More about how Herbes Folles was born...
Hi! I'm Mariana, the founder of Herbes Folles.
I encountered plants more closely in Brazil, when I was 18. It was the first place where I lived where people would treat themselves with plants: it was a very common and popular practice. I began to read and study about plants properties, and to call them in times of need.
A few years later my mother passed away with cancer. This was a huge turning point in my life - not only for emotional, obvious reasons, but I've became also very aware of the systemic conditions that make cancer a so common disease of our times. Among other changes, mostly related to my diet, I've started using natural cosmetics, mostly because of the negative effects synthetic ingredients commonly found in cosmetic products can have in our health.
Later on, when I had my daughter, we've moved from Brussels (where I lived for 5 years) to Montalvo, a little village in the center of Portugal. I've then decided to study two of my passions: natural skincare formulation and herbalism. Little by little, while learning about weeds wild wonders and to formulate with beautiful, luxurious ingredients, the idea of creating a skincare brand with weeds was born.
I've always suffered with dry skin problems, and I knew I wanted to create a solution for this: skincare products that I would love to use for the care of my skin.
I was also bothered to realize the way we've categorized and judged plants as undesirable or invaluable, and also the toxic solutions humans have created to manage invasive species. This is a story of a sensorial passion for plants and its colors, textures, flavors and potency. I'm deeply moved by a desire to reinvest weeds with new meanings and magic, and this brand is the physical result of this love story.
By the end of June 2020 I've launched Herbes Folles.
It's a wild adventure, because being a mom-entrepreneur is far from being easy... but I really believe in the potency of this project, with all my being.
I hope you enjoy the magic of spontaneous plants as much as we do!
Some people (apart from my mother and my daughter) and resources that inspired me along the way:
With love,
Mariana