We here at OilGrow feel that it is high time to introduce our extraordinary Chemical Expert, Owner and Master Blender to our clients, audience and new resellers. Dr. Denise Olivier is such a support to her team of resellers and clients. That is why we felt everyone ought to know a bit more about the truly wonderful woman that she is. So we asked her a few questions. We are confident that you will enjoy reading more about her and the OilGrow company.
A bit about the good Dr.
Apart from spending time with her family, Dr. Denise loves to play with her animals. She has 2 dogs and 2 cats and her dogs follow her around like they were her shadow. They give her tremendous joy and refills her cup. She loves to work in her garden and has a heaven-sent gardener who helps her every second weekend to create and get her hands soiled. Denise loves to listen to the Piano Guys, Josh Groban, and loves pasta – any time of the day. Looking through photos of her family and how far they’ve come makes her quite nostalgic.
She loves to read and apart from the Bible and her own PhD publication, her favorite books are Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and her most recent gift – The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valery Anne Wolwood. And, when her cup is full after playing with her dogs in the garden, she thoroughly loves to spend time with people. Investing into the lives of others is something she does lovingly. Many times this happens at the Pretoria Boeremark where OilGrow has a stall – it is a time of planting seeds in people’s hearts and watering it weekly.
Qualifications
Dr. Denise has a PhD in Plant Chemistry. She is our very own Aromatherapist. This is very applicable in what she does daily at work and at OilGrow. She explains it like this: “I studied all the different traditional medicinal systems from across the world including the manner in which they use plants and their healing capacity. I then studied the chemistry of plants, including the most widely used South African tonics. Looking at the chemistry, it was clear to see how the pharmacological properties are linked to the traditional uses of the plant as a whole. Even though the plants that produce essential oils may be used as a complete plant, I chose to focus on the essential oils because of their extremely concentrated potency.” And these oils can assist everyone medicinally even when access to the complete plant is limited.
About OilGrow: Our humble beginnings
Dr. Denise started OilGrow in 2018 after being retrenched. Who can relate to having to suddenly make a way where there seemed to be none after a retrenchment? I am sure quite a few of us. This is what she had to say about starting this amazing company. “When I grew up there wasn’t the option of being an entrepreneur. And if you told me 20 years ago that I would be a business owner and entrepreneur, I would have laughed. But, I had to start doing something and that ended up being to sell something in which I could use my expertise.” She developed such a love for essential oils and throughout her studies and work-life has made wonderful local connections. Denise realized that she wanted to market the essential oils that were produced locally, that were our own, South African oils.
That is when OilGrow started. She started off firstly to focus on assisting farmers with their Certificates of Analysis. Taking them through the process from beginning to end and help them understand the analysis. The consulting aspect in the industry was a natural follow up on the CoA’s to help these farmers produce a crop that would eventually be a great quality essential oil. ”But then I just realized that the farmers are not the guys who are necessarily selling the oils and making it available to the local market – I knew that was where OilGrow had to fill the gap in the market.”
About OilGrow: how our oils are sourced
Dr. Denise has made many wonderful connections in the local industry that produce essential oils. Where possible, she firstly supports the farmers who’ve come to know her, who she knows well. First on her list are those that she has done Certificates of Analysis for, since she already knows the value and quality of their oils. Then Denise also supports all other local producers that can supply her with a valid CoA, whether she knows them or not. She will evaluate the quality before purchases. If there are oils that are simply not currently being produced in South Africa, OilGrow tries to source with local, reliable importers. “I do not source oils which do not have CoA’s or which is not authentic and pure. That is the minimum requirement for me.”
OilGrow’s most important Values
For Dr. Denise, one of her main values for Oilgrow is that the essential oil business is not about her. She also tries to impart this value with every reseller. It is not about you as a reseller. Not about making a sale or making money. Everything is about the client and their journey. Her words usually ring true: “So you have to listen to what the request is from your client, and look for what the need is – listen more than what you talk. Don’t just go in for the sale. Find out what they need.”
The number one value we as a company want our clients to feel when you speak to us is that we truly care about what your needs are – whether you know those needs or not, whether you know oils, or not. We wish to impart knowledge and help you know more after having spent time with Dr. Denise or one of our resellers.
About OilGrow: Vision
Here is Dr. Denise on her vision for OilGrow: “I would like to support LOCAL as far as possible. To make 100% pure, top quality essential oils available to everybody in South Africa. This way I support the farmers who want to put their oil in the market. In liaising with them and helping them to increase and better the quality of their oils, we can then make it available in the local market. I would like to see the essential oils market in South Africa grow so much that we will saturate the export market. Making imported oils so limited and thus keeping the cost of oils affordable and accessible.”
She goes on to say: “I don’t believe these essential oils should cost an arm and a leg. I also believe it is not only suited for the rich, who earns lots of money and can spend as they please. It’s supposed to be for everybody. Part of OilGrow’s vision is also to support job creation. So where it is possible for me to support people with their hand-crafts, I will do so. This is also why I have a reseller program running – creating an opportunity for families to earn a bit extra is something we feel privileged to be able to do.”
The love of Essential Oils
Everyone that is on the essential oil journey has that one oil that got you started. For Dr. Denise it was Rose Geranium. “I have a very soft spot for Rose Geranium. But I am also getting to love many more of the others.
My other favorites will also be Lime, Thyme and my most recent favorite is Coriander, because of its tonic properties.” When it comes to her own blends that she has made through the years, she can’t quite decide between Bliss and Grace. “Bliss is the very first blend that I made and it was to help with enhancing the mood in a very gloomy police station. And to impart a sense of being able to carry on, look up and just keep going – to make people happier. My second blend was Grace, I blended it for my mom. And Grace is probably one of my favorite words – by Grace we do every new day.”
What gets Dr. Denise most excited about essential oils is the magic that happens when you blend them. “For example if you blend Rose Geranium with Rosemary, a mint note starts to stand out more. It’s like coloring in and mixing colors – it’s artistry.”
A word to beginners on the essential oil journey
Maybe you’re reading this and have been enjoying essential oils for years. But the following words are always good to read again every now and then. Essential oils are potent, concentrated tools to use in healing the body and mind. There are a few things newbies and oldies need to always keep in mind when using these wonders.
Dr. Denise’ advice is to “Open the bottle of oil and smell it, interact with it – it is the best thing you can do.” We would suggest you learn to smell the depth of the various elements or chemical constituents within any one essential oil. It takes time and perhaps some assistance. Lean on your reseller. Once you have this skill, you will know how to discern if an essential oil is pure oil or synthetic. “The second most important thing would be to not swallow any oil. Some are not considered food such as TeaTree or Eucalyptus and is actually poisonous to humans when ingested. And remember, less is more with essential oils.”
The most valuable lesson Dr. Denise says she learnt is that “Essential oils are very concentrated and that you should mostly not use them neat – you have to dilute it first to avoid getting an allergic reaction. Some oils are safe to use neat such as Lavender, but prolonged regular usage neat can cause sensitivity. Lastly, it is important to remember that if you pay peanuts for something, you get monkeys, but you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get quality. There are lots of quality essential oils in South Africa – you don’t have to import it all the time.”