Oils with Purpose: The Story Behind Quinta Esencia

My obsession with oils began as a young teenager growing up in the Dominican Republic. We spent our days living under the sun, and some of my fondest memories are of childhood summers on the North coast, in a town called Sosua. There, we played freely on a quiet, pristine beach that felt like our own private paradise. As a sixteen-year-old, I loved the idea of having bronzed, glowy skin, and if Johnson’s baby oil (!) did the trick, that was my salve. From there, I moved on to the infamous Bain de Soleil, chasing that St. Tropez tan so popular in the 80s, without thinking much about what ingredients we were putting on our skin.

I spent part of my teenage and college years in study abroad programs in France. To this day, the first thing I do when I arrive in any European country is step into their pharmacies, which have always felt like the right place to explore more natural skincare. I’ve come a long way since the Bain de Soleil days. The journey of creating these products has been one of self-discovery, stepping out of my comfort zone, and honoring what is truly good for my skin—and more importantly, for my spirit, my essence.

I am a mother of three girls, one of whom has a rare genetic disorder. For the last twenty years, I’ve overseen her medical care, from diagnosis to bone marrow transplant, therapeutic and educational needs, and more than fourteen surgeries. Much of this time has been spent in hospital settings, and self-care wasn’t something that reached us there.

I often think about that version of myself, by her bedside, longing for something that could transport me to a peaceful place. That is the driving force behind my mission and why I created my oils.

During COVID, I began experimenting with essential oils and learned how scent can affect us emotionally. It wasn’t surprising to discover that certain scents help reduce stress. When my youngest daughter had trouble sleeping, I rubbed lavender on her feet and neck. If my middle daughter had severe cramps, I researched oils to soothe her stomach. My oldest has constantly dry, sensitive skin, and I experimented with ways to help her.

Curiosity drove me to create. The more I read and learned, the more inspired I became to keep going. I sought ways to use scent in our home and personal care routines. I took a few aromatherapy courses, and as I learned, I became fascinated with how certain oils affect the skin. I started buying different oils, salves, and lotions, testing their effects on me, all while playing around with my own creations.

I researched what was available on the market and noted what I loved and what didn’t suit me. Initially, making oils in my garage was a meditative practice in the evenings. Slowly, it became a passion project—creating for myself, my girls, and then close friends. A friend suggested I launch my own line, and that’s when my biggest entrepreneurial venture began: creating Quinta Esencia Wellness. 

The process is a story I’ll share another day, but now you know the reason behind it. The “why” is what I care about most in this brand. Quinta Esencia Wellness is more than oil—it’s a community. One that I will continue to expand by sharing my experiences with my daughter and with other mothers who care for ill or special-needs children. What I've learned on this journey applies to all of us as women: how to nourish ourselves no matter what life places before us.