Origin Story

Little Owl Alchemy's Origin Story, by the founder, Jen Katehos:

In 1999, I taught myself to make soap using the traditional cold-process method. This became a passionate hobby and a way to de-stress while studying law.  Under the name Little Owl Soap, I began selling my simple, handmade bath and body products at a local farmers' market.  When customers started requesting more advanced skincare products, I decided I needed more education to responsibly create and sell them.

 

While practicing law in New York City, I went back to school to become a licensed esthetician, completing a program developed by The International Dermal Institute, the global leader in professional skin care education. For over two years, I worked as an esthetician for a preeminent New York-based facial shop, connecting with clients and performing up to seven facials a day, before leaving to focus my skincare life on creating products.  My experience treating clients highlighted my desire for more straightforward, natural, and effective products.  I began formulating my own products, with the first being the Step One Cleansing Oil, and the full skincare line soon followed.  I combined Little Owl Soap with skincare to create Little Owl Alchemy.

 

Why the "Little Owl"? The tetradrachm was an ancient Greek silver coin, and the tetradrachm of Athens was stamped with the head of Athena on the obverse and, on the reverse, the image of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) with a sprig of olive. The Little Owl was sacred to Athena, the Greek goddess of, among other things, wisdom and handicrafts.