The Guiding Light that Brought my Soul Home

Some people leave behind heirlooms. My great-grandmother Isabella left behind something far more valuable. She left behind a feeling in her great grand daughter. May I pay tribute to her in a way that she would have loved. 

When I was a little girl growing up in St. Andrews, Manitoba, some of my happiest memories were made in her home. She had immigrated to Canada from Scotland, bringing with her the resilience that only comes from leaving everything you've ever known in search of a better life for the people you love.

I can still hear her beautiful Scottish accent.

I remember the smell of fresh cookies baking in the oven. The warmth of her kitchen. The comfort of sitting in a home where nothing felt rushed and nothing felt uncertain. There was no anxiety. No pressure. No fear. Just peace.

At the time, I didn't realize those moments would become one of the greatest gifts of my life. Years later, my own world fell apart. My nervous system had completely failed. I was living in a constant state of fight or flight. Sleep disappeared. My body no longer felt safe. My mind never seemed to rest. 

During therapy, I was asked a question that would change everything.

"Think back to a moment in your life when you felt completely safe. A place where your nervous system was at peace. Where you didn't have a care in the world."

Without hesitation, my mind travelled across decades. Back to Selkirk. Back to Grandma Isabella's house. Back to the smell of baking. Back to Scotland, even though I had never truly lived there. Back to the woman who unknowingly taught me what calm felt like. That memory became my anchor.

As I began healing, I found something even more remarkable. Hidden away were the letters documenting Isabella's incredible journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada. I read about the sacrifices she made, the uncertainty she faced, and the courage it took to leave everything familiar behind so future generations, my generation - could have opportunities she never imagined.

Those letters changed me. They reminded me that resilience is inherited. That strength can travel across oceans. That sometimes the people who came before us leave us far more than our family name, they leave us hope.

When it came time to create this blend, there was never another name. Sòlas - The Scottish Gaelic word for comfort, solace and light. This scent is my tribute to my great grandmother - Isabella.

Juniper reminds me of the rugged Scottish Highlands. Ginger offers warmth and courage. Fennel brings gentle grounding. Lemongrass lifts the heaviness. Lime offers clarity and fresh beginnings. Eucalyptus creates the feeling of taking your very first deep breath after holding it for far too long. Together, they create something I wish everyone could experience. A moment to remember what peace feels like.

At Nadurra, we often say Wellness is Within.

I believe that with all my heart. Sometimes, though, finding it means remembering. Remembering who loved us. Remembering where we came from. Remembering the places that made us feel safe. Because when life feels overwhelming, those memories become more than memories. They become our guiding light.

I dedicate Sòlas to my great-grandmother Isabella, whose quiet strength continues to guide our family generations later. And I dedicate it to every person navigating anxiety, grief, burnout, depression, trauma, or simply the weight of being human.

May this ritual remind you to pause, to breathe, to reconnect with yourself. 

And to discover that the calm you've been searching for has been within you all along.

"For Isabella. For Scotland. For every soul searching for peace. May Sòlas become your guiding light."

With Love

Melonie xoxo