NEZZA NATURALS
Location:
Hours of Business:
Phone:
Web Address:
Unit 101 – 3 Fan Tan Alley (down the stairs just north of the Pandora end of the alley)
Open 7 days a week – Mon- Sat: 10-6 pm & Sun: 11-5 pm
388-9171 (toll-free 1-877-388-9171)
www.nezzanaturals.com
Chosen for:
Natural handmade organic products
Extensive owner knowledge
Broad range of products
In glorious sunshine, 27 Grapeviners met at Chinatown's Gates of Harmonious Interest. Founders led the group from Fisgard Street into dark narrow Fan Tan Alley, emerging onto Pandora Street where we took a few steps down to Nezza Naturals. As soon as the entry bell tinkled, wonderful smells made the crowd draw deep breaths and enticed us inside.
Father and daughter co-owners James Trueit
and
Sasha Prior launched Nezza Naturals six months ago:
"We make it simple for you to keep every aspect of
your life healthy and natural".
- Photos by Harvey Forester and Barbara McDonell
"Wow," co-owner James Trueit whispered as we handed him our signature purple balloon bouquet, "Sasha told me to expect `a few people coming in with Sarala today, but I certainly wasn't expecting this!'" (Although Sarala and Barbara lied through their teeth in heroic attempts to get both owners in the store for the "graping", Sasha had already committed herself at a Christmas fair).
Nezza Naturals is owned and operated by the father/daughter team of James Trueit and Sasha Prior. James lives mostly on Galiano Island where he creates the majority of products while 22-year old Sasha lives in Victoria and manages the store, except Sundays and Mondays when James mans the fort.
"Our mission," Sasha tells us another day, "is to create natural, high-quality products that will nourish you as well as the environment. Our goal is to perfectly blend nature and science to rejuvenate the whole you ... mind, body and soul." Interested in natural make-up? Sasha is the woman to see about mineral lipsticks, blush, eyeliners, paraben-free mascara, and water-based nail enamels.
Grapeviners were led down narrow Fan
Tan Alley enroute to our destination.
James began creating natural perfumes in 2003 and for a time he worked in a homeopathic clinic. Sasha joined her father in 2004 and started to expand the company. After a year of creating a full line of natural health products she began selling in Vancouver Island and Gulf Island markets while studying to become an aromatherapist and spa practitioner.
Taking the market route himself, James confessed that one day he was approached by an elderly woman he'd earlier sold a product to and he braced himself for a complaint. "That lotion you gave me," she said, "cured my arthritis" ... and everyone at the market swarmed to his booth to buy it! In fact, Nezza Naturals products got such great feedback from buyers that they decided to open a store in Victoria, as well as a small co-op store on Galiano Island.
Both owners are passionate travellers. James spent years exploring the world and found some amazing oils and products. He lived in an Ashram for a while and later toured India extensively, learning about precious oils and Ayurvedic medicine. Sasha spent a year travelling on her own until 2003 when she hooked up with dad to visit Australia where they toured tea tree and macadamia nut farms.
Because of their passion for therapeutic products, the pair shifted focus from creams and lotions and began combining herbs and essential oils. By the time they opened Nezza Naturals in late May of 2007 they had broadened scope to encompass a large range of items, from natural household cleansers to soaps, shampoos, body scrubs, skin cleansers and moisturizers.
"Everything is handmade in small batches to ensure quality and purity, as well as freshness. Because we believe it is important for everyone to experience the therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of natural products, we keep it all very affordable." – co-owner Sasha Prior
Herbs are sold by the ounce. Herbal tinctures are priced at $10.95 for a 30 ml. bottle. Try Wild Cherry Bark, an ancient native remedy, to make tea to cure your cold or flu.
James' favourite thing is customizing essential oil blends to suit individuals. To aid in that process he'll incorporate muscle testing until the product perfectly fits the individual's needs – as he did the day before our arrival for a cancer patient with skin issues. On "graping" day he quickly made a scentless skin moisturizer for Nancy because of her allergies. Often the shop is visited by students with little money so the owners work with them to find inexpensive solutions to meet their needs.
Planning a sunny winter holiday? Try the natural sunscreen ($14.95), the natural mosquito repellant ("more effective than chemicals such as Deet and safe for all ages") or an aloe after-sun spray ($9.95) to soothe and moisturize. Do you suffer from jet lag? James or Sasha can prepare a ginger/peppermint essential oil concoction - or, if preferred, an herbal tea blend. Pick up a few travel-sized shampoos and balms. We found a perfect pocket or travel mirror for $6.95 ... housed in a sturdy wooden case that weighs next to nothing, it offers a magnifier plus a regular mirror.
Nezza Naturals stocks over 70 different essential oils and 50 plus organic tinctures. Owners will customize
blends to suit individuals with special considerations.
We spotted a natural wood cleanser and polish for $9.95 and some great pet products - dry shampoo, for instance, or a natural flea collar. There's an all-purpose organic Bacteria Buster, as well as eco-friendly laundry powder ($7.95) that's gentle on sensitive skin and cleans for 50 loads.
Every item in the store is reasonably priced – as evidenced by the constant ka-ching of the store's cash register. Into each purchase bag James popped a complimentary sample of muscle rub or an anti-fungus lotion.
With the approaching holiday season, this is a superb shop for finding nurturing stocking stuffers and host or hostess gifts. Of course you may want to buy yourself a couple of goodies too (secretly tuck them in your own stocking, labelled "from Santa")! For the men on your list there are colourful soaps on a rope, special moisturizers – and more. For the women, you might choose from several differently scented organic bath salts (calming lavender, for instance) for $9.95 a bag, or a tantalizing trio of luxuriant long-lasting vegetable soaps made of organic shea and coca butters, with avocado oil: Chocolate Mocha, Lavender Patchouli and Cedarwood ($12).
Sasha is creating some special holiday gift bags. Besides Pet, Baby, or Foot packages, she'll offer a lavender or rose Bath Basket, as well as a Facial Basket. With all these choices, perhaps you'd rather give friends and relatives a gift certificate so they can pick their own delights!