Beauty Boss: Anna Teal, Global CEO of Aromatherapy Associates
Anna Teal.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Anna Teal, Global CEO of Aromatherapy Associates—a leading brand of award-winning products and transformative treatments that harness the benefits of essential oils. Since launching in 1985, it has become one of the world’s top aromatherapy brands and a thought leader in the spa and wellness arena with its products sold in 50 countries and luxury spas/hotels.
All of Aromatherapy Associates’ products and formulas are hand-crafted and individually tailored in the company’s London laboratory to create groundbreaking blends. Their formulations feature the highest concentrations of natural ingredients to ensure that they are the gold standard of essential oil blends and a truly exceptional sensorial experience.
In her role, Teal runs the Strategy and Global Management of the business, which covers over 40 countries in the world and they have a team spread across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. She also oversees the company’s relationships with their spa and retail partners and the relationships among members of their internal team.
Aromatherapy Associates Becomes an Ethical B Corporation
Aromatherapy Associates also became an ethical B Corporation in October 2020, which is a global movement and more ethical way of doing business that puts people and the planet on the same footing as profit. Approximately 3,500 companies across 150 industries have earned the B Corp certification, which typically takes several years—but Aromatherapy Associates earned the certification in just 10 months in recognition of its social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
The Laundress & Aromatherapy Associates Launch Eco-Conscious Line of Cleaning Products
We chatted with Teal, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite products and wellness tips, secrets to success, and more.
When was Aromatherapy Associates founded and what inspired its creation?
Aromatherapy Associates was founded on the holistic practice of aromatherapy, which uses natural oils extracted from plants to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
Two incredible women, Geraldine Howard and fellow aromatherapist Sue Beechy, co-founded the company in 1985 having met while training under aromatherapy pioneer Micheline Arcier. It was a basic operation at first (the pair gave treatments from a house in London and hand-mixed oils at a kitchen table), but Aromatherapy Associates soon amassed a loyal, high-profile following from the rich and famous to the royals at the time including Diana, Princess of Wales. So many clients kept coming back asking for the oils to take home so that they could continue their treatment that a natural progression became the product range you see today.
Howard’s philosophy was to treat people well, always be fair, and live a full life with no regrets, having spent much of her career educating others on the benefits of aromatherapy and self-care. She was known across the globe for her kindness, generosity, and incredible passion. Today, Aromatherapy Associates is recognized as the world’s best aromatherapy brand and a thought leader in the spa and wellness arena.
How long have you been with the brand and what made you want to join?
I joined in January 2019 but had been a strategic advisor to the board for a year prior so I was very familiar with the business and the team. I’ve always described taking on this role as a gift; it is so rare to come across a brand that has the credibility, provenance, quality, and purpose like this one—it comes with great responsibility to ensure you leave an even stronger legacy for the brand. But there was never any question, wellness is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry and I was given the opportunity to run one of the best and most credible wellness brands, and through it enrich more people’s lives—who wouldn’t want to do that?
Do you have a hero product?
Our Deep Relax range, and in particular, our Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil. The founder, an incredible pioneer in the wellness and aromatherapy space, created this iconic blend to treat her chronic insomnia. It’s perfect for those who struggle to sleep or switch off. It’s a beautiful blend of vetiver, chamomile, and sandalwood amongst others—known for their sedative and calming properties, to make sure it does the trick. Trust me, it works, sleep is guaranteed!
What’s your favorite product from the brand?
There are so many to choose from, but I love our Revive Morning Blend. It’s my equivalent of an espresso in the morning without the caffeine! I have to use it every day whether it is the oil, the new shower oil-to-milk cleanser or body scrub.
Where are your products sold?
We are very fortunate to be located in some of the most prestigious spa and retail destinations in the country. We can be found in JW Marriott hotel spas and Mandarin Oriental. In retail, we have a selection of product available at Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, Detox Market, and Space NK.
Future plans for the brand?
We recently received our B Corporation certification so we will continue on our commitments to improve the impact we make on people, communities, and the planet. We have a number of packaging and product initiatives to further reduce our impact over the coming year and charitable partnerships.
The U.S. is a key focus for us right now, so we are investing heavily in our marketing to grow our awareness and forging new partnerships in spa and digital to enable us to reach more people with our products and services. We have a very exciting innovation in home, which launches late Spring 2021 that I know will be huge in the U.S.
Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Ol ($71) features intensely concentrated aromatherapy oils that help your mind relax from daily overload.
What inspires you?
I’m incredibly inspired by people that have the strength of conviction that they are prepared to make a stand for it, speak about it, and do everything they can to make that belief happen. It is very easy in today’s world to go with conventions. Whether that be environmental activists like Greta Thunberg or everyday heroes setting up local charities and food banks—it’s the passion to enact positive change, which I find inspirational.
Secret to success?
The best tips I’ve ever been given are:
Find ways to support yourself moving out your comfort zone—it’s where the magic happens! To help do that….who have you got on your personal board of directors? An old mentor once told me to plan my support network in the same way I do business, surround yourself with the right voices to support and give you what you need—including the all-important person that may need to tell you the inconvenient truth from time to time.
Time—it’s your most precious commodity and the only thing you will never get back. Allocate your time accordingly, including your work/life balance. No one wants to be the most important person in their business but have zero friends!
Beauty secrets?
Don’t overload your skin with complex regimes, you do not need a seven-step daily plan! Find your few products for your regime and then add a couple of weekly treatments. I have no more than four products in my regime and then add in a weekly face treatment and eye mask. I find less is definitely more.
Drink plenty of water—probably the holy grail for looking brighter for free!
Choose one feature you really like and build your daily look around that. I find focusing on my eyes, a feature I like about myself, means I automatically feel better and more confident.
Wellness tips?
Spend time outside in nature, it’s proven to reduce cortisol levels and increase creativity, even if it is a short walk appreciating different surroundings.
Develop a good sleep routine, switch off tech an hour before, scent your room (our Deep Relax range is perfect for this) and either have a bath or read to start the relaxation process.
Read up on how to manage your gut health; eat more fermented or alkaline-forming foods and take probiotics. Gut health has been linked now to nearly all chronic illnesses—trust me, if you do this, you’ll thank yourself when you’re older.
At least once a month (pre-pandemic), I will have an Aromatherapy Associates Ultimate Massage—the investment for me is worth it. It gets the lymphatic system going and any muscle strain goes—if your body is functioning properly, you can achieve more. It will be the first thing I book when the world reopens!
For more information, visit aromatherapyassociates.com and follow on Instagram: @aromatherapyassociatesusa
[Images courtesy of Aromatherapy Associates]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk