Store offers organic beauty products 
January 29, 2009 by Jill Roth
Fruits and Passion specializes in helping Mother Earth, charities
A unique take on beauty, Fruits and Passion uses recycled containers, eco-friendly materials and donates to charities. Photo by: Jill Roth
Men, do your girlfriends always smell strongly of vanilla bean or freshia? Wouldn’t you love to get a whiff of something new?
Ladies, still slathering on the same old lotions and perfumes since you were in high school?
Well, it is time to try something new for a sweeter-smelling you.
Fruits and Passion has come to the rescue with organic-based product lines harvested from the jungles of the Amazon, Tahiti and Africa.
Jean Hurteau founded Fruits and Passion in 1992. Hurteau and his wife and brother wanted to create a line of products ranging from rich body lotions and moisturizing foaming bath to luxurious fragrances for men, women and babies. They also wanted to offer an innovative line of eco-friendly and biodegradable home care products for anyone to enjoy.
“We hate to use the term ‘better,’” said Melissa Walter, assistant store manager at the Town Square location. “We like to say we are different instead. We use only the highest quality essential oils and plant extracts in our products… They contain no additives or sulfates.”
College students concerned about the environment can find plenty to enjoy at Fruits and Passion.
“I love anything that is organic,” junior Anna Hagelman said. “I use Oil of Olay and Aveeno often. Nothing too expensive, just things I can find at CVS, but I am always up for trying new things.”
Fruits and Passion products are packaged in recycled or recyclable materials. The store provides durable reusable bags to carry all your goodies home.
“We also sell refills on our foaming bath and hand soaps so our customers can reuse their original containers,” Walter said.
Expanding its humanitarian image, the store also donates to charity.
“The company allowed each store to [contribute to] charity of their choice to support and we chose the Nevada Cancer Institute,” Walter said. “While supplies last, with the sale of every Guava-Grapefruit foaming bath, $1 gets donated to the Nevada Cancer Institute.”
Fruits and Passion has a variety of lines to choose from.
The Fruity line includes everything from thick lotions and body milks to candles, shower gels and fragrances.
“Our biggest sellers are the Guava-Grapefruit and Orange-Cantaloupe by far,” Walter said. Prices for the line range from $5 to $30.
According to Hagelman, that’s not a bad price for student budgets.
“I would spend around $20 on a decent bottle of lotion,” she said.
The “Nourishing” line contains shimmer lotion that adds a subtle shine to pale winter skin and glossy lip butters in a variety of lusty shades. The line’s Monoi hand butter is rich and creamy, containing 24 percent plant moisturizes.
The Human line for men and women includes spray and stick deodorants and fine fragrances. “Our scents for the Human line include peach, hibiscus and bamboo,” Walter said.
The Cucina (the Italian word for kitchen) line is great for keeping your dorm room or apartment in tip-top, environmentally friendly shape. zThe Cucina line is carried in Anthropologie and Sur la Table stores. It offers household products from dish soaps to room spray.
“These products contain cold-pressed olive oil [that] gets rid of even the strongest smells like onion, fish and garlic, Walter said. “[They are] gentle on your hands. No petroleum is used in our cleaning products.”
The Baobab (Africa), Buriti (Amazon/South America) and “Tamanu” (Tahiti) fragrance lines each include perfume, shower gels and foaming baths designed with the origins of their ingredients in mind.
“The packaging of the foaming bath for each line is shaped to resemble the tree trunks of the countries the ingredients were found in. The shower gels are shaped like the stones of the land,” Walter said.
For the Spring, Fruits and Passion is launching the Sophie line. It will include three new fragrances,: Apple Illusion (February), Mango Evasion (March) and Peach Obsession (April).
Walter is all about showing school spirit. “Students can bring in a copy of their Rebel Yell article about the store and receive a $5 coupon on their next purchase of $30 or more. Also, in February we are giving away a free shower gel with the purchase of any body cream.”
Start a new trend and contribute to the green scene by heading over to the Fruits and Passion store. The products make a perfect housewarming, birthday or Valentine’s Day present. For more information on Fruits and Passion, visit fruits-passion.com.
The term “Natural” and “Organic” do not mean the same thing. .. The market is full of body care products labeled “natural.” Natural is a marketing term. Organic products are made with ingredients grown without any synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. When looking for skin care products, look for skin care products that are CHEMICAL FREE and organic. .remember, natural holds no substance to the USDA, but Organic does. . my personal recommendation for health is the Made from Earth skin care line. They us ereal plant and fruits in their skin care, and don’t use any chemicals to preserve them….their face cream, the 3 Berry serum, is my favorite because it is full of antioxidants from the organic blueberries and cranberries it has inside it….it is highly recommended..
Best of luck staying healthy!
I started using the Made from Earth Vitamin Enhanced MOISTURZIER when Made from Earth first came on the market years ago. There are two specific reasons why I continue to use it.
I am sensitive to cosmetic product smells and perfumes – I can only use chemical and fragrence free – it certainly does not make my eyes water – and its ability to be absorbed by the skin without leaving a residue, or greasy feeling. Some skin products have left my face dried out even though labeled as “moisturizers”. The Made from Earth Moisturizer has this wonderful ‘cool’ feeling to it.
A $70.00 jar lasts 6 months – do the math. Some over the counter skin products cost over $30.00 and Made from Earth products on the whole, are fiscally sound purchases for those looking for a bargain.