From soap to Jintara® Body Butter workshops : A Letter From My Heart

Penned August 2025

Family,

Whew. Five years. I had to sit down and really let that sink in before I even started writing this. Five years of building Jintara ®while working full-time, raising two beautiful kids, being a wife, volunteering, and doing my best to hold myself together through life’s highs and lows. If you’ve been rocking with me on this journey, this letter is for you.

When I first started Jintara®, I didn’t have a grand plan or a crystal-clear vision. My goal was simple: if I could make enough money to cover just one bill each month, I’d feel successful. That’s it. I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have a mentor. I didn’t even fully understand what entrepreneurship looked like. I just knew I wanted to try.

And let me tell you—the reality hit me like a brick wall. Running a business is nothing like those pyramid companies make it seem when they say, “Be your own boss, make money from home.” That was one of my first wake-up calls: this isn’t a side hustle fantasy. This is real work.

But in that work came wins that I’m still deeply proud of today. My biggest? Securing the Jintara® trademark—and as of August 2025, it’s incontestable. That means this name, this vision, this legacy… it’s mine. Protected. Here to stay. That’s not just paperwork. That’s me planting my feet firmly in the ground for everything I’ve poured into this brand.

Of course, it hasn’t all been shiny. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that you can be thriving in spirit, making people feel good, and still not be successful on paper. I had to face the gaps in my financial literacy—business credit, liabilities, personal guarantees, all of it. It was a shockwave. But it changed how I move. And I’m proud to say that today, I’m not just making people feel good—I’m also finally making a profit. That’s growth.

So how did Jintara® survive through the chaos of my life—mom, wife, employee, volunteer, entrepreneur? Passion, and honestly, a stubborn streak. I refused to let this blow up in my face. I refused to believe I couldn’t do it. And then there’s my family. I carry my mom and grandmother’s wildest dreams, and even my dad’s. He once said he wanted to run a business, and though he didn’t, he’s proud to see me doing it. And let’s not forget my husband. He’s been through enough in life, and if I can build something that makes his load lighter, I will. That’s fuel that keeps me going.

The moments that keep me rooted in my “why” are simple but powerful. It’s every time I meet someone radiant who’s still battling with their skin. When I can offer them something that works. Or when someone walks into one of my workshops not fully knowing what to expect and walks out glowing from the inside out. They came for soap or body butter, but what they really received was two hours of care poured back into them. Most of the people I serve are used to giving, giving, giving. I love that I get to give them something back. That’s what Jintara is about.

Of course, I’ve had to pivot. For a long time, I thought “making it” meant getting Jintara® products into big retail stores. That was the dream, right? But the more I learned, the more I saw how much manpower, and compromise that path required—and it wasn’t aligned for me. I tried having products in boutiques, and it just wasn’t the best decision for my business. Now, I’m grateful that my products live right where I host my workshops—any and everywhere I go. I get to control the quality, monitor it daily, and keep everything aligned with my standards. That pivot saved me from chasing someone else’s version of success, and brought me back to my own.

And here’s what surprised me most on this journey: I became a teacher. I never imagined myself teaching anything, but now workshops are one of my greatest joys. I get to create spaces where people learn, connect, and pour into themselves. Year one was all about pop-ups and hoping someone would stop by my table. Year five is about teaching, creating, and watching people carry the Jintara® experience into their own lives and communities. That’s growth I never saw coming.

My community has been everything. Truthfully, after my mom passed, I thought I was done with people. Betrayal, abandonment, grief—they had me convinced that the best version of me was gone forever. But through Jintara®, through my customers and my community, I found myself again. That person I thought was gone? She’s here. She just needed the right soil to bloom in—and you all gave me that.

If the Nessa of five years ago could see me now, she’d be amazed. She’d say, “Wait—you’re teaching workshops? Speaking in front of people? Not worried about what they think? And balancing all of this with a full-time job and family?” She would be so proud. And while I still wrestle with negative self-talk and doubt (therapy is helping with that), I know she’d look at me today and say, “Wow. We really did that.”

Vanessa, Owner of Jintara teaching their Body Butter Workshop

And looking forward? I have big dreams. In the next five years, I see #theintaraexperience expanding into a permanent studio—a space with my name on the front, where people come not just to buy products, but to immerse themselves in wellness and creativity. I see my husband working alongside me, my children having the option to carry this forward if they choose, and me being able to employ and uplift others in my community. I see myself giving back to organizations like My Natural Me, who supported me before Jintara® even had a name.

This isn’t just about soap.

It’s about legacy.

It’s about healing.

It’s about giving back.

And I’m so grateful you’ve been part of this journey with me. #thejintaraexperience

With love,

Nessa

Founder, Jintara®

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Jintara Body Butter Workshop

Jintara Soap Making Workshop

Jintara Body Scrub Making Workshop