When Charlene Koh, a former tech entrepreneur, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at the age of 35, her immediate focus was on treatment and recovery.
But as it turns out, her cancer experience became the driving force behind the creation of her aromatherapy label, Breathe Essentials.
At the time, she needed help to sleep and relieve the side effects of the treatment, but she didn’t want to pump any more medication into her body.
Essential oils like lavender and rosemary – supposedly for pain relief and hair growth – worked for her and she wanted to make quality aromatherapy products available and affordable to others during troubled times.
In the final months of her year-long therapy, which ended in April 2020, she began sourcing organic ingredients – in collaboration with a French fragrance house with extremely strict standards – and formulating her scented candles and oils. Breathe Essentials was launched in October last year.
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The feedback was positive and the organizations knocked on the door. Within three months, the brand had won corporate clients such as the luxury watch brand IWC, the insurance company AIA, KKH and the private member club of 1880.
“My brand stands for hope and it gives me great pleasure to know that people can find solace in the products and fragrances I have created,” she says. “A lot of people thought I was crazy to open my business last October, but there really has been no better time. It’s been a breast cancer awareness month and there has been a pandemic and the brand is about bringing comfort to people in times of need. “
Koh is also active on Instagram (@chupachupchar) where she documented her cancer journey.
“People asked why I wanted to be so open about my cancer story. But I’m the face of my brand and besides, I didn’t choose cancer, I chose myself – that’s no shame. I hope my story can shed more light on mental wellbeing not only for cancer patients but also for those facing adversity and difficult times. There is always light at the end of the tunnel and better days will come. “
This article was first published in Her World Online.
