By Rebecca Cross
I recently met with Louise Heath, the owner of Waterlillies & The Aroma Bar in Downtown Elizabeth City. Her energy and passion for what she does is very evident and contagious! We did a question and answer interview together:
1. How long have you been in business downtown? On July 21st it was one (exciting) year!
2. Tell me about your business…what do you sell? Quality aromatherapy oils & tools, organic & botanical skin, hair & body-care, perfumes, unusual gifts.
3. What do you like about being downtown? The stunning waterfront view! Also the many fun and fascinating customers and local people I meet daily. Meeting people (and being able to bring perhaps a little extra beauty into someone’s world) is the best thing about retail!
4. What got you into the aromatherapy/health field? I had health issues up until age 17, when I began to explore herbs & nutrition. The benefits I experienced brought a fascination with natural health, and I have worked in this field almost exclusively since, which would be almost 33 yrs.
5. What is your mission/purpose? I like to think of Waterlillies as a little aroma oasis! Our sense of smell is the most powerful emotionally of all the senses, & Aromatherapy can benefit anyone looking to enhance their quality of life. I also hope to encourage a better understanding of the power of natural remedies, herbs, & nutrition.
6. Tell me about yourself and what you are involved in outside of work. I am a single parent, so my life generally consists of my son & the business! I am very busy right now getting my on-line store & website done.
7. Any specials/features you would like people to know about? Waterlillies only carries products that have 100% clean botanical a/o organic ingredients. We like to say "So Pure, It's Edible!" Also a variety of herbs, supplements, black soap, candles, diffusers, jewelry, anointing oils from Jerusalem, natural hairbrushes & a full line of natural mineral and flower-wax make-up. We take special orders~ if it's out there, we will find it!
We also like to tell customers "a product is no better than the sum of its ingredients"~ it is important to read labels before you buy skincare, especially for babies & children.
Waterlillies hours are Tuesday through Saturday 12 – 7pm (or later) and Sunday 2-6pm (or later); 400 S. Water Street, Suite 103, Elizabeth City, 252-331-2903.