Meet Melike Aktas Atilgan of Yoursy, The Banyo and Scent Mentor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melike Aktas Atilgan.

Hi Melike, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I hail from the beautiful city of Izmir in Turkey, a place that has always captivated me with her rich history, has most beautiful sea, olive groves, lavender fields, and mandarin trees. However, in 2019, my life took a significant turn when I moved to the United States with my spouse just before the pandemic hit. Eager to experience studying abroad and seeking inspiration in a new country, we embarked on this life-changing journey.

Before my move, I had a background in law and worked as a lawyer specializing in criminal law. I was defending abuse victims, especially women and children. While this work was deeply fulfilling, it also took a toll on me as an empath, as I absorbed the weight of their traumas, leaving me with sleepless nights and escalating stress and anxiety.

Amidst these challenges, I found solace in herbalism, a passion passed down to me by my grandmother. One day, while walking from the courthouse, I stumbled upon a quaint herb shop in Turkey, brimming with sacred herbs, seeds, teas, and essential oils. I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a herbalist there, who recommended a couple of essential oils to help manage stress. Since that fateful day in 2017, essential oils became an integral part of my life, and I began blending them for my own well-being.

As the pandemic gripped the world, my spouse and I continued our studies online while spending time with our best friend, who was going through emotional turmoil. I shared my essential oils with her and created a basic blend to help her sleep better. She said it made a significant difference in her life, and she encouraged me to pursue this further.

Many people believe that aromatherapy is simply about pleasant scents, but it’s much more than that. Essential oils are natural compounds extracted from plants and can be inhaled to experience a range of benefits.

Scientific studies have shown that essential oils can actually change our physical, mental, and emotional chemistry, and a high-quality oil has the power to inspire, empower, and motivate us in many different ways. So, aromatherapy is a holistic approach to wellness that goes beyond just smelling nice.

Fueling my passion for aromatherapy, I delved into the world of holistic aromatherapy certification and then pursued a Professional Aromatherapy Certification Program at JennScents Aromaversity, guided by Jennifer Pressimone. The program was comprehensive, covering aromatic chemistry, advanced blending techniques, personal care, holistic beauty, and even aromatherapy for pets. Eventually, I became a certified Level 2 Professional Aromatherapist by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA).

Continuing my journey of learning, I participated in various NAHA-approved continuing education programs, exploring aromatherapy business training, master blending considerations, aromatic perfumery, and blending masterclasses with Salvatore Battaglia. I even had the privilege of experiencing artisanal distillation with Marco Valussi in Caveelese, Italy, and composition workshops at Molinard and Fragonard in Paris, enhancing my skills in aromatic perfumery. With the knowledge I gained through masterclasses and continued education in aromatic perfumery, I honed my skills further by working with master perfumers at Galimard Perfumery in Grasse, the world capital of perfumery, located in southern France. The field training allowed me to explore new techniques and visit renowned natural raw material suppliers, such as the jasmine, rose, and tuberose fields of prestigious brands like Lancome and Dior.

Aromatherapy became my passion, and my love for it only grew with each passing day and every single drop of essential oil. By the end of our master’s program, my spouse Efecan Atilgan and I decided to settle in Los Angeles. It was then that he proposed the idea of starting a business together, leveraging my skills as an aromatherapist and his expertise in executive and technical aspects. With this dream in mind, in Yoursy was born.

As aromatherapy became an integral part of my life, I began creating my own body oils, face mists, and more. However, my passion for natural and sustainable products led to a realization of the greenwashing prevalent in the beauty industry. In response, I joined forces with my best friend and dream partner, Ipek Yolyapan, to establish The Banyo.

Our journey didn’t stop there. In 2022, we established Scent Mentor.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has indeed been far from smooth. Relocating to a new country, especially during a pandemic, presented numerous challenges. Adapting to a new environment, changing career paths, and navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship all added to the mix.

Being new in a foreign land is undoubtedly one of the most significant challenges. However, I consider myself fortunate to have dream partners like Efecan and Ipek by my side. While being far from home can be daunting, serendipitously, I found the support of amazing and genuine individuals, including other women entrepreneurs whom I met along the way. Their encouragement and camaraderie have made my journey much more manageable and fulfilling.

As I started building our brands through pop-ups, events and gathering feedback, I encountered positive responses and felt a sense of belonging. It’s heartening to know that our products and ideas resonated with people, and this support has made us feel at home in our new community.

Despite Los Angeles being known for its wellness-conscious community, aromatherapy and essential oils were not widely understood, leading to misconceptions about the sector due to some brands and uninformed practices. These challenges posed significant obstacles for us.

In response to these misconceptions, we have taken up a mission to educate people about essential oils, emphasizing safety, clean beauty and raising awareness about greenwashing. Our goal is to share our knowledge and expertise, fostering a better understanding of aromatherapy and promoting the use of pure, sustainable, and ethically sourced essential oils.

Navigating through these struggles has been far from easy, but our unwavering dedication to our mission and my personal passion for aromatherapy have driven us to overcome these obstacles. The positive feedback and support from the community have been a tremendous source of motivation.

Our commitment to educating and enlightening others about the benefits of essential oils and clean beauty is commendable, and it is through this determination that we continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those we touch.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Yoursy, The Banyo and Scent Mentor?
For all our brands, we maintain an unwavering commitment to using the finest, 100% pure essential oils and carrier oils, carefully sourced from the best suppliers worldwide, ensuring their purity and sustainability. The feedback we receive for our products, services and the impact we make in people’s lives continue to fuel our passion and drive us forward on this remarkable journey.

Yoursy offers a personalized aromatherapy experience where visitors take a quiz on the website to determine their specific needs, scent preferences and using the method. Based on the responses, we formulate custom blends of essential oils and ship them directly to our customers, receiving incredible feedback from our satisfied clientele. Yoursy also offers ready-to-use blends. Guided by science and human insight, we provide products that will elevate your life in a fast and effective way, along with exceptional scents. With a focus on advanced blending techniques, we offer a range of pure essential oil blends that are unlike any other in the market. All Yoursy products are made using the best ingredients and are cruelty-free, vegan and 100% natural.

The Banyo, a body care brand committed to providing clean, nourishing, eco-friendly, and sustainable small-batch products that cater not only to the skin but also to the soul. At Banyo.co, we weave luxurious exfoliating gloves, a creation of skilled artisans hailing from Bursa, Turkey. Made from eco-friendly materials on our charming, semi-automated wooden looms, our gloves promise a skin exfoliation experience like no other. Pairing these gloves with our special aromatherapy body oils to transform our customers’ self-care routines from mundane to magical. The Banyo Ritual is a two-step, eco-friendly, and effective solution for achieving luminous skin. The Banyo Body Oils are formulated with 100% pure and natural essential and carrier oils to enhance the benefits of exfoliation and soothe the skin. Our body oils also provide therapeutic aromatherapy benefits. Besides, their formula has grounding properties that can help to soothe the nervous system and improve overall well-being.

Scent Mentor a B2B venture specializing in crafting signature scents using 100% pure essential oils for brands, businesses, and events. We transform our client’s visions into natural, captivating aromas and develop tailored strategies for seamless scent diffusion and implementation in their businesses. Elevate your brand experience with our enchanting scents and unique scent branding solutions.

How do you define success?
For me, success encompasses the creation of added value by incorporating inspirations, essence, and values while also embracing innovation and striving continuously toward the goals.

It involves transcending the ego and selflessly sharing achievements and resources with your team and the broader community. This includes dedicating efforts to address social and environmental issues, ensuring a positive impact on the world around you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bio.site/melikea

Image Credits
Image credits: Sauphia Germain