In my last blog, I shared with you how the idea for Quinta Esencia came to be. Today, I'm telling you all about the process of launching a dream into the world. Creating Quinta Esencia seemed impossible at first, especially since I had no formal background in cosmetics.
But then, things started falling into place as if by design. I stumbled upon articles in newspapers and magazines, met people with connections to sustainable botanical oils, and was introduced to a local clean cosmetic chemist in my own hometown. It was as though the universe conspired to guide me in this direction. But that didn't just start in 2020; the universe had been leading me here from four generations ago.
A grounding female force in my life was my great-grandmother, Nina. She lived in "Villa Pancha," a colonial house in the heart of Santiago, Dominican Republic. This home, with its soul and stories, was the center of cherished family memories—a sanctuary of love and care. Nina, the embodiment of graceful aging, never wore much makeup or dyed her hair, and her skin was always soft, natural, and untouched by time. She spent hours in her garden, radiating a calm inner strength that connected everyone around her to something larger.
When I was in my daughter's hospital room, longing for peace, it's Nina and that home in the Dominican Republic that I thought of. So when I created Quinta Esencia, I wanted to honor the essence of calm, love, and joy that Nina exuded and ensure that everything I put into these oils was clean, natural, and truly good for the skin—something she would have loved. I envisioned a product that would serve as a daily reminder of a slower time and what true nourishment looks like.
By 2022, I hired a cosmetic chemist to help me bring two products to life: face and body oils. The goal was simple: they couldn't feel greasy but had to glide on smoothly. The scent was critical—it needed to evoke warmth and calm, while the ingredients had to be pristine and, most importantly, effective.
In collaboration with my chemist, we tested four different formulations throughout the summer of 2022. That fall, however, life took a detour when my daughter, Caterina, needed a kidney transplant, putting everything on hold for six months. But patience and faith carried me through.
During that time, I refined the brand logo. You've certainly seen the hummingbird if you've received our packages. I partnered with a creative team to develop the packaging and found a small-batch manufacturer. After almost two years, the pieces came together, and our first batch arrived in May this year.
Quinta Esencia means Quintessence in Spanish, a word deeply rooted in history. In classical and medieval philosophy, it was believed that the known world was made up of four basic elements—earth, air, water, and fire. The fifth element, the “aether,” was thought to be something purer than the earthly elements, something celestial. Plato and Aristotle spoke of it as a substance that moved in perfect harmony, unlike the linear motion of the terrestrial elements. Over time, this idea of the "fifth essence" became known as quinta essentia in Latin, which evolved into the word we use today—quintessence. It represents the purest, most perfect embodiment of something.
That’s what Quinta Esencia stands for: a return to essence. In a world that sometimes feels like it’s spinning madly, it’s a call to pause, to just be. To nourish ourselves deeply, including our skin—our largest organ. This, after all, is what Nina and Caterina taught me. Our mission is twofold: to help you nourish yourself, so you can better nourish others.
