Supporting neighborhood business makes “scents”

When it comes to supporting local businesses, Orland Parkers and everyone in the southwest suburbs have a new place to visit--and it’s just a little further south on LaGrange Road.

Meadowsweet, owned and operated by sisters Andrea Brannan and Laura Graves, both of Tinley Park, offers a variety of personal care products from around the world, including bar and liquid soaps, body washes, lotions, candles, diffusers, bath bombs, shower steamers, grooming products and access for both men and women. There’s even a natural shampoo for dogs.

When you walk into Meadowsweet, your sense of smell is immediately awakened by the fragrances. “When a customer first walks into the store we often hear, ‘Oh, it smells so good in here,’ says Graves. “People are amazed the scent in the store is so pleasing and not overpowering.”

Products in the store, which are hand selected by Brannan and Graves, are brought in from all over the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, plus several brands that only are available at Meadowsweet, such as soap from Iceland, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia and Estonia.

“Since we opened, we have added products from Aruba, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and new products from the U.S.,” Graves said. “We are constantly looking for items to expand our inventory.”

Brannan said they carry soap brands that are natural but contain some organic ingredients, noting they strive to stock skin-friendly products made without harsh chemicals, free of preservatives, and environmentally friendly. “They contain plant-based ingredients and depending on the brand, locally sourced ingredients that add vitamins and minerals to the soap,” she said.

A lot of research goes into each product before deciding to add it to the store’s collection. As a matter of fact, the ingredients the producers use, and the production method dictate who they choose. Brannan has conversations with the producers and reads up as much as she can to obtain as much information as possible. “It’s amazing how many fabulous natural bath and body products are available,” she said. “These artisans care about the ingredients in their finished products. Sustainability and eco-packaging are core values in the production and distribution of their products.”

Deciding to open this store was a labor of love, inspired by their mother. “We took a trip to Europe in 2019 and she asked us to look for a great smelling soap she had read about in a book,” Graves said. “As we visited the local soap stores, we were impressed by scents and the quality ingredients. Eventually, we accumulated a collection of soaps from every country we visited. When we returned home, we began to learn more about soap and the different production methods available around the world. It was then we knew we wanted to open Meadowsweet.”

Deciding on a name took a little time. “We landed on Meadowsweet because of the symbolic meaning of the flower and how it would translate into bath and body care,” Brannan said. “Meadowsweet symbolizes love, attraction, calmness and release of tension. We created a space for customers to enjoy their shopping experience and purchase products that make them feel good.”

Both women are knowledgeable about the products and share that information with their customers, and they’ve used the products themselves. It’s part of the individual attention offered to all who come through the doors.

“Because of the wide variety of products on our shelves from different countries, and every customer is different in what they are shopping for, we find that offering individual attention based on their needs creates a pleasant shopping experience. It makes us happy when customers walk out of the store with a product they love,” Graves said.

They’ve also seen there are definite favorites amongst the shoppers. “Maui Soap Company is popular. They have the tropical scents of Hawaii, such as hibiscus, plumeria and coconut. Customers comment about the scents and how it lulls them into a sense of the tropics. They also love the moisturizing properties of the soap, body mist and lotion. It’s a popular brand because people love the scents and colors of Hawaii,” Graves aid.

Another popular brand is Highland Soap Company from Scotland, which offers bar and liquid soaps, lotion, diffusers, and foot cream. Graves noted that Highland has unique scents with ingredients that are locally sourced and that most customers comment about the scents and how moisturizing the products are on their skin.

Meadowsweet is offering a special deal for the holidays--$5 off a pre-tax purchase of $30, $10 off a pre-tax purchase of $50, $15 off a pre-tax purchase of $75 and $20 off a pre-tax purchase of $100.

The store, located at 19987 S. LaGrange Rd., in Frankfort, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. It will be open Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Christmas Day. Customers also can order online at Meadowsweet. For more information, call (779) 254-2192.