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Joanne Wendell is the founder of Richmond company Meadowfoam.

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Local company offers pleasant-smelling hand sanitizer

By Angel St. George

Published 2:14 PDT, Wed April 13, 2022

Last Updated: 2:33 PDT, Wed April 13, 2022

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With hand sanitizer still a staple amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, many people may be tired of the sharp alcohol-based scent characteristic of many products.

Meadowfoam is a Richmond-based company that makes premium skincare products derived from high-quality natural ingredients. Among its offerings is a hand sanitizer that smells like essential oils rather than alcohol.

All of Meadowfoam’s products are cruelty-free, environmentally conscious, and delight the olfactory senses while defending against harmful bacteria. Scent options include lemon meringue, grapefruit gardenia, and coconut açai.

“We like to have a variety of scents available so that people can enjoy a different experience each time they use our products,” says the company’s founder Joanne Wendell.

Wendell grew up in a rural Alberta town and fondly recalls her father being an avid gardener.

“My dad’s passion for gardening gave me an appreciation for how things are grown, the care it takes, and the importance of knowing where things come from,” says Wendell.

Before she was a burgeoning skincare mogul, Wendell served as a police officer.

“When I retired from being a police officer, I wanted to do something creative with the goal of making people happy at a reasonable price,” says Wendell.

She started Meadowfoam in 2014, during the resurgence of farmers’ markets and the revival of consumer interest in natural skincare products.

Like many small business owners, Wendell produced the initial product line from her home. The demand for her uniquely scented products quickly increased to the point where they took over her living space and she needed to expand to a warehouse facility.

“We’re flattered that customers love our products,” says Wendell. “Receiving so much positive feedback keeps us knowing we’re on the right path.”

Wendell currently operates out of a warehouse in Richmond with her partner and four key employees. She hopes to grow the brand to become internationally recognized while maintaining high-quality ingredients and zero waste production.

One of the unique features of her company is that she uses meadowfoam seed oil. Meadowfoam is a robust white floral that blooms early in the season and is indigenous to the Pacific Northwest.

Meadowfoam’s hand sanitizers are made in small batches using vegetable-derived ethanol produced in the Okanagan Valley that is free from harmful byproducts.

The manufacturer adds an unscented compound called bitrex during production. Bitrex is the most bitter substance known and is used in alcohol-based products that may potentially harm children if ingested.

The result is a fragrant hand sanitizer that tastes awful and contains 70 per cent alcohol, ensuring it meets Canadian standards for sanitizing products.

Wendell’s favourite Meadowfoam product is the hibiscus rose butter. She says a little goes a long way with natural products, and recommends starting with a pea-sized amount and working it into the skin.

“Here is a secret routine I use with the products,” says Wendell. “Draw a bath and add some of our foaming bath salts. When you step in, before you sit down, take our sugar scrub and massage it all over. We worked a little body butter into the product, so it’s very rich. When you’re done, just sink in and enjoy. When you get out of the bath, you’ll be so soft,” says Wendell.

While hand sanitizer can be useful, washing hands with soap and water is still a more effective option because it removes certain germs that hand sanitizers do not, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridioides difficile.

Meadowfoam also makes organic soaps. More new products are in development, including balms and roller ball fragrance oils which will be released in the coming months.