Meet Denise Hernandez | Herbalist & Apothecary

We had the good fortune of connecting with Denise Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Denise, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Self-care rituals are a very important aspect of my herbal practice, and I’ve always struggled to find natural skin care products that I could trust, not only biologically, but philosophically. Considering that the skin is our biggest organ, I wanted to experiment with safe and incredibly nourishing ingredients that I could use to create new experiences of well-being and synergy. So, the genesis of Sekhmet Botanicals was a deep dedication to personal empowerment through self-care, and this process has inspired me to want to share this passion with the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sekhmet Botanicals is a lifestyle for me, a process of self-actualization that relies on the interplay between my Italian heritage and the prospects of my imagination. All the botanical marvels that surround me every day seem to dig towards my deepest roots in Italy, and I often feel as if I’m still alongside my grandmother, watching in awe how she would cook foods from scratch and tend to our family’s wellbeing, all while sipping tea. When I moved to the United States six years ago, I didn’t speak any English, and I had no idea how this cultural liminality would influence my future. However, it was the primordial language of plants that seemed to speak to me most clearly everywhere I went in this new home of mine. My balmy afternoon walks around the sun-drenched streets of LA were to help me discover that everything I needed was already a part of me: an immense responsibility of self-sufficiency. All the little things I grew up doing around the farmland of Modena reflect the kind of lifestyle I hope to propagate. I’m so happy that my heart is filled with attention to simplicity and self-care. I like to think that my grandma’s legacy is somewhat living through me, as I can feel her hands guiding my own in the garden of this waking life. My ultimate dream is to have a storefront where community and connections are created through books, workshops, and cultural events. A garden where nature and ideas bloom in harmony.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love spending time in nature and local gardens. My itinerary would include places that embody a close relationship between humans and the natural world such as Descanso & Huntington gardens, The Self-realization Fellowship Shrine, and the sublimity of Point Dume and The Angeles National Forest.

I’m also a devoted bibliophile so we would also visit Iliad Bookstore in North Hollywood and my personal favorite spot to read, Brand library in Glendale.
Cooking is an extension of my fascination between our home lives and the natural environments that sustain them, so a lot of meals would probably be homemade, but I’d definitely stop at Ceci’s in Silverlake to satisfy my Italian cravings and Jewel for a colorful vegan lunch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband definitely gets the biggest recognition. He believed in my vision from the start, and his loyal support has afforded me the confidence to explore new creative exigencies here at Sekhmet. Of course, Sekhmet Botanicals would not be possible without all my customers, family, and friends who have helped me forge a community around this new endeavor. And last but not least, a shoutout to all the incredible herbal educators out there who share their knowledge so that everyone can access the tools necessary to preserve the craft of our ancestors.

Website: www.sekhmetbotanicals.com

Instagram: @sekhmetbotanicals

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sekhmetbotanicals