Founders of White Sprut organic makeup brand talk about their family business, properties of essential oils and their work with BURSA Kyiv.
Yaroslav Rudakov and Oksana Shramko
– What is the history of White Sprut brand? How long have you been in makeup business?
– Yaroslav: We started in 2013. I am a hair stylist and at some point I decided to do something trend-setting – to create a designer soap. It was mainstream at the rise of barbershops, in one of which I worked. My mother is a beautician and aromatherapist. She knows these things so we decided to create something together. At first we made soap and called the brand Take It. We planned a male cosmetics line, but then decided to change our concept and make cosmetics for everyone.
– What is your makeup line composed of at the moment?
– Yaroslav: Main products include four shampoos, and we just added hair-conditioner, then we have liquid soap, bar soap, body lotions, and occasionally facial creams of various effect. We have standard ranges and customized products. For instance, one man I give haircuts to visits the pool together with his son on a regular basis, and he asked for something that would blank out the smell of chlorine and wouldn’t dry the skin.
– Where do you get the ingredients from?
– Oksana: We take them from trusted suppliers in Ukraine, but essential oils are of foreign origin. Production of essential oils is very complicated, so there are about 10 companies in the world that do it.
– How many organic makeup brands are there in Ukraine? Is it popular and is there a demand for it?
– Yaroslav: We don’t have many manufacturers, usually companies just stick their brand label on a product and sell it.
– Oksana: I have partners who buy cosmetics from me and then sell it under their own brand. We don’t have that many process engineers able to do this stuff, and we have few people who are interested in it.
– Yaroslav: It sounds funny when you read a label on a mass market product with 36 months long shelf life that its ingredients are “90% organic”.
– Oksana: The thing is that all White Sprut products have a shelf life of three months. Soap can be stored for 6 months.
– Yaroslav: That’s why we will make only small batches of makeup for BURSA Kyiv.
– Now let’s talk about your work with BURSA Kyiv. What products do you make for them?
– Oksana: We make shampoo and hair-conditioner, shower gel, body lotion and bar soap.
– What main fragrances do you use?
– Oksana: We selected the least aggressive fragrances that won’t repel anyone. We use lavender and orange in shampoo and hair-conditioner, geranium and sage in shower gel, body lotion and soap. We selected these fragrances for their psychoemotional energizing effect boosting one’s energy level. Intensity of essential oil fragrances wears off over time, and that’s another reason why shelf life of our products is three months. Essential oils are extremely volatile, useful substances remain but fragrance is living and ever-changing.
– Do you feel a connection with BURSA Kyiv spirit and what is your definition of it?
– Yaroslav: I am starting my own business now, White Sprut salon, and I did my best to bring in local brands (most interiors of BURSA Kyiv are done in Ukraine – BURSA Kyiv note). Lighting, furniture, wall paint, interior details. For instance, our audio-system is made in Ukraine. In the salon our guests will be able to have a glass of locally made brandy aged in oak barrels.
– What is your view of Podol and do you think BURSA Kyiv will fit in?
– Oksana: It is very homey, it feels as if you are bound to meet a friend when you turn around the corner. I think a hotel in this spot will be very cosy, appealing and relaxing.
– Yaroslav: I also think that BURSA Kyiv will fit in nicely on Podol, because there is a special community there. It’s a self-sufficient district of the city.
– Do you think Kyiv has changed much in the last couple of years?
– Oksana: I think the city has grown young again and gained speed, and at the same time people take notice of antiques and finally start to appreciate them. When I saw the building housing BURSA Kyiv for the first time, before our cooperation with them, it captured my attention. My husband and I were driving by and I said: “Take a look, this building has been renovated well and it really fits into the surroundings”.
– OK, and now the question is to you, Yaroslav. Why do you want to be and live in Kyiv?
– Yaroslav: Because it is a cheerful place, one is never bored here. You come to Barcelona, for instance, and realize that it is great and warm there, but always the same. In Kyiv it is great and warm in summer, cold and gloomy in winter, and bewildering in spring and autumn. It is different and that’s this city’s advantage.