but there’s no glamorous origin story here—just a nudge from a pal and a heart guided by creativity and curiosity. 

in 2008, i was asked to contribute something for the launch of a new local maker market, and my journey into soap making began—a slow-craft that allowed me to create something beautiful that was also functional. 

i began by crafting my first batches in the kitchen. lavender eucalyptus was the very first soap i ever made, and it remains a top seller, sixteen years later. i quickly transitioned our basement into a makeshift studio and explored candle making while waiting for my cold process soaps to cure. 

the creative spark that made us early pioneers of the up-cycled bottle candle movement didn’t take long to ignite. while considering how to create a candle line that was truly unique, my passion for sustainability, my husband’s talent for hands-on creative solutions and our shared love of craft beer inspired a vision: our abundance of beautiful bottles deserved a second life—one filled with warm light and delicious scents. 

i soon began making my soaps, candles and body products in-house at salty not sweet, the shop my friend built from that original craft fair idea. i loved the maker process so much i began offering soap making classes, eventually up-scaling my square footage for a a brief stint in a studio at the screw factory artists studios in lakewood.

completing my first yoga teacher training in 2012 inspired the next evolution in my work. i committed to only working with natural ingredients as i began creating for new communities of yoga practitioners and wellness seekers—balms for muscle and mind, yoga mat sprays, a chakra line rooted in subtle energies.

as my wellness practices expanded, so did my approach to formulating. i slowed down. i began to honor the unseen elements—breath, ritual, rhythm—and how they infused each product with meaning. i studied aromatherapy,  earning a level one certification before pursuing botanical formulation courses.

the alchemy of transforming natural raw materials into functional care products taught me patience and trust. these slow, sensory rituals mirrored the lessons i was learning in life and in practice—resilience, transformation, and the value of moving with care.

from 2017 to 2024, i led group travel rooted in culture, ecology, and community—and once again, my work was reshaped. time spent with communities living in deep relationship with the land taught me the value of reciprocity, humility, and presence. we were invited into ongoing conversation with place—to listen, learn, and honor traditions without romanticizing them.

those experiences now guide how i choose ingredients and shape the apothecary’s offerings. i work with what’s available, consider the impact of each material, and remain open to evolution. the process is never fixed—only responsive, intentional, and committed to being better, one batch at a time.

in a world that moves fast and often asks too much, our goods invite you into a gentler rhythm—one that honors your body, your senses, and the season you’re in.

this is care for skin, soul, and soil—grounded in experience, guided by nature, and created with heart.

apothecary verde is founded by melissa klimo-major, a certified aromatherapist, registered yoga teacher and educator, and devoted student of plants, people, and place.