Inspiring Conversations with Mollie Nelson of Wilde Lake Botanicals

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mollie Nelson. 

Hi Mollie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Briefly, I am an Air Force Veteran, a prior Personnel Recovery Instructor, a former personal trainer, a full-time mom and wife, and currently a working Clinical Nutritionist and Herbalist. 

My interest in herbs started when I was going through my Master’s program for Nutrition. I chose an herbal elective as a way to enhance my nutrition classes and found myself totally smitten! I honestly spent more time researching and reading about herbs than I did work for my actual classes. I spent 2 years completely engrossed in learning as much as I could about the power and traditions of herbal medicines and I took as many electives as I could. I eventually enrolled into a separate degree program for herbs, then ended up adding a concentration within my Master’s Degree. 

Wilde Lake Botanicals’ product line started with a body cream for my husband and youngest son, who suffered with eczema for years. My husband had tried everything from OTC lotions to prescriptions, with minimal relief. When my youngest started getting large spots I decided to try my hand at formulating something special for them. We were all pretty shocked when both of their eczema flares were relieved within a few days. Now this cream is a staple product in both my home and my line. The rest grew from there: formulating for family or friends who wanted to see if herbs could work for them too. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. So, I have been a full-time mom since my oldest son was born in 2010. The act of going back to school alone was demanding and time-consuming. Between internships, kids’ school and activities, and trying to spend time as a family, my vision definitely took a back seat. Luckily, I have a supportive husband who was always pushing me to carve out time for myself and trying to find ways to help me. Honestly, the biggest challenge for me was the technical side. I am not a web designer nor a graphic artist, so that was extremely frustrating at times. I am a bit of a perfectionist, so have been hands-on with the process the whole way through. I will happily formulate and make product all day, but ask me to develop a website and I’m lost! It took many long hours figuring out what I wanted and making that a reality. That part alone took almost 2 years. Now, it’s a matter of getting Wilde Lake Botanicals as a company out to the public. There are only so many opportunities for a new web-based company to get in front of people, so I am grateful to have this opportunity. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wilde Lake Botanicals?
As I mentioned, I work with herbs to create products meant to support a healthy lifestyle. I work with both local and national suppliers to obtain organic herbs and other ingredients. All of my products are hand-made in small batches to ensure quality and freshness. 

I think what sets me apart is that I do not use synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives. Many products claim they don’t but the labels speak volumes. My products are all-natural and fragranced with only high-quality essential oils. If nature doesn’t provide it, I don’t use it! I am proud to say that my products are good for the whole body, from the tinctures and teas to the topical skincare line. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Wow, what a great question! For me, what matters most is providing a product that I can stand behind. I put a lot of time and thought into each and every product. My goal is create something that does not add to the burdens we put on our systems, to offer products that nourish from the inside out, and that naturally support the body’s optimal health. Some of my products target specific things, like sleep or stress, while others are more generalized, like the skincare products. And again, none of my products have synthetic additives and preservatives. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: WildeLakeBotanicals.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/WildeLakeBotanicals

Image Credits
Sarah Behun