Straight from the pages of JNSQ iPad Magazine – JNSQ reviews ko denmark - a conscious and certified vegan skincare brand – boasting some of the most coveted ingredients in Europe.
When you open a bottle of ko denmark organic jasmine + neroli lotion the first thing you’ll notice is the exotic, delicate scent of jasmine blossoms, followed by subtler citrusy notes. It’s an attention-getting scent; not overpowering, but also not easy to ignore. The clean, pure scent is a good representative of its elements – ko denmark lotion, body wash, and perfume is made with organic ingredients, essential oils and purpose.
For creator Henriette Holst, the thought of using non-organic ingredients is upsetting, “I don’t want to create a body care product where there are traces of chemicals in the products…we’re using really, really precious true flower oils and I want to make sure that it is a clean product”. So she did, and the results are impressive.
ko denmark has been in development for a long time. “I started creating natural soaps and worked with essential oils as a hobby when I was in my teens,” said Holst, who mentioned that her first experiments with soap started in her high school biology class. She began product development while still living in Denmark, and continued after she moved to the United States. “The line was created for Danish women who are conscious of the origins of the ingredients of the products they use in their homes and on their skin.”
Holst, who moved to the Seattle area 8 years ago, worked carefully with aromatherapists and chemists to get the recipe for her jasmine + neroli body lotion just right. The result is a thick and creamy lotion with an intoxicatingly lush aroma of tropical florals. The scents are enhanced by heat (warm weather, the heat of your skin), which bring out the exotic, citrusy undertones. Because she uses all essential oils instead of fragrances, the scent is gentle, and so is the product. “By using products made with organic ingredients, your skin will not be damaged by residues of pesticides or solvents,” says Holst. “An oil like neroli is used a lot in night creams for cell regeneration.” Organic ingredients and paraben-free cosmetics do not have an indefinite shelf life so she works with a professional lab to produce her products in small batches – made with care and consciousness to keep every bottle fresh.
ko denmark has weathered the recession fairly well, although the cost of raw, organic materials is steadily rising. According to Holst, “it takes 1 ton of flowers to produce just 16 ounces of oil and ko denmark uses only pure flower oils in its products.” Despite this, and other challenges of starting a small business during difficult economic times, ko denmark has thrived in boutiques and is now sold on websites such as beautyhabit.com, b-glowing.com, and amazon.com.
AUTHOR: Heather Andersen
