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

Hi Krystal, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Brown Sugar Botanica is a pandemic baby. She made her way into the world in January, 2021. I was in the midst of my third furlough from my full time job, as a hairstylist, at Spoke & Weal in West Hollywood (we are up and running again, hopefully for good). Throughout the three in LA I found comfort in collecting & propagating house plants, which meant dozens of visits to the Flower District, downtown.

In April of 2020 my life shifted more than it ever has before. I lost the person who was closest to me throughout my entire life… My younger sister & best friend, Celeste. Working with plants & flowers helped ease the heartbreak & pass time. Watching roots sprout in water & new leaves grow by the day was a rewarding feeling, a feeling that 2020 lacked for most of us.

My heart still aching every day, I needed to somehow communicate with my sister. There was so much that needed to be said, how could she be gone, just like that? I spent weeks doing research on intuition, dreams, life after death, & how to connect with the other side. After reaching out to a recommended medium in Maui, in a desperate attempt to connect with my sister once again, I received a hefty message from her, along with my other spirit guides. The message was… in order to better communicate with Celeste & my higher self, I must treat myself better. No more self shaming or blaming. No more pretending like I’m tough. Love myself. Express my emotions, no matter how heavy they might be. Practice self-care rituals, like spirit cleansing baths, meditation & yoga. Find healing through literature. Use your resources & lastly, CREATIVITY. The Maui Medium said Celeste & my spirit guides kept emphasizing that word… creativity.

Immediately, that same day, I went downtown to The Last Book Store. Like a magnet, I was drawn to the second floor. I turned the corner & was then hypnotized by an herbairy, a book all about different herbs & their physical/spiritual healing properties. After a bit of studying, I visited my local herb shop, Wild Terra, & started my herbarium. I prepared myself ritualistic spirit cleansing bath soaks. I made smudge sticks to utilize during meditations. I started creating dried flower arrangements based on intuition, respecting each color & what kind of vibrations and energy they give off. I started to heal. Then I thought… If Mother Nature helped mend my broken spirit, little by little, who else could this help?

The process behind Brown Sugar Botanica starts with the want to better yourself, the desire to clean your slate with intention for something better, accepting/learning from the past, & treating yourself right. Everything I offer through Brown Sugar Botanica is meant to help uplift your spirit & your space that you inhabit during times in need. But it starts with you & your decision to help yourself. I didn’t start Brown Sugar Botanica to make money. I started it because I was hurting & I needed healing. I sought out that healing. But I still needed help. It’s a journey, but if there’s a will… there is a way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Brown Sugar Botanica is a modern day ritualistic herbal shop where it’s attention to detail & curated style is what sets it apart, catering to those who are wanting to indulge in Mother Nature’s offerings. From the lavender joints to the signature bath soaks & botanical infused syrups, all ingredients are certified pure organic. Each offering is intuitively assembled & packaged with the utmost care in my workshop that is based in Echo Park.

When you order from Brown Sugar Botanica you are purchasing a gift. Whether it is a gift for yourself or someone else, that is how your order will arrive. The intent behind the brand is to bring good vibrations. That’s the positive vibe we’re creating (Eternal Light reference). I’m proud of being able to share Brown Sugar Botanica’s offerings.

Just being in a position where I have access to these resources… and being in a position where I can have an opportunity to pursue a passion of mine..Not everybody gets that. A lot of people don’t get that. A lot of people grind all day, every day, doing something that doesn’t fulfill that creative monster within because they have obligations/limitations. 

I’m extremely grateful to be where I am. I’m excited to be able to share practices that have taken part in my healing through this wild journey of life. I’m also excited to get out into the public & set up at a farmers market & local cafés. Find ya girl out there soon offering all of the positive energy! I wouldn’t be where I am today without my curiosity & desire to be happy – no matter what it takes.

Was it easy? No. Were there as much downs as there were ups? Yes. But that’s life. The only constant is change. How wild is that?

I’m 29 & have been hopping around like a nomad, since I was 18. I grew up in a suburb in northern California (shout out 916), things were quiet & stale & redundant to me, during that time. I craved for action, I craved for momentum, I wanted independence. I wanted that city life. I moved to San Francisco to experience that electric energy. I didn’t care what it took, didn’t care what I did, I made it happen. And, when I wanted more, I moved to New York City. After four years of some of the best moments of my life, New York got cold and I got weary. I needed sunshine. I needed to be where it’s summer forever. I asked the universe for a sign, what’s my next move? The universe provided an answer for me—long story short—“move to Los Angeles & get your cosmetology license.” I did just that.

I hustled, going to school & working as a bartender, pulling in 65-70 hour weeks, until snagging a gig at the best salon in the country. After graduation & passing my state board test, to be a licensed cosmetologist, Corona Virus took over the world. Three lock-downs later & a series of unemployment certifications, the passing of the closest person in the world to me, & what felt like my life as I knew it was over… here we are.

So, was it easy? Absolutely not. For the longest time I felt ashamed for not being like most of my friends who went on to get a college degree. I followed my heart to the best of my abilities by traveling and stepping outside of my comfort zones to experience other cultures/cities which turned into personal growth. After my world shifting to an entire new place, over the past year, I know now what truly matters. If I could go back in time and re-do my life, I wouldn’t change any major move I made. I’ve experienced so many good times with so many good people, doing so many good things. I love where I’ve been, what I’ve seen & all that has influenced me to be who I am today. I love who I am today. I’ve learned to not be ashamed for what you feel like is right for you. I’ve learned to be proud of me and that kind of fearlessly authentic spirit is what I bring to Brown Sugar Botanica.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Let’s say my bestie flies in around 10am. We’re definitely hitting Andante in Echo Park for a lavender latte, the barista Brandon has some crazy espresso skills. Then we’re heading to Echo Park Lake for a cute little swan boat ride. By then we’ve probably built a wild appetite so I take her over to K-Town for some Korean barbecue at Quarters. They’ve got an outdoor dining situation in a courtyard with a bunch of other restaurants & they’re always bumping the best music for a sunny day with bbq. You can’t leave Quarters unless you’re splitting at the seams so we would probably decide to take it easy & enjoy the sunshine. Then, we would take the long way, down the PCH, to our secret spot in Malibu. We may or may not have to scale the side of a fence to hike ourselves to the top of a chill little spot where we’ve got the most amazing view of where the ocean meets California’s beautiful coast.

It’s not every weekend where my best friend is in town – so typically we would get ready to have a night out. Maybe we would go hang with our friends, have a dance party at On The Rox, the club above the The Roxy Theater on Sunset Boulevard. Gordyland & Champagne B have a serious collection of vibes they bring to the crowd, but we’re not there yet with the COVID situation. So instead – we head to Perch, downtown, to catch a little sunset & sip on a cocktail or two.

The next day is beach day. I would take her to Venice, she had her bachelorette party there a few years back so it would be nice to visit again. I would definitely bring her to Sunset Nursery because she loves plants just as much as I do. We would finish the weekend off with a super delicious moment at Pace in Laurel Canyon. They make THE BEST cedar plank salmon and the chocolate cake is something from a different universe. On the way home we would stop by what used to be Silversun Liquor for a night cap to have at home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a MAJOR shout out to Gordyland, aka Eric Gorvin, aka a gift to the universe. He is the designer behind Brown Sugar Botanica’s visual identity. When I approached him about creating Brown Sugar Botanica’s logo he legit took a photo of my hand holding flowers & then whipped up multiple master pieces. He captures BSB’s aesthetic, flawlessly, every time I’m in need of imagery for my projects. I’ve always been able to bounce ideas off of him. He is the most creative, hard working person I know & am blessed to have in my life.

Website: https://brownsugarbotanica.com

Instagram: @brownsugarbotanica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrownSugarBotanica/

Image Credits
Gordyland

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.