Passionate about low-tox living, Courtney Dow is a wellness advocate, essential oils educator and business mentor. Here we chat to the mama of 2 about detoxifying the home, the secret to her business success and the perks of living in the Noosa Hinterland.
Writer: Rebecca Walker, The Conscious Wordsmith
You are an essential oils maven. When and why did you introduce oils to your life?
I started to become interested in essential oils around the time of my first pregnancy. It was the first time I ever really considered the types of products we were using in our home and the impacts they can have on our health. I set out to bring safer, natural options in, before my daughter arrived. It started with just some DIY cleaning sprays, and naturally evolved from there. I honestly never thought essential oils would become such a huge part of our life, but after experiencing the incredible ways they were supporting us we just never looked back.
How can essential oils help during pregnancy and postnatally?
There are so many ways essential oils can help during all stages of life and motherhood. For me personally, I had two incredibly tough pregnancies so was so grateful to have my oils which helped with everything from nausea to aches, fatigue, skin support and the wild waves of emotions. I also used essential oils to make my own birth support kit. While essential oils can be used safely during pregnancy, it’s super important to understand safe use and dilution (this is something I help educate my customers on).
One of the biggest ways essential oils supported me during my initial postpartum period was emotionally. It can be such an overwhelming and exhausting time adjusting to life with a newborn. For me, I found that my oils kept me grounded and present and relieved feelings of anxiety and self-doubt.
Why are you so passionate about low-tox living?
Because we are being exposed to hundreds, even thousands, of chemicals every day that are doing damage to our health. Endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and immunotoxins are hiding in the very products we think are keeping us clean, or making us beautiful. Growing rates of chronic illness and infertility are being linked to products in the home and my mission is to help people to know better so we can do better. Especially for our kids.
What’s the first step someone can take to begin detoxifying their home?
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, just start small. A simple DIY cleaning spray can be a great starting point, and then phasing out any products that have the word ‘fragrance’ listed as an ingredient. I have room-by-room guides for my customers to help make small, (affordable!) changes easily.
You offer mum & bub classes. What do these entail?
I offer private classes for mums and mums-to-be who want to learn simple and safe ways to bring oils into their home. I cover pregnancy/birth/baby support, detoxifying the home and creating a healthy space, plus share some of my fave recipes, DIYs and tips. I offer online events regularly too.
Do you have a message for anyone who is curious, but a little dubious, about the potential wellness benefits of essential oils?
If you want to try them or just learn more, I think the most important thing is to find someone you resonate with who can support you with your questions and teach you how to get the most out of them. If you’re going to buy oils and let them collect dust on your shelf, there won’t be any wellness benefits.
How do you balance your business with mum life?
With a sense of humour! My husband works away, so the balance of mum and business life can be tricky and messy at times. I’ve learnt to be super comfortable with imperfection, otherwise nothing would ever get done…and knowing that some days won’t go to plan. I show up for my business in some capacity every day. And it’s that consistency that has been the key to the success I have created (and am creating).
The fact that I LOVE what I do helps make that consistency easy. When I think about why I started this business, one of the biggest reasons was to be home and present for my kids. So while my business is so important to me, if things don’t get checked off my to-do list because my baby needs more cuddles, I’m ok with that. I’m less ok with it when it’s because my baby smashed my laptop, but those are the moments I just laugh so I don’t cry.
What advice to you have for mama’s who are currently in the mumming trenches but are keen to get a start-up biz off the ground?
- It's so important that you remain consistent. Work in the little pockets of time you can create- maybe it's nap time, maybe it's at night. It doesn't matter if it's only small amounts of time each day, the main things is that you do at least ONE thing each day that is working towards your goals.
- Make sure you communicate clearly with your partner or the close people in your life what you are working towards and what support you need. My husband is always across what is going on in my business so that he can A) cheer me on (super important), and B) give me extra help or time from the kids when I need it.
- Connect with other Mums in small business, whether it's online or through local networking events. I have found some of my best friends this way and although we are all in different industries we have become other's biggest cheerleaders, and the ones we can always go to for advice and inspiration.
You live in the Noosa Hinterland. What’s the best thing about living a country/coastal lifestyle?
Everything. There is no place I would rather live, it’s the best of both worlds. We have so much nature around us, the beach close-by and the most amazing local community. This is the life I always dreamed I could give my kids.
Your Instagram posts are HI-LA-RI-OUS. It’s so refreshing to see some humour in the wellness space. Is this a brand strategy or have you always been a closet comedian?
I don’t know about closet comedian, but I’ve always valued humour as one of the most important things in life. I honestly just love how social media (and in particular Instagram Reels) has become a creative outlet for me, where I can show up as myself, weird and awkward as I might be. It allows me connect with so many like-minded and amazing people. Although I have a background in social media marketing, I don’t approach my own account with much strategy other than to educate and just have fun.
To learn more about Courtney’s services or to book a consultation or workshop, visit her website https://www.theconsciouscoven.com/