I’m Ibukun, a mother, wife, Nigerian Canadian immigrant and the heart behind Eleve Essentials.

If you’ve read our story, you already know that Eleve began in a Lagos kitchen and has travelled with me across continents. What matters most to me now is why I still do this.

The woman behind Eleve

By day, I work in the energy sector, leading social impact and philanthropy and partnering with organizations that support families and caregivers. By night, I’m in the studio, creating coconut milk soaps, botanical body oils, soufflés and gifts for women who quietly carry a lot. Our oils are slow-infused with gentle botanicals like rose petals and lavender stems, turning each bottle into a small ritual in itself.

I live in a rhythm many women know well:

• Holding a demanding career and a tender home
• Being the person people rely on at work and at home
• Navigating life as an immigrant while still deeply connected to where I come from

Eleve is where I pour all of that — my love for thoughtful details, my belief in small rituals and my commitment to care that goes beyond words.

How I think about Eleve

When I create for Eleve, I’m thinking about women like us:

• The ones who come home after long days and still pour into family, friends and community
• The ones whose quiet moments might be a warm shower, a slow moisturising routine or a few minutes alone before bed
• The ones who want their bathroom shelf to feel calm and considered, even when the rest of life feels full

I don’t believe skincare needs to be loud, complicated or performative. I believe in quiet comfort — in soaps, botanical body oils, soufflés (and sometimes bath salts) that feel good, look thoughtful and slip gently into real life.

Why this matters to me

The same values that guide my work in social impact — integrity, stewardship, impact and care — guide every decision I make at Eleve:

• What we formulate (and what we leave out)
• How we package and present each piece
• Who we choose to support as we grow

Eleve Essentials is, in many ways, my love letter to women who do the most.

Every bar, bottle, jar and gift is my way of saying:

I see how much you carry.
You still deserve moments of softness.

— Ibukun