KAGAWONG—After many years of working off the kitchen table at her family’s home in Kagawong and selling her Manitoulin Fragrance Factory products out of the garage, Lauren MacKay has proudly opened her business’ brick and mortar location this spring.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 12 and I will be 19 in June, so yes, I’ve been running my business for a few years,” Ms. MacKay told The Expositor at the grand opening of her new store on April 2 at 10221 Highway 540, where she shares space with Manitoulin Cedar, her father’s business.
“I started making epsom salts on the kitchen table and then I was able to get into bigger craft shows,” said Ms. MacKay. “Then the pandemic hit, and I opened an e-commerce website.”
Ms. MacKay started her business in 2014 after making crafts in school using epsom salts for a Mother’s Day project. With her mom being allergic to strong fragrances, starting a business called Manitoulin Fragrance Factory posed some concerns. With her mom and many others in mind she chose the natural route, using 100 percent essential oils to infuse all the epsom salt products.
In the spring of 2020, the business expanded its product line to include candles and wax melts. “Keeping our products natural and safe for the whole family, we use 100 percent organic soy. Organic soy is renewable and doesn’t contain the chemicals commonly found in paraffin and/or in soy blends, making it very clean and giving it a longer burn time, the business website explains.
“All of our products are family and environmentally friendly as well as hand made on Manitoulin Island,” said Ms. MacKay.
Along with a large number of different essential oil-infused epsom salts, the business has a wide variety of candles, tea lights, wax melts and fire starters.
“We have 30 scents available in soy products,” Ms. MacKay pointed out. “Some of our most popular scents include Island Memories, Summer Splash, vanilla, and lavender.
“Everything is made in Kagawong,” explained Ms. MacKay. “We import ingredients from another supplier and pour the mixture into containers.”
As any of her loyal customers can tell you, all of the business products can be found online on the Manitoulin Fragrance Factory website. Their products can also be found at about seven retail local stores across Manitoulin that carry their products. These include Dreamers Cove in Little Current, Bare Naked Beauty in Kagawong, Island Home Outfitters in Mindemoya, Buzwah Variety in Wiikwemkoong, the Wigwam Gift Shop in South Baymouth with some products also available at Loco Beanz in Gore Bay. Some of their epsom salts products are also available at the marina in Kagawong.
Ms. MacKay noted that none of this would be possible without the support of her family, friends and the loyal customers she has gathered over the years. As well, “our first business loan was provided through Lambac (LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation).”
For more information on the business and its products, visit manitoulinfragrance.com online or call 705-282-1787.
