Meet Belinda Everingham: Founder of Bondi Wash interview
BELINDA EVERINGHAM
Launched in 2013 by Bondi-based mother of 3, Belinda Everingham, BONDI WASH was born. BONDI WASH combines the power and fragrance of unique Australian botanicals with a luxurious mix of other essential oils and natural ingredients to bring a new range of truly distinctive products that are good for you, the planet and your home.
We chatted to Belinda about her journey with BONDI WASH, what's she's excited to work on and her advice for anyone thinking about starting their own company.
Tell us about you and your background. What was the journey that led you to create BONDI WASH?
Huge sensitivity to chemicals and a love of fragrance. I was reacting to chemicals in kitchen and bathroom products and started wondering if they are doing this to me, what are they doing to the environment and my kids.
But it was a holiday in far north Queensland that really gave me the vision for the business. I was up there on a family holiday, reading the novel Perfume by Patrick Suskind set in Paris and Grasse which is all about the power of scent, and as a family we were visiting rainforests and fruit farms, discovering native trees I hadn’t heard of.
I started wondering if we here in Australia could create products using ingredients sourced from our native plants – just as the French have been doing for centuries.
The business came together very quickly after this – launching around a year later after lots of fragrance and product development, starting on the kitchen bench then progressing to help from professional chemists.
How has the brand evolved over time?
Our product range keeps broadening as I discover incredible Australian scents and ingredients to use and as customers keep asking us for natural versions. Just recently we were asked for a Swim Spray that counteracts chlorine and salt after swimming – such a great idea and possible to do naturally. So it’s underway. Our Dog Range too was because people kept complaining about their dog’s skin being irritated by dog shampoos.
What have you worked on or achieved with BONDI WASH (or in general) that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the team we have built. We have a multi-cultural team with many working remotely. Seeing the skills develop in the team and the progress we make as a result feels very rewarding.
I’m proud of our natural product range too of course. It is not easy getting natural formulations to be effective and stable – but it is the team that brings everything to life.
BONDI WASH products are plant-based, non-toxic and biodegradable, being planet and skin friendly is really important to you as a brand. What would be your top tip to help encourage others to live more sustainably?
Minimising consumption – do less of everything but do it better. For example, buy quality things less often.
What are you most excited to work on over the next few months?
We have launched a natural perfume brand called wyalba. It combines the scents of Australia with fine perfumery. We are just finalising the official packaging – it will be hand bottled here in Sydney by our perfumer Samuel Gravan.
The world is just starting to realise that most commercial perfumes contain not so nice ingredients. Helping people make the switch to natural ones, and ones that may help transport them to the Australian wilderness is exciting.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to set up their own company?
It is not for the faint hearted. Be prepared to work really really hard. Surviving is mostly about how you tackle setbacks and challenges – of which there will be many, and will get bigger and more complex as the business grows.
What do you look for when finding the perfect gift?
I try to give something practical, that I am pretty sure they’ll use and not want to return. Everyday indulgences like a body wash, chocolate or a mist spray are great choices.
What is your LITTLE FIND? (Favourite product on THE FIND)
I do love simple luxuries and try to source natural fibres where possible. The Slip Sleep Mask in pink would be my choice – with the sun rising early here in Sydney right now it would help with a sleep in.
Let’s have a little fun and FIND out about you...