Celestial Beauty takes off in Secunda

SECUNDA – Her name derives from a Latin word that means ‘heavenly’ so it is fitting that Ms Celeste Brauns (27) has grown into her name through the products she makes herself.

Ms Brauns took a giant leap of faith towards opening her business named “Celestial Beauty”.

Her dream is to create a natural perfume for men and women, but after a lot of research, she realised that she would need a large amount of capital to get the ball rolling.

“I wanted people with sensitive skin to also enjoy applying perfume,” said Ms Brauns.

Ms Brauns went on to do what she does best and that was to get creative.

With further research, she found out about natural bath salts that she now makes herself.

Ms Brauns was born in Empangeni.

When she turned one month-old, her mother left her with her paternal grandmother and aunt in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal.

Ms Brauns lived in Kokstad until she was seven years-old and grew close to her aunt, Ms Rochelle Carels, whom she now calls mom.

Ms Brauns’ dad lived close to her grandmother’s home in Kokstad and would often visit.

When Ms Brauns was six years-old, he told her about her biological mother and her whole world changed.

She began to see the world in a different light.

“I used to look at other children getting picked up by their parents, but I was picked up by my aunt. I wondered why not me?” said Ms Brauns.

Ms Carels met her husband, Mr Enrico Carels, and took Ms Brauns with them to Thistle Grove when she was only seven years-old.

Introverted Ms Brauns attended T.P. Stratten Primary School.

“I had my days,” she said.

She later went on to complete Grade 12 at Thistle Grove Combined School.

“I struggled to come to terms that my mother had left me, but after attending a seminar at my church called “Ancient Paths”, I found clarity and healing,” she said.

“I could not have taken this leap of faith without God. He is my rock and foundation. God is my everything,” she said.

Ms Brauns now has a family of her own.

She is married to Mr Giovanni Brauns (24) and has two children, Jessie (7) and Elijah (2).

Ms Brauns is excited about building her business to be able to have enough capital to make natural perfumes.

“Natural products are more expensive to make than synthetic products,” said Ms Brauns.

Even though she would create both natural and other types of perfumes for every person, she still has a lot of work to do in order to get there.

Her bath salts, linen sprays and bath bombs have healing properties and promotes to naturally enhance the body.

“A quote that has stood out for me in my journey is, ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough’ so I see my products going international.”

In the next five years, Ms Brauns hopes to be able to sell her handmade products in her own shop.

Ms Brauns currently sells her products at local markets.