Embracing the Island Rhythm: The Journey of The Boathouse

A journal of fragrance, lifestyle, and inspiration from our little studio on San Juan Island. Here, we’ll share the stories behind the scents, glimpses of island life, and the rhythms that shape The Boathouse — starting with a bit of an origin story.

In the beginning...

I thought success meant outworking everyone else.

Early mornings, late nights, no days off. Saying yes to everything. Living in a state of permanent hustle… while slowly losing the parts of myself that actually loved creating.

And for a while, I didn’t even notice it happening. I just thought I was being “driven.” But really, I was exhausted.

There’s a very specific kind of burnout where you can feel yourself slipping out of alignment but you keep going anyway.... maybe because stopping feels scarier than sprinting.

That was me.

And eventually, no surprise, I hit a wall.

The kind where you sit on the floor and think: Is this IT?

The Turning Point

Enter my sister, Biz. The voice of reason, my right-hand human, and the person who reminded me I didn’t start The Boathouse to chase success.

I started it because creating lights me up. Because I loved the feeling of turning specials moments into something I can share. Because I wanted people to feel something when they wore what I made.

Biz brought structure, practicality , and honestly a lot of sanity. Together we shifted from forcing to flowing. From panic-producing productivity… back to intentional creation.

And as soon as I allowed myself to stop rushing from task to task, something beautiful happened.

Ideas started to sprout. Inspiration flowed again. The joy returned. And even more crazily... the Boathouse began to grow...

This time from a grounded place, not a frantic one.

The Island Has Been Teaching Me All Along

Living on San Juan Island shapes you in ways you don’t notice until you leave.

The tides (and Ferries) teach you patience. The quiet teaches you to look inward. The sunlight filters through the trees in a way that whispers: Be here. Now.

The scents that surround us... salt, cedar, warm driftwood, tender wildflowers.... are reminders that beauty doesn’t rush.

Those sensory moments are what inspired Boathouse from the beginning. Not hustle.Not the grind. Just… Presence. Creativity. Connection.

Creating Fragrance With Care (and Calm)

Every perfume we make carries a little of that island rhythm.

Small-batch.

Thoughtfully crafted.

Designed to help you feel more you... grounded, calm, radiant... not overwhelmed or overstimulated.

Fragrance doesn't have to demand attention. It can compliment you, inspire you, center you. It can enrich your life, not dominate it.

That philosophy eventually blossomed into Sensory-Kind™...

our commitment to making fragrance that respects your senses, your space, and your wellbeing.

Here’s What I Know Now

Success isn’t how fast or far you move.

It’s how aligned you feel while you’re moving.

If you’re in a season of sprinting so hard your soul can’t keep up… I see you. I’ve been there.

And maybe — just maybe — it’s time to soften your pace. To lean inward instead of outward. To go back to the basics of why you started.

That’s the heart of The Boathouse. A brand built for connection, intention, memory...

Thanks for being here.It truly means more than you know.

With love from the island, Lydia