Off meds on to aromas

Priyanka Sharma

Audrey Tounier is a down-to-earth, easygoing woman who happens to be an aroma-therapist, living and practicing in Shekou in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District.

She is the founder of a Hong Kong-registered company that offers personalized therapy sessions to people who want to move away from a life of chemicals and pollutants and look for more natural and organic solutions for their problems.

But it was not very long ago that she was living a fast-paced, not-a-minute-to-herself corporate life. Tounier’s journey started with a corporation in France and in 2006 she was asked to move to her favorite destination, China. She could finally put her second master’s degree in Modern Chinese Language and Literature to use. Her first master’s degree is in International negotiations.

By 2009 Tounier had been promoted and moved to Shanghai. She was climbing the ladder of success, making a six-figure salary. The company provided a huge house in the heart of Shanghai. She was living the dream life with designer bags and shoes, but paying for them with 12-hour work days. It started to affect her health.

She was easily agitated, suffering from insomnia and getting panic attacks. That’s when she turned to yoga and meditation.

By 2012, Tounier was doing much better physically but her mental health was still dependent on her anxiety and antidepressant pills. She met an aroma therapist at a party. She took another leap of faith and let the therapist mix her some oils. Within six months, she said goodbye to all her medication.

In 2013, Tounier gathered the courage and said goodbye to her high-paying corporate job, sold or gave away her designer bags and shoes, and moved to Shenzhen. For the next two years she travelled trying to figure out her purpose. One and a half years ago, she gave a friend a self-made aroma candle as a birthday present. She did thorough research and after several failed attempts, she managed to make a lavender candle that was praised not only by her friend but also by the other guests at the party. Soon, orders were coming in.

Tounier had finally found her calling. She wants to share her experience and knowledge to help people live a healthier, chemical-free, organic life. What started with a candle is now a full range of products.