Hi, I’m Lora—founder of Eden and Era.

Eden and Era began in a fever dream—literally. Stuck in bed with COVID, I finally had time to think. I’d been trying (and failing) to reenter the corporate world, and the rejection was getting loud. But in the quiet, something clearer came through: I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to do it differently—my way.

My first product was deodorant. I could never find a natural one that worked, or if it did, it came in a clunky plastic tube or required finger painting. So I started making my own. My winemaking degree gave me just enough chemistry to figure it out. After dozens of test batches and plenty of trial sweat, I landed on a formula that actually worked.

Eden and Era is rooted in art, informed by science, and guided by the idea that scent and ritual can offer comfort—even in the most ordinary moments.

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It started with an Art History degree. Not the most practical, sure, but it gave me a love of connection—how people across centuries, continents, and cultures share something deeply human. I also loved sitting in dark classrooms, completely captivated by Flemish paintings and ancient frescoes.

Fast forward a couple of decades. I was sick in bed with COVID, doing everything I could to avoid infecting my husband and son before a big trip. Seven days of fever and solitude gave me something I hadn’t had in years: space to think. That’s when an idea surfaced, not yet Eden and Era, but the seed of something that felt personal. For me. By me.

Part of that urgency came from the deep frustration I was feeling trying to reenter the corporate world. I kept making it to final interviews, only to hear no. Once, I even took two of those final interviews during a family vacation. Never again. The process was exhausting, disheartening, and embarrassing.

Somewhere in that haze, I stumbled across public domain art — the very masterpieces I’d studied years ago. To my surprise, many were free to use. I started playing, pulling elements into digital collages and surface patterns. I’m not a graphic designer, but I loved the process. That’s the Era in Eden and Era. I didn’t want to reuse or replicate; I wanted to reference the past and remix it through a modern lens.

Then there was the deodorant. I could never find a natural one that worked, or I did, and it was enrobed in plastic, or I had to use my fingers to put it on. So I started developing my own. My winemaking degree (yes, I got one of those, too, along the way) gave me just enough chemistry to get going. I spent many hours creating batch after batch and testing formula after formula.

Then came the interview. One of many in the long parade. There were personality tests, intelligence tests, writing prompts, mock client decks, and the classic question, “What’s your worst characteristic?” Oh, corporate America.

This particular interview required me to act like I already worked there, presenting a pitch deck to “clients” over Zoom. I’d prepped for days and put hours into making something I was proud of. The day of, everything was going fine, until I tried to share my screen. Nothing.

If it had been a real client meeting, we would’ve made a joke, created a workaround, and kept things moving. But my interviewers insisted I find a way to present it myself. I held it together on the outside, but inside I was spiraling — stress-sweating through my synthetic dress and watching the opportunity unravel.

But here’s the thing: I didn’t stink. My deodorant held up. In the middle of one of the most mortifying moments of my professional life, my deodorant kept me fresh as a daisy; it worked. Was that a sign?

So, I decided to take the leap. I walked away from the job search and chose to build something of my own. That’s when Eden and Era officially came to life. I wanted to create thoughtful, clean products to make daily life a little more enjoyable. Everything would be plant-based, sustainably made, and accessible without compromising on quality. That’s the Eden part of Eden and Era—creating something good and grounded for real, everyday life.

Eden and Era is the sum of my experience: art, winemaking, weird interview moments, and the desire to make small daily rituals a little more beautiful, healthy, sustainable, and accessible. If something here makes your day a bit better, that means everything to me. And if you have ideas, I’d love to hear them. Thanks for being here.

Smell Well,

Lora