“Imagine waking up in the mornin g, heading to the bathroom and being invigorated by the smell of the essential oils in your soap. My vision is that a custom er will apply our natural underarm cream, lotion, body oils or sprays and feel ready to conquer the day.”

Tanya Powell-Edwards decided to create her first product when an online pop-up message appeared while she was doing research on efficient homemade stain removers — this was the genesis of the now three-year-old company Taynas Body Care. The challenge of satisfying customer needs and nature are primary sources of inspiration for Edwards, whose home operated-business boasts a line of natural products, including body butters, an underarm cream, face and body bar soaps, body wash and body and massage oils. These are made with essential oils for their natural, therapeutic and aromatic properties.

The products are one hundred per cent natural, made in Jamaica, and claim commendations for improving such skin conditions as acne and eczema.

“We’re blessed to have users recommend our products to their friends. We have become so known for our products that we’ve had persons ask if we’d make a line for them. We also have persons buying locally and sending for relatives overseas,” Edwards informs Under The Dryer.

With a growing demand, the primary challenge for Edwards is supplying demand and doing promotions. However, Edwards’ family has taken up the gauntlet.

“At this point, it’s a family effort,” the Central Village-resident states. “Each person has a specific role. But for promotion we employ as necessary. My husband is great at making soaps and does a great job at maintaining quality. My son is becoming quite a businessman. He just completed a course in entrepreneurship with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and is using that knowledge to streamline the business. He has also spearheaded an initiative to make our body oils SPF-ready and we will be relaunching that very soon. My daughter has been certified in lotion making, works on packaging and handles promotion.”

To that end, the power of social media is not lost on the Taynas Body Care camp. It serves a key function in the marketing efforts.

A guidance counsellor and an experienced radio producer, Edwards has gone through the necessary channels to attain certification in soap and body wash making from the Scientific Research Council, and for courses pursued at the University of Technology Jamaica.

“All my jobs and training converge to equip me with the knowledge I need to create natural products which have positive effects on people’s health and wellbeing,” Edwards states.

She continues, “I prefer making 100 per cent natural products. We do a few with fragrances but we love using coconut and olive oil, and such spices and herbs as turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, and lemongrass. Where we use preservatives, we read MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to find to the most the natural ones. Using 100 per cent organic products gives you a relaxed, secure feeling.”

Edwards says that, while her focus is mainly the skincare products, her line includes a shampoo bar and a leave-in conditioner. She also informs Under The Dryer that there is more to Tayna’s Body Care than that which meets the eye.

“I actually do not put every product I make on the market; some I just do for myself and family,” she states.

That her range of products is available in five different outlets across four parishes is a major feat for the St Andrew-bred businesswoman. However, she confesses that her ‘major start-up challenge of locally accessing a consistent supply of containers for the lotions and body oils still proves to be problematic.

Nevertheless, guided by the company tagline “Food For Your Skin”, Edwards and her family continue to honour their mandate to provide natural hair and skincare care products that also provide aromatherapy. And they believe wholeheartedly in the quality of the products.

“My family and I use every soap, lotion and every other product that we make. We only put on the market things we feel comfortable using for ourselves,” Edwards notes.

So, if you happen to venture beyond the doors of Earth Elements or Proactive Lifestyle in Kingston, Tait’s Pharmacy in May Pen, Three Angels Pharmacy in Mandeville or the Beauty Supermarket in Portmore, you’re sure to come across the offerings from Taynas Body Care.