Logo credits: Literary Lip Balms
About Literary Lip Balms
Literary Lip Balms - Handmade in Ireland with a deep-rooted love for stories, these products will bring subtle moments of magic into your everyday skincare.
Fun Fact: I once submitted a poem to a printed poetry anthology, and it got accepted. So I'm technically a published poet?
Products Created By Literary Lip Balms
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Photo credits: Literary Lip Balms
What inspired you to start your own business, and what has been your favourite achievement to date?
When I first started making my own fragrances 10 years ago, I didn't think about turning it into a business.
I read an article about perfumes and asked myself, "What would a fairy tale smell like?"
It was so fun to come up with ideas for my favourite stories.
My first lip balms were inspired by Beauty and the Beast (rose and sweet orange), Alice in Wonderland (choco mint), The Lord of the Rings (woodland), and Peter Pan (spearmint, coconut, and lime).
My favourite achievement to date... There are so many! I've loved selling at markets and seeing people's faces light up when they smell my products and read the descriptions.
I'm proud that I was able to do this full-time for 4 years. And I remember being so stoked when I figured out how to put working barcodes on my packaging—it's a small thing, but when you run your own business, it's the small everyday wins that mean the most.
Photo credits: Literary Lip Balms
What would your dream product / collaboration be?
My favourite collaborations to date would have to be with @moli_museum—the Museum of Literature in Ireland—and other museums in Ireland. I really love creating products from a brief, both coming up with the concept and making the design. Knowing that the profit goes to support culture and the preservation of history also means a lot to me.
It would also be a dream to work with a Jane Austen museum or one of the iconic bookshops in the world, such as Strand's in NYC or Shakespeare & Company in Paris (even though I personally prefer small indie bookstores, haha).
What are some of your favourite books?
Photo credits: Literary Lip Balms
I don't read as much as I used to, but Peter Pan is a book that is very close to my heart.
It's whimsical, sad, dark, and wise. For the same reasons, I love Nation by Terry Pratchett.
I'm also a big fan of Don Rosa's Uncle Scrooge and Calvin and Hobbes.
I read everything from sci-fi and fantasy to cookbooks and historical romance,
but children's literature is something I keep returning to for inspiration and comfort.
