Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: Showcase

As the winter holidays approach, gift-giving becomes a common necessity among people of all ages. However, how does one go about finding the perfect gift?

For some, the perfect gift lies in items perfect for pampering - from soaps to candles to lip balms.

An easy gift

When it comes to candles, junior Amy Semantel is a fan, especially when it comes to gift-giving. She prefers them to other pampering products, such as soaps. It's also a gift she said she could use for family members and buys them on a regular basis for other people, but not for herself.

"When in doubt, go with a good candle," she said. "It's something you can get anyone."

Semantel added she thinks there is no age range. However, she said she thinks women are more likely to enjoy them than men unless more masculine products are offered.

Regardless of preference, there are a variety of places in Eau Claire that offer products such as candles for people like Semantel, soaps or body oils.

Eau Claire also offers the opportunity to purchase handmade indulgences from a member of the community.

Handmade options

Based in Eau Claire, Intaca Spirited Sensations offers handmade options in the pampering department, such as body oils, soaps and lip balms. They also offer soy candles, said president Tracey
Newhouse.

Intaca is an entirely online business except for a few areas in Eau Claire where its products are offered, including Truckers Union, 413 Water St.

Newhouse has been in business for about eight years, she said. Besides the fact that she wanted a job after raising her children, she was inspired by the products offered by Aveda.

Headquartered in Minnesota, Aveda produces a variety of skin and hair products with plant bases, according to the Aveda Web site.

Newhouse said she liked the concept of Aveda, but its products were expensive.

"I was thinking that … if you have regular families or college students or people like that, why shouldn't they have really nice products at a reasonable price?" Newhouse said.

Newhouse said Intaca offered soaps, lotions, bath salts and body oils initially. Over the years, her product list changed to soaps, body oils and lip balms. Bath salts and lotions were removed from the product list, she said, because of marketing reasons and expenses.

Semantel said she has never heard of Intaca before, but thinks it sounds like an interesting business.

"I think supporting local business is better than big corporations," Semantel said. She added she would like to look at Intaca in the future.

Newhouse thinks she has a good base among college students because of their awareness of the world around them.

"They are more likely to want healthy alternatives, things that are environmentally friendly," she said. "They're just really knowledgeable (about) things that are good for them and good for the earth."

Add one part essential oil, a little bit of fragrance …

As with all great experiments, trial-and-error is a necessary occurrence. This was also the case with Newhouse.

In addition to the trial-and-error process, she said she also did a large amount of research on oils and the processes behind the making of these products.

"I read every book that I could on whatever I could find," she said.

Soaps made by Newhouse contain oils such as coconut, vegetable and even organic extra-virgin olive oil as a base.

The most common oils used by Newhouse include jojoba oil and hempseed oil.

"College students love that," she said of hempseed oil, laughing. She added that she tries to use oils that are lighter in weight, as well as types of butters.

Newhouse recently added lip balms to her repertoire of products this year.

"It's really gone over very well," she said. She added Intaca's lip balms are all natural and are made out of beeswax. Newhouse also uses essential oils and flavor oils that are approved for use in food.

Body oils are another part of Newhouse's product line-up.

"Those are really nice because, instead of using lotion, oil is more readily absorbed into your skin," Newhouse said.

Newhouse also said she is in the process of adding unscented lotions to her business. She said she will order them from another company, instead of opting to make them herself. In addition, Intaca also offers Yoga and Meditation kits and all-natural pet soap.

Creative opportunities

Artists are often inspired by a muse - whether it be a person, place or thing. For Newhouse, everything is a muse when it comes to creating products.

"That's the fun part about running your own company," she said, "you can really do what you want."

Newhouse said that after coming up with an idea, she usually begins to research to see if it's possible and tries it out.

When she makes a new, experimental product, she usually makes about 50 tubes (in this case, lip balm) and passes it out to people to test their reactions. Newhouse will then take notes on how she made the product and the comments she received from subjects.

Newhouse also offers the opportunity for special orders. If a potential client has a specific request for a scent or is allergic to a type of oil or other ingredient, she can prepare something unique for them.

The difference?

In comparison to places such as Aveda and Bath and Body Works among other chains, Newhouse said she thinks Intaca has products that are comparable in quality but is able to offer them at a more reasonable price.

She added that by being smaller, they are able to be more flexible with a client's needs.

"You're able to change constantly," she said. "You don't ever have to stay the same."

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