About
Our Mission
Our mission is to create positive social and environmental change by supporting regenerative farming practices and celebrating the ancient art of aromatherapy.
Pictured is Calliandra angustafolia, or known commonly as Bobinsana. It is a nitrogen fixing species that grows in the Amazon, often utilized in reforestation. The Mimosa-like flowers are strikingly beautiful amongst the green forest. The plant is sacred and known to be a heart opening teacher plant.
Biodiversity & Community
We believe that we can make great social change for people and land. We are a company that believes in responsibility and accountability, that is why we focus on working with small artisans in rural communities, knowing that the future can be ecologically diverse and prosperous for all.
The harvesting of Boswellia neglecta by Samburu women in Kenya.
Our Team
Soli Essentials was created by a passionate team of Pacha Soap Co leaders and visionary experts from the fields of aromatherapy, agroforestry and supply chain transparency.
Our team is dedicated to curating the very best aromatics while guaranteeing purity, potency and transparency; creating products that go beyond sustainability and towards regeneration.
The Soli and Whole Foods team tour Primary Rainforest at the Reforestation Center in Peru where our Sacred Forest collection is sourced.
Resident Experts
Kelly M. Ablard,
PhD, RA, MIFPA
Resident Expert:
Aromatherapy & Conservation
Dr. Kelly Ablard, Founder and Executive Director of the Airmid Institute, is a conservation biologist and clinical aromatherapist dedicated to the global education, research, and sustainable management of medicinal and aromatic plants. She is a global presenter and has authored peer-reviewed research in the fields of conservation, sustainability, genetics, chemical ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology and ethnobotany. She currently conducts research in Peru with the Shipibo and Quechua Indigenous peoples into their threatened medicinal and aromatic plants. Kelly also enjoys her role as Co-owner/Co-Principal of Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies Ltd., and as resident expert of SOLI. When not playing in the soil or smelling an oil, you can find Kelly forest bathing, practicing kriya yoga, or floating.
More detailed bio: https://airmidinstitute.org/kelly-ablard-phd/
CV: https://airmidinstitute.org/kelly-ablard-phd/affiliations/
SOLI and Kelly
Kelly has enjoyed her role in supporting SOLI ethically source high-quality pure essential oils. She has equally loved working with each SOLI oil to bring their aromatic palette to life through fragrance and energetic profiling, and to blend them in a way that is unique to SOLI. She hopes you will join her on one of her many aromatic journeys to learn more about the history, chemistry, and unique characteristics of each oil.
Blair Butterfield
Resident Expert:
Photography, Ethnography & Biodynamic Farming
Our Plant Portraits were created by Blair Butterfield who studied art at University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins and completed an Interdisciplinary MFA studying regenerative culture throughout the Americas at the University of Hartford. In addition, she has a background in organic and biodynamic farming. Teaching gardening in schools, and creating community gardens in urban food deserts.
Her Plant Portrait project began during art residencies in which she would often work with rare, medicinal, and sacred plants, capturing not only a portrait of the plant, but also their stories as told by the people who use the plants. For Soli, Blair has created a unique plant portrait for all of our aromatic species and unique narratives that weave together aroma profiles and origin stories.
Robin Van Loom
Resident Expert:
Reforestation and Regenerative Design
Founder and Executive Director of Camino Verde, Robin has lived in the Tambopata province of the Peruvian Amazon since 2004. A long-time student of traditional and indigenous agriculture and medicinal practices, his work has focused on developing community-based reforestation strategies to regenerate important endangered plants of the Amazon. He is a writer, regenerative designer, and consultant in agroforestry, reforestation, and regenerative development. Soli is honored to partner with Robin and Camino Verde to create regenerative supply chains and transparency. Learn more here: www.caminoverde.org
Silvia Yordanova
Resident Expert:
Permaculture Design
Silvia is a landscape architect and permaculture designer. Her projects focus on agroforestry, homestead development, and graphic design. Silvia is an artist of all media with over 25 years of experience in the visual arts. In 2015 Silvia founded Maui Olena, an organic turmeric farm in Hawaii.
Silvia is a lifelong lover of plants and is continuously inspired to learn and share plant information. She is fascinated by our relationship to plants and feels the urge to point out their importance, emphasize their beauty and share their inspiration.
Our Partners
About our Sister Brand
PACHA SOAP CO
Each Pacha purchase supports radically transparent and ethical sourcing, clean water initiatives, hygiene education and small business opportunities worldwide.
Learn more about Pacha Soap Co.
