A wax scent bar in Cristal House Apothecary, allows customers to mix and match the scents they would like to have in their homes. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Cristal House Apothecary recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location in the Ground Lounge, on the second floor of 123 West German Street in Shepherdstown.

The beginning of the holistic and mindfulness shop started out over a decade ago, when Brittany Crist began searching for a natural deodorant that would work, without irritating her skin. After trying every product she could find on the market, Crist came to the realization that there was no deodorant on the market that worked for her. She continued doing further research into the subject and, over the next three years, developed a pleasant-smelling deodorant that was both effective and a nonirritant.

It was not until a little over five years ago, however, when Crist started down the path of developing her own small business. At the time, Crist was feeling overwhelmed with her work as a nurse and her health challenges — asthma, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic enzyme insufficiency — and so decided that she needed to quit her job and start doing something new.

“The field of nursing was super stressful. In that moment, my body was not feeling great and my head was not feeling great — I was not centered and had a disconnect. So, I stopped nursing and said to my husband one day, ‘I”m going to try making some candles,’” Crist said. “I was always curious about candle making.”

Her new hobby proved to be an excellent choice for her to make, as it brought her mental and physical healing. It also enabled her to enjoy a product that she had previously had to deny herself from using.

Cristal House Apothecary is located in a storefront in the Ground Lounge, at 123 West German Street in Shepherdstown. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“I have some asthma and respiratory issues, which means that I can’t burn a store bought candle,” Crist said, mentioning the artificial scents and paraffin wax used in most candles makes it hard for her to breathe. “It was a lot of trial error and a lot of pounds of wax purchased later, I got it figured out.”

Only two years ago, Crist began selling her products at local artisan events — at one of which she ran into the owner of Ground Lounge, Samantha Savoca. Savoca loved her products and began carrying them in her other business, Meditative Medicinals. When she decided to open the Ground Lounge recently, she noticed there was the perfect space for a shop in there and immediately approached Crist about moving her shop into its first brick-and-mortar location.

“I always dreamt of having a brick and mortar,” Crist said. “I hadn’t thought I was ready for it, but when Sam told me about her vision, it seemed like a perfect match.”

Cristal House Apothecary features all of Crist’s carefully crafted products, including her deodorant and candles, in a variety of unique scents and styles, along with original tea blends, chakra essential oil sprays, moon water, wax melts, shower bombs, white sage smudge sticks, rose quartz bath bombs, salt scrubs, tea tree oil facial mist, facial steamer tabs, body balm, essential oil car air fresheners, crystal-infused essential oil rollerballs and soap.

“Whether it is trying more natural products or something more on the metaphysical side, I think anybody could walk in here and come out with something that would bring them enjoyment,” Crist said. “This is a safe space for people to come and find something they can take with them, whether it be something for a gift or to brighten their own day.”

Cristal House Apothecary owner Brittany Crist stands by a sign advertising the opening of her brick-and-mortar location, which marked Oct. 9 as its first official day in business. Courtesy photo

Cristal House Apothecary is open on Thursdays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more, visit https://www.cristalhouseapothecary.com or https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094457375695, or call 814-207-7774.

A sign hangs over the doorway to Cristal House Apothecary’s new brick-and-moratar location. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

One of Cristal House Apothecary’s most popular products is its crystal-infused essential oil rollerballs. Photo by Tabitha Johnston