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According to Andrea Butje, essential oils are more than just smell good accessories. They are powerful tools that anyone can use to transform their lives for the better, and that's just what she helps people do through her Aromahead Institute.

For Andrea, who recently turned 43, helping people incorporate proper use of essential oils into their daily life is her life. Her journey to aromatherapy took a somewhat typical route. After being trained as a massage therapist, Andrea and a partner opened the highly regarded Finger Lakes School of Massage, in Ithaca NY. They ran the school for the next 10 years and Andrea taught the massage therapy students the basics of using essential oils in their massage practices. "I began by teaching one and two day classes and eventually the need for a more in depth school became obvious, she says. Andrea and her partner sold the massage school 4 years ago and Andrea soon found herself in Florida after growing "tired of being cold and not having enough sunshine."

A Love Of Plants

According to Andrea, essential oils do more than lift moods and make rooms smell good. "They are a lovely approach to transforming health and stimulating immunity," she says. "I. have always loved plants and have used herbs, massage and essential oils as my main form of health care for 20 years. I have discovered so many ways essential oils can reduce or eliminate the need for over the counter drugs that can be depleting to our health,: says Andrea.

It was this love of plants, herbs, essential oils and natural medicines and sincere belief in their power that lead Andrea to launch her business. "When combined with my life-long passion for quality education and teaching, an aromatherapy school evolved naturally. I studied essential oils for many years and used them actively prior to starting my aromatherapy business. My curriculum was evaluated and approved by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) and I was on my way!" she beams. Andrea says that there's no science or special creative story to how she came up with the name for her business. "I was enjoying a fun day of brainstorming with friends, and Aromahead is what came out of it!" she says.

Andrea says that the benefits of essential oils are more than just anecdotal and her excitement about how they can help people is readily apparent when she talks about a man she recently made an oil blend for. "I made a blend for an older man who has had polio his whole life. His hands were in constant pain from being on crutches all the time and he had trouble sleeping at night. I made him a cream with analgesic, calming essential oils and he has enjoyed a profound shift in the level of pain, and has been sleeping better." Andrea says that the blend was: 2 ounces of unscented lotion, 3 drops Birch (Betula lenta), 5 drops Eucalyptus (Globulus) , 6 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and 5 drops of Orange (Citrus sinensis).

Teaching Others

Andrea uses Aromahead to put her natural passion for teaching to good use. "I have one and two day classes focused on blending and the therapeutic properties of essential oils, and a certification program for people who want to start or grow their own aromatherapy businesses. The certification program is approved by NAHA and includes a 300 page manual. The program goes into great depth for those wanting to work within the Aromatherapy/Essential Oil profession. I also teach a 5 day Teacher Training program for aromatherapists who want to teach and several advanced aromatherapy classes.

A Global Undertaking

Andrea, whose "current" favorite essential oil is frankincense, says that she loves the process of facilitating learning, and see doing so as a tribute to the exceptional teachers she has had in her own life. Her devotion inspired her to begin importing essential oils directly from the distillers who grow the plants and distill the oils.

"I source all the essential oils I sell myself. I have spent 10 years finding distillers worldwide, traveling to visit many of them, talking extensively with them and having their oils tested with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) technology to enumerate and ensure their components. Most essential oil distillers are farmers who have taken the time to learn the art of distillation. They are in very close contact with the plants they distill. The art and science of distillation is learned over many years and a great deal of dedication. I am grateful to the distillers I work with and want to do everything I can support their work growing plants and distilling essential oils. I also work with 2 distributors, one in England and one in South Africa, who do the same work I do -- work with small distillers worldwide and import their essential oils," explains Andrea.

Andrea also displays photographs of plants from which oils are extracted at her website. "I hope this can help customers understand where the essential oil comes from, and to see that they are pure plant extracts," she says. Andrea loves taking pictures of plants and likes making them available to others who may not ever have the opportunity to enjoy them. "To see a field of lavender in full bloom is an incredible experience," according to Andrea.

How It Works

Other than  a few stints as a waitress to support herself through college, Andrea has never had a traditional job. Instead, she went straight from massage school to her own massage practice at 21 years of age and she's has her own businesses ever since. It seems almost expected that Andrea's heartfelt love of the plants and the oils they yield would somehow lead her to find a way to support herself by sourcing and selling them. "My partner, Cindy, helps me develop computer databases to track distiller contact information, inventory and any vendors for teaching supplies," says Andrea. "She also helps me keep the business organized so that the customer and student experience is easy and delightful."

Unlike many small business owners who feel compelled to do most everything themselves, Andrea contracts out many of the services needed to run the business so she can focus on her passions of importing and pouring oils, teaching classes, consulting with essential oil companies and communications with students and customers. Among the vendors she uses are a computer consultant, an attorney, an accountant a web designer and a graphics artist. "I am grateful for the help of other professionals in areas where I have either less experience or simply wish to spend less time," she says.

Freedom!

When asked why she loves what she does for a living, Andrea simply says that it makes her happy. "I am happy!" she exclaims. "I love working for myself, I adore being around essential oils, I love to teach and I feel inspired every day to support the aromatherapy profession to grow and be at its best. I feel blessed to have these aromatic substances in my life everyday, and to have such close contact with the distillers who make them." Even with all the wonderful benefits, being your own boss does have some challenges. For Andrea, it boils down to the fact that she's always working. "Owning my own business and having it based in my home makes the boundaries between work and the rest of life a little fuzzy. I overcome this is to take time to cook, play with my cats, exercise and be with friends," she says. Andrea loves to travel and is also a photographer, so she spends downtime taking pictures of her travels. Even though the pictures and travels are often related to her business, it feels like play to Andrea, who also loves to garden and simply be around nature.

Andrea's Toolbox

Andrea offers these tips from her "toolbox" of business success.

o have clear goals for your business and a plan for how to make it all happen
o decide early on how you would like your business to support your life, and allow this to guide your approach to how you run your business
o know excellent professionals in areas of the business where you need support (taxes, web design, computer help etc.)
o use good accounting software (Andrea uses QuickBooks) to keep a constant eye on the financial aspects
o deeply understand the product you sell, being sure your education is solid so you can feel confident speaking about all your products.

She also recommends Small Business for Dummies. "It is easy to read and full of in depth in formation," she says.

On The Horizon

Today, Andrea's business enjoys 3 separate streams of income. Classes are taught through the Aromahead Institute. The International Directory of Distillers provides members with access to 37 distillers in 17 different countries. Over the course of the next few several weeks, Andrea will launch an essential oil retail store, which will sell essential oils taken from plants that are certified organic, wild crafted and unsprayed. The web store will also be filled with information about essential oils, blending suggestions, tried and true recipes, the chemistry of the oils, the energetic and spiritual aspects of the oils, the GC/MS reports for each oil, lots of beautiful pictures and more! You can access everything through Aromehead's website.

Andrea's Business Works Because ...

1. Andrea combines her work and her play. Andrea combines (1) personal interests in travel and nature; (2) a natural talent for teaching; and (3) a professional background in massage therapy to create make her business work. What hobbies, talents and professional experiences can you combine to create your own niche?

2. Andrea delegates things she's not good at or does not want to do. If you don't like to do it, it's either not going to get done, or if you do it, you may end up hating being in business for yourself more than you ever imagined. If you need help, ask for it. Of course this is good advice not only in your business, but in your personal life too. Most people who find themselves stuck in a bad place in business or in life can think back to many times when they needed help but didn't ask for it. How can you ask for help today?

3. Andrea is not afraid of change. When it got too cold for Andrea in New York, she simply moved to a location she loved, Sarasoat, Florida. While leaving an environment that has provided security for many years would paralyze many people, Andrea embraced the opportunity to move to a climate where there were more opportunities for her to be outside among the plants she loves so much. She's much happier now, and her business is thriving in ways it might not have if she was in a location where she felt restricted and physically cold.

Best & Success!!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience
The Indie Beauty Network | www.indiebeauty.com

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