What if beauty wasn’t something to chase, but something we returned to?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the word beauty lately. I recently learned that the Greek origin of the word is connected to kalós, meaning beautiful, noble, good, or virtuous. But another word, kállos, dives even deeper—it refers to beauty in both its physical and spiritual form. In classical texts, kállos described not just external appearance, but inner excellence.
Today, we’re bombarded with images that push a narrow definition of beauty—aspirational, curated, often requiring effort or alteration. But kállos offers something more expansive. It resonates with what we aim to do here at Quinta Esencia: to honor the kind of beauty that is not manufactured, but cultivated through kindness, confidence, grace, and well-being.
It’s the kind of beauty my great-grandmother Nina carried so effortlessly. Widowed at 52, she was self-assured and grounded, generous in spirit, and full of grace. My father tells me he fell in love with her long before he fell in love with my mother. Her beauty wasn’t of the moment—it was timeless. The beauty of someone rooted in a sense of self, in service to something greater.
Botanical scents, like those we use at Quinta Esencia, are tools to help us return to that ancient ideal of kállos—where beauty is both seen and felt. In this worldview, harmony between body, mind, and spirit was essential. Lavender calms the mind and soothes the skin. Rose uplifts the heart. Ylang ylang balances emotions. Frankincense grounds the breath and focus.
When we choose plant-based scents, we align with nature. We practice mindfulness. We nourish our inner and outer selves. Rather than masking who we are, we reveal what’s already within—our natural essence, amplified.
I hope we can return to this notion of beauty—and that our products help guide you there.
