Today we’d like to introduce you to Mo Cole.
Mo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
About 20 years ago I developed chronic eczema, seemingly out of nowhere. That sent me down a rabbit hole, researching atopic eczema and scrutinizing the ingredients in my skincare, detergents, and soap. I ended up eliminating virtually all synthetic chemicals from my daily routine, convinced I’d found the culprit. What I eventually discovered, a little anticlimactically, was that the real triggers were far more mundane: lack of sleep, stress, and sugar.
Right around that time, a good friend sent me a bar of handmade soap from a maker in the Pacific Northwest, and I was completely lit up. Having been a pastry chef in a former life, the idea of that kind of alchemy (minus the sugar) was immediately exciting to me. I started making my own soap shortly after and never stopped.
People have a surprisingly similar reaction to smelling a beautifully made bar of soap as they do to biting into a perfect cream puff. Obviously different experiences, but the joy is the same.
At one point I had 90 pounds of soap curing in my closet and realized I probably needed to do something with them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If everything were smooth it wouldn’t be very interesting, right? But seriously, the struggles are real. The biggest one over the past eight years has been the slowly creeping cost of materials. When you’ve built your reputation on being plant-forward, all-natural, and high quality, you can’t roll that back just because essential oils and other ingredients have gone through the roof. So you rework formulas, develop new products, test and test and test, all while trying to keep your prices reasonable and your quality promise intact. We’re not exactly out of this particular struggle, but are constantly working with it. It’s a balancing act that never stops.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Early in the soap making process, before I started building out other products, I made a deliberate decision to forgo synthetic fragrance oils entirely and work only with essential oils. At the time I understood what they were in a general sense, but I didn’t really understand them chemically, and I didn’t understand their individual properties or safety profiles.
Essential oils are highly volatile, concentrated plant compounds and while they’re considered natural, natural doesn’t automatically mean safe or beneficial. I wanted to move beyond general “energetics” and get into the actual molecules and chemistry. So I studied aromatherapy formally, including olfaction, physiology, chemistry, and aroma psychology, and became a certified and practicing aromatherapist.
That training now informs every product I make, from Aromatherapy Mists, Bath Soaks, and Beard Oil to Archetype 1°, my botanical perfume, and ELIXR, my newest product, a very lightly scented liquid body balm. Whether it’s a specific scent synergy, a blending decision, a safety consideration, or simply passing the “oh my God that smells so good” test, that foundation is present in everything. It’s what sets Folk Botanicals apart from a lot of what’s out there.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My absolute belief in the power of olfaction. Setting my products aside for a moment: the next time you walk into a bakery or café, notice your immediate emotional response to the smell of coffee and fresh baked goods. How does that feel? Pretty good, right? That’s a direct hit to your parasympathetic nervous system. The same goes for a flower shop, your baby’s head, or race fuel if you’re a speed demon. Same mechanism, different trigger. Scent is a genuinely powerful tool, and that belief is at the core of everything I make.
If I had to name a second quality, it would be integrity. No greenwashing, preservatives, “nature identical” ingredients or sorry substitutes. Everything from color to texture comes from plants and clays. At its core, Folk Botanicals is about slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and remembering that plants, used thoughtfully, can help us feel more grounded, present, and alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://folkbotanicals.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folkbotanicals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/folkbotanicals
