I met Sean and Queenie of ahimsa Essentials at SoCal VegFest in Orange County last October. Before I had even sampled any of their products, I knew this was going to be a special brand – just by how genuine and kind the two of them were.
A naturopathic doctor and an environmental engineer, they met during the Best Friends Animal Society’s Hurricane Katrina relief and later went on to launch ahimsa Essentials early in 2015. They dedicated their efforts to creating organic, all-natural, plant-based, cruelty-free products in an earth-friendly manner with no preservatives, synthetic fragrances, artificial ingredients or fillers. In fact, each of their handcrafted products has five ingredients or fewer, including essential oils blended with sustainable oils and butters.
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word meaning non-violence, which they chose to express their mission to “cause no harm, do no harm in thoughts, words or actions to self, others, and the environment.”
All of their products are handmade in Phoenix using sustainable, plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients and are sold online, at farmers markets and festivals, and at local retailers in Arizona.
While they offer a full line of organic, vegan soaps, sugar scrubs, moisturizers, deodorants, bath bombs and more, this particular product review is for their Om Organic Whipped Body Butter.
A naturopathic doctor and an environmental engineer, they met during the Best Friends Animal Society’s Hurricane Katrina relief and later went on to launch ahimsa Essentials early in 2015. They dedicated their efforts to creating organic, all-natural, plant-based, cruelty-free products in an earth-friendly manner with no preservatives, synthetic fragrances, artificial ingredients or fillers. In fact, each of their handcrafted products has five ingredients or fewer, including essential oils blended with sustainable oils and butters.
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word meaning non-violence, which they chose to express their mission to “cause no harm, do no harm in thoughts, words or actions to self, others, and the environment.”
All of their products are handmade in Phoenix using sustainable, plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients and are sold online, at farmers markets and festivals, and at local retailers in Arizona.
While they offer a full line of organic, vegan soaps, sugar scrubs, moisturizers, deodorants, bath bombs and more, this particular product review is for their Om Organic Whipped Body Butter.
Cruelty-Free, Vegan Beauty Product Review: Om Organic Whipped Body Butter
Most of you probably don’t know that I made and sold soaps, lotions, lip balms, bath bombs and other vegan personal care products crafted in my kitchen to help pay for my undergrad degree. The reason I bring it up now is just to show that I do know at least a little bit about handcrafting products and often think, “I could just make this at home,” when I see small-batch products at farmers markets or festivals. But I have to say, I would definitely have to do some research to even attempt to reproduce the absolutely heavenly, fluffy texture of this ahimsa Essentials whipped body butter.
This is, hands down, the most-decadent body butter I have ever used. It is easily a higher-quality and more luxurious product than more-expensive, vegan, organic body butters that I have found in well-known retailers made by well-known brands.
Every time I open the jar, it feels a bit like one of those products on which you decide to occasionally splurge, but it is surprisingly affordable and doesn’t have to be a splurge at all for most folks. At the time of this writing, their four-ounce body butters are just $12.95 on their website – plus, you get free shipping on orders of more than $50. (If you use the coupon code below, you will also get free shipping on orders of less than $50, plus you get 10% off your order!)
This is, hands down, the most-decadent body butter I have ever used. It is easily a higher-quality and more luxurious product than more-expensive, vegan, organic body butters that I have found in well-known retailers made by well-known brands.
Every time I open the jar, it feels a bit like one of those products on which you decide to occasionally splurge, but it is surprisingly affordable and doesn’t have to be a splurge at all for most folks. At the time of this writing, their four-ounce body butters are just $12.95 on their website – plus, you get free shipping on orders of more than $50. (If you use the coupon code below, you will also get free shipping on orders of less than $50, plus you get 10% off your order!)
I am actually quite surprised that it is this affordable, particularly when you consider the quality of the ingredients and care that goes into each handcrafted batch. Of course, you can find cheaper body butters and even cheap vegan body butters, but take a look at the ingredients list on those products or do a little research on the company making them, and I think you will see that the value just isn’t there. Plus, when you purchase from a company like ahimsa Essentials, you have the opportunity to support not only a small, local business, but a family business and a woman-owned business. Those are total pluses in my book.
So, if you noticed that I mentioned I met them last October, you might wonder why I’m only now doing this product review. There are a couple of reasons, one of which is that I reviewed another body butter a while ago and wanted to make sure I had plenty of space and blog posts between the two in order to be fair to both brands. The second reason is that I immediately fell in love with this product the first time I opened the jar, and I just had to be sure that it was going to retain its fragrance, texture and consistency over time and with varying temperatures.
Ten months after receiving it, I can safely say that the fragrance and fluffiness are fully intact and just as enjoyable now as they were the first day.
So, if you noticed that I mentioned I met them last October, you might wonder why I’m only now doing this product review. There are a couple of reasons, one of which is that I reviewed another body butter a while ago and wanted to make sure I had plenty of space and blog posts between the two in order to be fair to both brands. The second reason is that I immediately fell in love with this product the first time I opened the jar, and I just had to be sure that it was going to retain its fragrance, texture and consistency over time and with varying temperatures.
Ten months after receiving it, I can safely say that the fragrance and fluffiness are fully intact and just as enjoyable now as they were the first day.
I can also say that I love traveling with my ahimsa Essentials vegan, organic body butter. It is so nice to have with me after hours on a plane or train. When you travel a lot and like to travel light, it is important to have products that can serve more than one purpose. In the case of this whipped body butter made with food-grade ingredients, you can get four uses out of it: hand lotion, lip balm, facial moisturizer and your slightly heavier butter for things like elbows and heels. While the four-ounce jar is just a bit too large for TSA to allow it in your carry-on, it is easy to scoop out into a travel-size container when flying is part of your trip itinerary.
The variety that I tried for this product review was the Om Body Butter, which is described on the website as a scent “dominated by Egyptian Rose Geranium with hints of Orange and Juniper Berry.” They report that it is their most popular scent with women, and I can see why. It is quite delightful, and I have definitely noticed myself holding my hand under my nose several times after application to breathe in the delicate, floral scent for a little aromatherapy.
Aside from Om, you can also choose ahimsa Essentials organic body butters in Rescue (rosemary + wintergreen), Sublime (key lime + bergamot), Zen (lavender + mint), Bliss (frankincense + clove), Glow (grapefruit + basil) or Pure (no essential oils added).
I definitely want to try Sublime and Glow, so I’m pretty sure those are the first two things I am going to order with the coupon code!
By the way – and I’m sure this won’t surprise you – each of their body butters comes in a recycled glass jar that is completely recyclable (although, I think I might reuse mine to hold small findings in my craft room).
The variety that I tried for this product review was the Om Body Butter, which is described on the website as a scent “dominated by Egyptian Rose Geranium with hints of Orange and Juniper Berry.” They report that it is their most popular scent with women, and I can see why. It is quite delightful, and I have definitely noticed myself holding my hand under my nose several times after application to breathe in the delicate, floral scent for a little aromatherapy.
Aside from Om, you can also choose ahimsa Essentials organic body butters in Rescue (rosemary + wintergreen), Sublime (key lime + bergamot), Zen (lavender + mint), Bliss (frankincense + clove), Glow (grapefruit + basil) or Pure (no essential oils added).
I definitely want to try Sublime and Glow, so I’m pretty sure those are the first two things I am going to order with the coupon code!
By the way – and I’m sure this won’t surprise you – each of their body butters comes in a recycled glass jar that is completely recyclable (although, I think I might reuse mine to hold small findings in my craft room).
 |  |
Where to Buy ahimsa Essentials Products + Coupon Code
You can buy ahimsa Essentials organic, plant-based scrubs, body butters, soaps, deodorants and more online at the ahimsa Essentials website.
If you purchase products through the ahimsa Essentials website, be sure to use the coupon code CHEAPVEGANCHICK to save 10% and receive free shipping on your order.
If you live in or will be visiting the Phoenix area, you can find them at the Open Air Market at the Phoenix Public Market or at the Uptown Farmers Market on Saturdays. You can also check the website for upcoming pop up markets and a current list of retailers, or send Queenie an email to ask where they will be selling next.
But even if you are not in the Phoenix area, you may get lucky enough to meet them in person and try their products at another market or festival – like how I met them at the SoCal VegFest in Orange County (and I’m hoping to see them there again this year!).
If you purchase products through the ahimsa Essentials website, be sure to use the coupon code CHEAPVEGANCHICK to save 10% and receive free shipping on your order.
If you live in or will be visiting the Phoenix area, you can find them at the Open Air Market at the Phoenix Public Market or at the Uptown Farmers Market on Saturdays. You can also check the website for upcoming pop up markets and a current list of retailers, or send Queenie an email to ask where they will be selling next.
But even if you are not in the Phoenix area, you may get lucky enough to meet them in person and try their products at another market or festival – like how I met them at the SoCal VegFest in Orange County (and I’m hoping to see them there again this year!).
When I met Sean and Queenie at the SoCal VegFest, they were kind enough to provide me with an Om Body Butter at no cost so that I could try it out and provide you with my honest opinion.
RSS Feed
