Sannat based Shirley makes sweet smelling products for the home and body.
Meet The Maker: Shirley Bonnici from Scents & Beyond.
Shirley Bonnici is from the beautiful village of Ta’ Sannat, and is super proud to be Gozitan. She was currently finishing her last year at the Sir Michelangelo Refalo Sixth Form when she started her business Since she was a little girl, and driven by her sense of pride, she has always been determined to own business and in the pandemic, she found herself with a lot of free time.
She missed travelling and visiting beauty product shops abroad and loves spending hours in the bath with all kinds of scrubs and oils so this led her to the decision of making homemade bath and body products. Scents & Beyond. like many other solopreneurs, operates from Instagram and Facebook. All the products are vegan and not tested on animals and tonnes of research and reading has gone into this side of things to get it right.
“I could not be happier making products; I am fulfilling my own dreams.”
Shirley Bonnici
1. How did Scents & Beyond begin?
Ever since I was I little girl I wanted to own my small business. At that time I did not have any clue how it will be or how it will happen but I always looked up to my father for having worked hard to achieve his goals. Last November due to the pandemic I had some free time on my hands and decided to give my crazy idea a go.
2. What makes your products unique?
A lot of thought and research happens before I create my products for Scents & Beyond. I feel that they are unique because they represent my abilities and what I can do. I try to come up with new ideas and take risks even if I am scared that people will not buy the product. I was super scared to start doing candles, but now I am so glad I tried it.
3.) What or who inspires your work?
Basically, what happens around me inspires my work. Lately, I have been going for long walks in the countryside and so I decided to create candles with flowers and strawberries painted on them. Also, I do some research to see what is in the market and what people nowadays are liking but then I add my own way to the products to make them mine. When I see my customers happy and enjoying my products, I have to say that is my motivation to keep creating new products.
4.) What do you most enjoy making? / What are your best sellers?
My best sellers are the Lavender Bubble Candle, Bubble Gum Bubble Candle, Lavender Bath Bomb, Bubble Gum Bath Bomb and Vanilla & Coconut bath bomb. The Rose bath melts during Valentine’s time were a hit as well.
5.) Have you got any new products in the pipeline?
I have new products that I haven’t launched yet and let me just say, I can’t wait to share them. The products involve painting and others something to hang!!
We want all of these right now
Inspired by her surroundings, much attention to detail goes into each product. From the aromatherapy to the handpainted tins the ceramic pots the candles and bath salts come in. Why not take something home from Gozo based artisan, Scents & Beyond,
Click For More Information: Scents & Beyond and search more Artisans here.
