuries.
They were the first to codify and create beauty products as we know them today.
But, I must say that the fascinating and charming word of the women in my life
as I was growing up, had the strongest influence in my future chooses. Their
life style, the attention they had towards beauty and health, my mother
exchanging receipts and beauty secrets with friend, and the smell of the
flowers in our evenings promenades, made me realize that that was
the world I wanted to leave in, a simple and elegant life style made of quality
and care.
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What are some major
things you’ve learned while running ERBE?
Confidence and trust are
the major assets we have had all along our retail operation. I learned that
people are not just consumers, I felt all the way that there is a lack of
professional skills among retail operators, they undervalue the power
of honesty and loving approach with clients. Is all aimed to make a quick sale
and not to cultivate a clientele. When I was running the retail operation, I
found that people need to feel unique and important, they have to trust that
the product suggested is the perfect and appropriate product for them. Of
course this have to be sustained by a trained personnel
What has been your favorite or most poignant memory of your company to date?
There are many good memories starting with my
clients bringing their teen age children from great compliments I had from
several celebrity clients but, the most moving thing is when I saw people
regaining a youthful skin and appearance a see their total satisfaction and
happiness. I have to admit that most of the people who have been
using ERBE products methodically for a long time, they kept a younger skin and
vs. people who did not.
What has been your favorite or most poignant memory of your company to date?
There are many good memories starting with my clients bringing their teen age children from great compliments I had from several celebrity clients but, the most moving thing is when I saw people regaining a youthful skin and appearance a see their total satisfaction and happiness. I have to admit that most of the people who have been using ERBE products methodically for a long time, they kept a younger skin and vs. people who did not.
Any plans you can share with us about the
future of ERBE?
I see there is an empty
space in the market for true herbal products, I would like to cover that
market. There is a growing public seeking natural products but it is difficult
to discern among the many so called “ natural” “organic” brands. There is a lot
of confusion and I feel is important for me to be distinguished by that type of
categories because, regardless of their claim, in reality most cosmetic company
uses the same commercial bases as everyone else, synthetic or “reconstructed”
essential oils and inert row ingredients. So far ERBE has been recognized as
the only brand reflecting the Authentic Italian Beauty Culture and my plan is
try to pursue this concept with integrity and innovations.
Our story and
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