About Earth Lab by Anya
Sometimes life asks us to begin again.
Earth Lab was born during one of those moments in my life.
After the end of a long-term relationship and leaving a job that no longer felt right, I found myself questioning everything I had built. For the first time in years, I had no clear plan for what came next.
I travelled to stay with my mum at her small guesthouse in a national park in Kazakhstan. It was there, surrounded by forests, mountains and the quiet rhythm of nature, that life began to slow down.
My days became simple. I practised yoga and meditation, spent hours walking through the bush and started paying attention to the plants growing around me. Without even realising it, I was beginning to reconnect with something I had lost.
I started reading about herbs, botanical oils and traditional plant remedies. Soon I was infusing herbs into oils, blending natural ingredients and making small batches of skincare by hand. At first, I made them simply because I loved the process. Guests staying at the guesthouse began trying them, then asking for more.
Looking back, I realise I wasn't just making skincare.
I was rebuilding myself.
Earth Lab became the expression of that journey.
When I returned to Australia, I continued learning, studying formulation and refining every recipe. The very first Earth Lab product was a natural deodorant. It took countless experiments before I created a formula that felt simple, effective and true to everything I believed skincare should be. That little tin became the foundation of the brand.
Today, natural deodorants remain at the heart of Earth Lab. Over the years, thousands of conversations with customers at markets have helped shape every formula. Listening to people, understanding their needs and continually improving my products has always been a bigger part of my business than following trends.
Every product is still formulated, made, poured, labelled and packed by me in my studio on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
I have chosen to keep Earth Lab small because being close to the process matters to me. Making products in small batches allows me to use fresh ingredients, pay attention to every detail and know exactly what leaves my studio.
The ingredients I choose reflect the same philosophy that shaped the beginning of Earth Lab: simplicity, honesty and respect for nature. Organic butters, botanical oils, plant extracts and pure essential oils are chosen because they serve a purpose, not because they are fashionable.
Earth Lab has never been about creating as many products as possible.
It has always been about creating products that people can trust.
When someone opens a jar of Earth Lab, I hope they feel the same sense of calm and connection that I found all those years ago while walking through the forests with my mum, discovering that sometimes the most meaningful things begin when life asks us to start over.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Anya
Founder & Formulator
Earth Lab Story: How It All Began and Where We Are Now
