Hand Made Natural (hmn) offers a wide range of natural beauty products crafted with organic ingredients from the Algarve
– December 12, 2024 | Text Beatriz Maio | Photos Luis Pereira
Márcia Rodrigues’ love the countryside, flowers, plants, and aromatic herbs has taken on many forms and blossomed into a unique brand.
Through ‘hmn – Hand Made Natural’, she pours her passion for aromatic herbs, plants, and flowers into a range of handcrafted products – including soaps, shampoos, and essential oils to mascara, lip balms, and candles – each made with care on her parent’s farm in the village of Barão de São João, not too far from Lagos.
Having grown up on her family’s farm, Márcia’s connection with nature was cultivated early on. Her childhood memories are filled with days spent helping in the garden and vegetable patch, and learning from her family about the benefits and properties of each plant. It was here that she began to develop the curiosity and passion that would later shape her career.
At 17, driven by the desire for independence and a longing to travel, she took on two jobs in Lagos, working as a barista and a sales assistant.
Her entrepreneurial spirit was sparked by a personal need. Frustrated by the effect that conventional shampoos had on her hair, Márcia began experimenting with homemade remedies.
Armed with knowledge from books on aromatherapy and natural cosmetics, and a practical understanding of plant benefits learned from her family, she embarked on a journey of trial and error.
It was this process that led to the creation of her very first product: a shampoo infused with coffee, rosemary, and thyme, designed to address dryness and dandruff.
The result was a natural success, and soon Márcia was sharing her homemade products with family and friends, who appreciated how effective and organic these were.
This initial success fuelled her creativity.Candles, another passion for her, were the next step. Like her other creations, they are crafted with care, free from potentially harmful ingredients like paraffin or additional perfumes, instead using natural elements such as dried flowers, cocoa, Laminaria seaweed, and soy wax.
Each candle is designed to evoke a sense of well-being, offering a calming, ambient light.
Márcia’s thoughtful approach extends to the entire line of ‘hmn’ products, all of which are made with natural, biodegradable ingredients.
From body butters and face soaps to hair treatments, every item is crafted with the aim of nurturing both the body and soul.
Inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial mindset, she decided to create her own brand, and ‘hmn’ was born in 2019.
Márcia’s small-scale, hand-crafted operation expanded as she showcased her products at local markets, fairs, and exhibitions.
Social media further amplified her reach, and soon she began forming partnerships with local shops.
Two years later, she launched the official ‘hmn’ website and began offering workshops, teaching others about the therapeutic properties of plants and how to craft natural, sustainable products.
These workshops, held in locations including Quinta do Lago, the new TEIAS Artísticas showroom in Lagos (where she also works and sells her pieces) or the Barão do São João National Forest and Meia Praia, have become a popular aspect of her business.
Today, ‘hmn’ offers a wide range of products for hair, body, face, and home, each carefully formulated with organic, sustainably sourced ingredients.
From shampoo bars and scrubs to deodorants and bath salts, everything is handmade and free from artificial preservatives and colours, and come from controlled organic farming.
Márcia gets her colours from natural elements – pink from beetroot, brown from chocolate, yellow from turmeric, and orange from carrots – and each product is created with a specific purpose in mind.
For instance, rosemary is used to help with oily hair and hair loss, whilst the calendula face and body soap is favoured for its soothing properties, particularly for those with sensitive skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Self-love and feminine energy shine through in the motivational messages on each item, such as “You got this!” or “You are gold, baby”.
This concept came about this year, as did the rebranding of the website to better reflect Márcia’s identity, with shades of green alluding to nature and orange to sunsets.
As ‘hmn’ has grown, so too has the demand for Márcia’s products. Managing the entire production process, especially during the busy summer months, became a challenge.
Though she now has help with packing and labelling, she remains deeply involved in the creation of each item. “I have help with some tasks, but I like to make the products myself and I can’t give up my workshops,” she emphasised.
Despite the brand’s rapid growth, Márcia remains grounded. “In five years, ‘hmn’ has grown enormously. Honestly, I never imagined I’d achieve so much. I’m very proud of it,” she stressed.
Today, her products are sold not only across Portugal but also to international customers.
Raising awareness about the importance of biodegradable products, the benefits of natural ingredients for physical and mental well-being, and strengthening self-esteem are some of the concerns have become an increasingly important part of Márcia’s mission.
In addition to her workshops, she has published four e-books available on platforms like Etsy, covering topics such as aromatherapy and natural cosmetics.
Her online course “How to Make Biodegradable Candles” on the Udemy e-learning platform has been well-received, and she is currently developing more than 30 additional courses, based on her expertise about crafting natural beauty products.
Looking ahead, Márcia envisions a future where she continues to teach. “I don’t just want to sell the products; I also want to help people and instil some knowledge in them. The properties of plants should be known by everyone,” she underlined. Her ultimate dream is to build a home in the countryside, complete with a garden filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs, alongside a production facility for ‘hmn’ products.
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