We are thrilled to have Andy Coxon, one of the founders of AKT, with us to celebrate Aromatherapy Week. AKT is a natural deodorant company that offers a range of effective, eco-friendly, and vegan deodorants. In 2015, Andy and Ed met while performing in a show in London's West End.
They were struggling to find a deodorant that worked for eight shows a week, under hot lights, in the same costumes. Frustrated with the lack of effective options, they decided to take a leap of faith and start their own business.
They spent months researching and experimenting with different ingredients to create a natural deodorant that was free from harmful chemicals and toxins but still provided long-lasting odour protection. Their hard work paid off, and AKT was born.
Today, AKT is a leading natural deodorant brand, loved by customers around the world for its effectiveness and eco-friendliness. Andy and Ed's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation in the face of adversity. Join us as we celebrate their success and the importance of natural beauty.
Could you share with us the inspiration behind AKT's creation and how your wellness practices played a role in developing a brand?
AKT was born through a need for something that works and alleviates the stress of feeling smelly and unconfident when we were performing 8 shows a week in London’s West End. In terms of personal wellness, the concept of applying a deodorant balm with your fingers allows you to connect to yourself a little more and care for an area of the body, which we have always sprayed quick, harsh chemicals on to.
We always say - if you wouldn’t put it on your face, why would you put it on your armpits? My awareness of what's in products, foods and packaging has definitely played a role in building AKT as a personal performance brand.
Do you incorporate aromatherapy into your daily wellness routine? How significant do you find it to be?
As we’ve developed our fragrances over the years we’ve ended up with many sample pots of essential oil blends and scents, which I personally use in electric room diffusers to help calm or energise my space, depending on what I need. I’m also a sucker for sleep spray. The anatomē one is stunning! A quick spritz over my pillow and the edge of the duvet and I drift off perfectly. Sleep and recovery are so important, especially in stressful business life!
What is your favourite studio for well-being and movement?
I love Barry’s Bootcamp class. Sometimes all I need is to do a big, loud, sweaty workout to benefit from the endorphins it releases. It can genuinely last a few days for me. I’m also very lucky that I also have a lot of friends who teach yoga in many places, so for me it's not the studio it’s who is teaching. The space must be controlled by someone that is confident, clear and focused. That creates a safe space that is just magic.
Could you share with us your preferred dining spot in London?
This totally depends on my mood but I love Dishoom for a good hearty dinner. I also love Chick ‘n’ Sours for quick and tasty lunches. And I love Market Halls on Oxford Street for an excellent, wide selection of delicious fast foods.
Can you tell us your favourite place to travel during the summer?
Greece and Italy are my favourite places. Island hopping the Greek Islands; Mykonos, Santorini then the not so well known, Naxos. Lake Como in Italy is actual perfection.
Can you share some helpful tips for staying calm during stressful situations?
I’m terrible at letting stress take over but I have a “toolbox” of things that (if I remember to) I can tap into. This includes, the basics I leant from meditating with the Headspace app, breathe in count 1, breathe out count 2 etc, until you hit 10 and start again. "If thoughts come into your head just let them pass and label them as a “thought’ or “feeling” - genuinely life-changing.
I also have to be brutal with myself and say “Take a walk” because the task at hand is too much or not working, sometimes you need to go away from it and come back with fresh eyes.
Then the MOST important thing is asking if any of my “Aggressors” have kicked in, which include - Are you
- a) hungry
- b) tired
- c) too hot - 70% of the time it’s one of the latter!"
How do you motivate yourself or switch up energy throughout the day?
Though it is sometimes hard to commit to, I know that if I start my day with a workout then my brain functions better. The only way I can motivate myself to go is by remembering the feeling I have afterwards. Focused and healthy. As business owners, we are constantly spinning plates and different varieties so we have to take breaks and walks if needed. I like to ensure I’m not just having an instant coffee but using my good coffee beans in the proper coffee machine - the little things just give that refresher and reality check before going back into the laptop.
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