Scentsy Mean Girls - "Raising Their Standards" or "Taking Your Freedom"?

Hi Everyone,

This will be my final Scentensity blog post. Not because I wish to quit blogging about Scentsy, but because I feel fairly certain I'm going to get a slew of crazy phone calls followed by either a suspension or dismal from Scentsy Corporate. Good. Bring it on.

You see, I'm going to actually say all the thing that Scentsy consultants don't feel comfortable saying, (because of the ramifications from other consultants, and even from their own team) but are probably thinking.

I started as a consultant in the summer of 2015. Two weeks after I signed up, I went to reunion in Las Vegas. I'll admit, Scentsy reunion was a blast. It's easy to catch the Scentsy Spirit when there's that many motivational speeches and that much glitter. I went home totally fired up and ready to roll. I almost reached Shooting Star. I did reach Scentsational Start, Level 2. I signed up four people in a month. I was having so much fun. I remembered what Orville, Heidi and a whole bunch of other people said about "making your business your own", and "being part of a family". I really took that message to heart. I even wrote about it in one of my blogposts:

"It is low risk, and it is YOUR business. Trust me. There are a thousand different approaches used by a thousand different consultants. They talk about it. Everywhere. All the time. You just have to find what approach works for you."

Since reunion was so great, (and because I like to write) I decided it would be fun to write a blog post about my experience at reunion. I called it, "Drinking the Purple Kool-aide". It was a successful blogpost, for me at least. (10k views in 2 days).

But... that's where the trouble started.

Almost immediately, I received a call, not from my sponsor, not even from my director, but from the Super-Star director at the top of my up-line. Bear in mind, this person had not ever even acknowledged me, (except for a polite nod reunion) before now. It was a very unusual conversation.

It seemed the Super-Star Director did not feel the comments on my blog were appropriate. This passage in particular was upsetting to them.

"Orville is...well, (forgive me Orville, if by-chance you ever read this)... a bit-of a nerd. Not in an Urkel way, and not in a sleek-hipster-with-thick-framed-glasses-and-a-typewriter-at-the-park kind of way either. He's the kind of guy that would invite you to come to dinner and spend the whole time grilling hot dogs, jumping on the trampoline, and bragging about his kids. He's the kind of guy that gives people high-fives and thumbs-up. I'd bet good money that he owns a Hawaiian shirt. He's got a good sense of business too, and he's smart without making a big deal out of it. Man, he was likeable."

They point-blank asked me to change it. I was totally surprised about that, so I asked my SSD what in particular they found so offensive. This person then proceed to give me a fairly long lecture about "attitude". They said they'd been watching my progress with Scentsy. They'd noticed I joined an online FB group called "Scentsy Anonymous" and felt that the group was a "slog for disgruntled consultants". They told me that if my blog tone wasn't "unquestionably supportive of Scentsy" that it would send the wrong message to my team, and didn't I want to be a team player? Then my SSD gave me an overview about the rules of external websites and said if I had questions to contact Scentsy Corporate Compliance. "Everyone worries about compliance," my SSD said, "but the compliance team is just there to help make sure everything's fair. Their business isn't about shutting anyone down." I hung up the phone totally confused, and if I'm being honest, rather annoyed.

My thoughts: Who said anything about getting shut down? Can they do that? Is there really and entire team dedicated to compliance? Like a hired and paid for team? Am I in the Matrix?

Something was... off. I suddenly realized this may not be as much "my business" as Scentsy claimed it to be. I also got the distinct impression that I was not family, but rather a nuisance that needed to be 'dealt with'.

I wasn't sure what to do, so I called my director. My director (who is arguably the greatest director ever) approached this a lot more tactfully. She told me that my blog posts were just fine and explained to me that Scentsy Corporate takes their rules (and themselves IMO) very seriously. Sometimes too seriously. She suggested I go to my workstation if I had further questions about external websites and encouraged me to keep writing about Scentsy.

"Okay," I said to myself. "That convo with the SSD was a little weird, but maybe I just took it the wrong way. I'm sure they're just trying to keep an eye on things the best way they know how. They've got a lot of people to keep track of, after all. I'll try to keep the next post light(er)." I decided to write it off as a bit of a personality clash... like maybe my SSD didn't really 'get' my sense-of-humor.

I also decided to take my director's advice and keep writing. I dedicated a whole blog to the life of a Scentsy Consultant. I wrote five follow-up blog posts. (They are all still up on this blog, completely un-changed since the date they were published.) I nearly tripled my readership. I wrote this little bit after I hit my one month Scentsy anniversary.

"My blog was up for less than a week before my Super Star Director called and asked me to register it. I panicked pretty bad before I figured out that everyone was just trying to help me. Turns out Scentsy has a pretty good sense of humor. Don't be scared Scentsy. It's okay to laugh at yourself a little bit. I promise that your product quality won't dip because I may or may not have referred to Orville's dance moves as 'Dad-ish'. Try to remember that I'm married to guy with even sweeter 'Dad' moves than Orville. I find it very charming."

I hadn't heard from my SSD since the first issue, so I figured - eh, we'll let bygones be bygones. I'll crack a joke. I'll move on from the awkwardness if they will too.

Or...not.

Enter the longest email thread EVER from Scentsy Compliance. (Below is the gist)

"Your blog is OOC," they told me. "You need to register the blog as an external website." I asked them why a personal blog, that was not advertising Scentsy products needed to be registered. I cited the detailed description from their own handbook about external websites. It was completely evident I didn't need to register my blog. Their follow-up was a phone call. I was told that because my blog had reached so many consultants, they felt it needed to be registered so they could "keep an eye on it" and make sure it wasn't straying into any "negative" or "OOC" territory. They said a bunch of people at the Scentsy Home Office had read the blog and that I should be "very honored." They said the blog was "funny", but they wanted to make sure it wasn't "too edgy". That phone call was followed up by an extremely detailed email explaining how to bring my blog into compliance.

At that point I just gave up. I'm a regular person, and my once 'fun' blog wasn't feeling 'fun' at all. In fact, it wasn't even really feeling like "me" anymore. It was feeling like the "white-washed me" that Scentsy felt I should be. Not worth the time. Not worth the energy. Nope. Nope. Nope. The very fact that compliance felt like the could/should edit through my personal writing felt like a massive invasion of personal freedom.

I won't lie...it rubbed me the wrong way. It still does.

Then I got to thinking... why does Scentsy operate that way? They're a successful company. Reunion is an uplifting, positive experience. So why is everyone so obsessed with compliance?

I'm just gonna say it.

There are some Scentsy Mean Girls out there.

Signs you may be a Scentsy Mean Girl (or boy): (hope this helps)

1. You've contacted compliance on another consultant to improve your own sales.

2. You've contacted compliance over another consultant's flier or online advertisement. (Really people? It's a flier. Get over it.)

3. You've contacted your director to "tattle" on another team member.

4. You are no longer a consultant, but you feel completely comfortable 'price gouging' other consultants for discontinued product.

5. You've publicly shamed another consultant online.

6. You're willing to step over top of other consultants to get ahead.

7. You talk badly about other team members personal lives behind their backs.

8. You've criticized a free home-made flier, posted for everyone's benefit.

Here's the deal. The problem has either come from the top down, or it's coming from the bottom up. It's obvious how I feel, but why don't you ask yourself  why the heck is there a WHOLE SCENTSY WORK FORCE TEAM dedicated to compliance/complaints?

Look, I'm not trying to be a hater, but all those measly complaints... all that whining you're doing to Corporate... it makes people like me, people who genuinely tried really really hard to make Scentsy work for them - want to run for the freaking hills.

To top it off, today I got this email:

Notice how vague? Are they going to check your personal emails? Your personal webpage? Your personal facebook accounts? Will they watch you in public forums? Will they "investigate" every claim by going through your blog posts and writings? Are they planning to interview you on a recorded line? What about your team mates? Will they snoop your online parties? How long before they tell you that you have to wear pink to sit with them on Fridays? 

Scentsy Mean Girls - You got it, you got what you deserve and you got what you asked for. Not only has Corporate completely robbed you of the right to manage "your" business "your" way, they've violated your privacy. THEY ARE OPENLY PLANNING TO WATCHDOG YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE AND VIOLATE YOUR PRIVACY AND YOU'RE THANKING THEM FOR IT! Have you lost your minds? Read between the lines. Seriously, quit drinking the purple kool-aid and ask yourself if you really are comfortable with this. Are you? They can call it a 'campaign' and tell you it's "protecting your business", they can dress it up all they want, but ask yourself, in the end, does this really benefit you? Does this change help you or does it help them?

I think you already know the answer to that question.

The gist of the email: We're tired of having to manage all the 'rule' violations and complaints we're getting from our own consultants. We hired "Field Watch" to stalk you online so we don't have to field all the complaints ourselves. We are allowed to do this because you clicked a box agreeing to our 'standards' when you signed up for Scentsy. Isn't this so exciting?

I can't. I'm done. Scentsy has breathed hot air against the nape of my neck long enough. I honestly can not figure out why our star directors and super star directors haven't complained about this. They haven't said a word. Why? Are they afraid to lose their paycheck, or are they afraid to get on the wrong side of Corporate? Why are you willing to relinquish your business to Big Brother so readily? YOU did the work. YOU have rights. Seriously. YOU HAVE RIGHTS. You can say no to this, and guess what? You should.

Think about it. If you're tired of Scentsy Mean girls, then you should absolutely protest any watchdog company that is planning to do THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE MEAN GIRLS. "Field Watch" is LITERALLY the "Regina George"of Scentsy Mean Girls.

I have no idea if Scentsy will even allow this blog post to go anywhere, but I'm begging you. Think twice. Write an email. Tell Corporate that their overly strict, unreasonable, profit-centered rules, enforced by an online watchdog group are strangling your businesses. Trust me, they are. I know they are because people like me are getting the heck out, and I can honestly and truly say that I tried really hard. Ask yourself - do you actually disagree with this blog post or are you unwilling to share your own opinion because you're afraid of how your SSD will view you? If you disagree, fine, but if you're afraid to have a voice, you're guilty of allowing Big Brother to dictate the terms of a business YOU own, and you have now officially lost your right to complain FOREVER.

Goodbye Scentsy.
Good luck fellow consultants. Don't let the Corporate noose strangle you.

If you need me I'll be at Doterra - where I have felt valued, and encouraged to bloom in whatever way feels best to me.

Peace.

It's Not a Severed Head

Since I'm just beginning my Scentsy journey, I decided a great way to drum up a customer base is with samples. I've seen hundred of posts from other Scentsy consultants making samples, and there are lots of ways to do it.

I decided to start my own samples with a nice easy silicone wax mold, and a felt circle dipped in wax.

"No big deal," I thought. "I'll knock these out in an hour."

Um...no. So much no. Samples are awesome. They're a great way to advertise, but you gotta WORK, son. I had to try it five different ways and mangle several medicine droppers and spoons to get those little tiny wax hearts to form.

But they did form. Behold!

I know. Pretty impressive. Feel free to congratulate me next time you see me. Felt circles were a lot easier and just as cute as the molds, but it's just sort-of a bummer to have to wait for Fed-Ex to show up since the tiny felt circles are coming from China. Who would have thought pre-cut white felt circles where a whole thing? Sorry guys. Next time you're most likely getting felt blobbies, cut into indefinable shapes by my children. That's the breaks.

Here's what the sample wizards don't tell you. When you're done, making the teeny-tiny samples, you have to put them in teeny-tiny bags - like, miniscule probably-only-used-for-Scentsy-samples-and-elicit-drugs bags. By the time I'd finally crammed the samples I'd made it into the bags, a ridiculous amount of time had passed. 

"Never fear," said I. "My new and enthusiastic customers will be worth it." I packed up my samples and hit the neighborhood.

House 1: Knock Knock Knock. (Door opens a crack) Me (very perky): "Hi there! I'm your neighbor and I sell Scentsy. Scentsy is a line of amazing products that can make your house, skin, kids, and clothes smelling amazing. (something like that) Do you mind if I leave a sample and a catalogue with you?" 

I kid you not, the lady gives me a look like:

She took the sample and closed the door quickly behind her.

"Man," I thought, pushing away impending butt-hurt. "I must've caught her at a bad time."

House 2: Knock Knock Knock (Door swings open) Young teenaged girl answers. Me (still perky) "Hi there!" (Blah blah blah, same spiel)

This time I get a look like:

She took a sample and rolled her eyes. "Mom!" she yelled as she shut the door. "Some lady brought you a thing in a little bag."

Thanks for being specific young friend. Children are the future...yikes.

House 3: Knock Knock Knock. Long Pause. (Door opens) Old lady peeks out. I give her my spiel. (Slightly less perky now) She smiles. Leans over her walker to give me a hug. Invites me in. I sit on the couch and we end up talking for ten minutes about her granddaughter who sells candles in Texas. She tries to give me a peach muffin.

I secretly wish I could invite her to be on my team because let me tell you, I really didn't want a peach muffin, but by-golly I walked out of there with two. She made me promise to come back and visit. I told her I would weed a flower bed for her. Forgot to even give her a sample. I would've bought anything she tried to sell me. Old ladies are so boss. I totally got owned.

On and on the day went. Sample after sample. I ran some errands and gave out some samples to people I came in contact with. I got a lot of these looks:

 Me (in my mind, okay-fine-I'll-admit-it, once out-loud):

"It's NOT A SEVERED HEAD PEOPLE!"

Some people ignored me. Uh hello. I know you heard me. Are you too cool for samples? Seriously? Walk away then!

My favorite people were like this:

I know what you're thinking. So not worth it. Except guess what? FIVE new customers. Yep, count them and weep. One was from the very first door I knocked.

Samples. A giant pain in a tiny bag - but... TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Viva La Scentsy! 

Join the fun here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/864522840250295/

My Personal Consultant Webpage: Buy Scentsy products here!
https://mandyh.scentsy.us/







One Month-a-versary

Guess what? I've been a Scentsy Consultant for more than month now.

Here are some things I've learned so far:

1. Big Brother loves you.

"My blog was up for less than a week before my Super Star Director called and asked me to register it. I panicked pretty bad before I figured out that everyone was just trying to help me. Turns out Scentsy has a pretty good sense of humor. Don't be scared Scentsy. It's okay to laugh at yourself a little bit. I promise that your product quality won't dip because I may or may not have referred to Orville's dance moves as 'Dad-ish'. Try to remember that I'm married to guy with even sweeter 'Dad' moves than Orville. I find it very charming."

2. You smell like your product.

Guess what happens when you use Scentsy? Everything smells good. I know. Shocker. The other day I was in Wal-Mart and the lady in front of me turned around and told me, "Sorry if this sounds weird, but you smell amazing. Is that a perfume or a lotion?" "Neither." I told her. It was Washer Wiffs.

3. You can't shut up.

Seriously, you know how consultants talk about their products all the time, and you're annoyed because you really don't care about how your house smells when you're trying to eat lunch or throw in a load of laundry? Well, consider this. That laundry detergent you're using is actually more expensive than Scentsy Laundry Liquid. You should try some of these Washer Wiffs while you're at it. Seriously, Jet, Set, Go is the best smell of all time. Gain doesn't even come close... Oh crap. Sorry. What were we talking about?

4.  You lose your 'embarassed to be direct-selling' complex pretty quickly.

The first week I joined Scentsy I didn't tell anyone. Now everyone knows. My neighbors, the FedEx delivery guy, everyone who has been or ever will be my facebook friend, and even a couple of homeless guys. When I first joined I was all like, "I'm never going to be one of those nut-jobs who has the Scentsy sticker in the window and wears a sparkly Scentsy shirt to PTO". Now, I'm all like, "I wonder how much it would cost to shrink wrap my car?"

5. It's still fun.

No, the excitement hasn't worn off. No, I don't regret joining. Yes, Scentsy really does smell as good as I'm saying. Smell my shirt. Come over to my house. Try these testers GOSH DANG IT. Yes, it's fun to party with your team. YES I DRANK THE PURPLE KOOL-AID!

6. I HATE SCENTSY WORKSTATION!

OKAY, IT'S NOT TOO BAD ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT. YES I SEE THAT. OKAY I'M GETTING IT. YES I SEE THAT BUtton... Hey, look what I learned here. I didn't know you could access all of this online. See what happened when I closed my first party? I got free stuff. This is awesome. You're the best director ever. (You really are Mandy Z.)

I'll let you know how the next month turns out.

Viva La Scentsy!

Want to buy some Scentsy? Go to my Scentsy PWS:
https://mandyh.scentsy.us/

Join the Facebook Madness Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864522840250295/

Not Endorsed by Everyone? Is Scentsy Unsafe?

Not long after I joined Scentsy, I received the following e-mail: (From a person I have never met before)

Hey Mandy,
I don't know if you were aware of this when you signed up with Scentsy, but it is actually really unsafe to have in the home. Those wax squares release toxic chemicals into the air that you breath in. It even has some of the same chemicals in it as cigarettes like formaldahide and gasoline. I even read that it can give you cancer. There are lots of other ways to purify the air in your home. (PROCEEDS TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY X 'PRODUCT' IS SAFER AND LESS TOXIC, IT'S ORGANIC BLAH BLAH BLAH, I'LL SPARE YOU)
Anyway, just wanted you to know in case you wanted to try (X - AMAZING PRODUCT). I think in the end you'll like it better and it will make your family much healthier. You can even sign on as a consultant. Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,
(THIS PERSON)

Look, I get it. Those of us in direct sale... We've gotta talk about our products. Sometimes we even have to hustle a bit...but this... this felt... kind-of, I don't know... shady?

 That's why I didn't feel too bad when I sent them, this reply: 

Dear (THAT PERSON),
Thanks so much for your concern for me and my family. I can assure you that I take my family's health very seriously, especially when it comes to cancer - since I had cancer...twice. I am not sure where you got your information, but it is incorrect. First off, all of Scentsy waxes are completely formaldehyde-free. They are also 'combustion free', which basically means that even if the wax did contain formaldehyde (which it doesn't), it wouldn't be able to escape into the air. I am not sure what you are talking about in terms of gasoline, but that is untrue as well.

Many Scentsy waxes are made with essential oils, but even if they're not, I have little to no concern about synthetic scents used by Scentsy. There have been very few scientific studies that support the idea that synthetic scents are any more harmful than essential oils, unless of course, they aren't used properly. If I were eating my Scentsy wax, I suppose it would eventually make me sick, but to be fair, if I were to gag down a bottle of bergamot oil, I probably wouldn't feel all that great either. The blogs about Scentsy being unsafe are written by bloggers and not scientists. In fact, I haven't found a blog yet that isn't based on personal preference or a very biased study.

If however, my customers still have concerns about wax warmers, they can try out our new line of diffusers. They are attractive, have a lifetime warranty, and work with any essential oils from any company. In fact, if you become a Scentsy consultant, you can sell them. Let me know if you are interested.

Best of luck,
Mandy

I openly admit that I am not the most health conscious person in the world. I sometimes wear perfume. (Gasp!) I have been known to eat copious amounts of Tootsie Rolls. (How could you?!) And I've never liked goat cheese. (Scandal!) But I do try to keep things within reason for my family's sake.

I also fully understand, that some people have sensitivities to certain Scentsy scents, especially stronger ones, and to many other types of fragrances emitted into the world by a variety of sources, including environmental sources. I get that some people who've tried Scentsy haven't liked it. Is Scentsy for everyone? Well...no. Nothing is for everyone. And guess what? That includes eating Amaranth biscuits and making homemade beeswax fragrance tarts.

The quality of indoor air is based on many factors. Here are some things that can pollute the air in your home:

Pet dander
Carpet
Flowers and indoor plants
Shoes
Fireplaces
Cleansers
Paint
Dust
Soap Scum
Cooking with Propane or Gas Appliances

Uh oh. Better kill the fichus and get rid of Fido while we're purging our house of the Scentsy devil.

Curious to know where Scentsy falls on the list of indoor irritants? Well, it hasn't made the list. Or any list published by any reputable source. The amount of 'pollution' any fragrance puts into the air is absolutely miniscule in comparison to everyday modern irritants like carpet and ovens.

I could spend a lot of time going over the science of VOCs, and phthalates, (neither of which are in Scentsy, btw) but it wouldn't make much of a difference and would bore everyone half to death. For me, I guess it comes down to weighing the benefits verse the detriments. I appreciate coming home to a house that smells inviting and fresh. I'd rather kick my dog outside and vacuum my carpets more often than obsess over a miniscule fragrance pollutant in my home. It's a good week in our home if our tubs have no soap scum and our pictures are dusted. Like, a really good week.

For real though, it's okay if you don't agree with me. Just don't buy Scentsy from me, and certainly don't send me solicitations disguised as letters, claiming that I'm peddling cancer to innocent victims. Also - please consult the following article and maybe think about getting yourself a sense of humor.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahburton/totally-normal-things-that-can-kill-you-according-to-the#.gdNE1m9oN

Oh, and read this book.

And lastly,

Here's a link from Scentsy about product safety: Feel free to debate with these guys instead of me. I'm very busy and important.
http://scentsyblog.com/scentsy-blog/entryid/101/fragrance-safety-clearing-up-the-confusion.aspx

Viva La Scentsy!!!!
Buy Scentsy here: (if you dare)
https://mandyh.scentsy.us/

Join the madness here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864522840250295/

There's a Skunk in my Limbic System!

Get prepared. This post is gonna drop some science. (No! Not science!) Sorry kids. Sometimes we need science to make a point.

Ever wonder why some people like the smell of magic markers, paint thinner, skunks (yes, these people exist), and even mildew?

Personally, I hate the smell of rosemary, but for some reason I love the smell of nail polish remover. I guess to some people, that makes me weird, but I'm pretty sure some of you are nodding along with me. Freaks.

Okay, I'm going to nerd-out for a bit right now and talk about Harry Potter. Stay with me.

In "The Half Blood Prince", Harry and his friends are introduced to a potion called Amortentia. It's the most powerful love potion in the world. Each person who smells the potion is consumed with feelings of infatuation and obsession. It's rumored that the love potion smells differently to each person according to what attracts them. Harry Potter smells, Treacle Tart, broomstick handles, and something flowery from the Burrow (Ginny). His friend Hermione smells, parchment, fresh cut grass, and well...(giggle giggle) Ron's hair.

The brilliance of J.K. Rowling's writing always amazes me. This seemingly small literary detail actually holds a lot of scientific water.

Did you know that our sense of smell is located in the same part of our brain that effects emotions, memory, and creativity? When we inhale scent, the molecules of the odor travel into the odor receptors in our nose. These receptors send the information to the limbic system in our brain. The limbic system controls memory and emotions and is connected to the pituitary gland that affects our appetites, nervous system, body temperature, and concentration.

Truly, the molecules of scent can effect our memory and emotions. No wonder Amortentia smells differently to each person. Each person has a unique set of memories, tied to emotions, tied to smell.

My 'Amortentia' would smell like lily-of-the-valley, pine trees, and newborn babies.

Why, you might ask? Memories. My older sister always wore a perfume with lily-of-the-valley in it, so I associate it with maturity and becoming a woman. The smell of pine brings back hiking mountain trails in Idaho. Newborn baby smell brings back every precious and sacred moment I felt holding my own babies in my arms.

Scent make us experience emotion. It makes our memories come alive. It brings our creativity to life. It can sharpen our focus. It can even make us hungry! (Don't believe me? Melt some 'Sugar Cookie' wax in your warmer)

Humans can identify over 10,000 different smells. That's why, when new Scentsy customers don't know where to start, my first question is, "How do you want to feel? (emotion)" My second question is, "When was the last time you felt that way? (memory)" My third question is, "What kinds of smells make you feel that way? (scent)" Then the customer fills in the blank. Peaceful, energetic, nostalgic, joyful, sleepy, alive - each emotion smells different to each customer. Thank heaven we have Scentsy testers.

That's one of the things I love about Scentsy. There is a huge variety of scents to choose from. I have yet to find a customer who can't pick out a smell they love. My customers say things like, "This smells just like my Grandma's house!" or "My husband loves the scent of jasmine!" or "This smells like just like summer."

Memories.
Emotions.
Scent.

It happens when we aren't looking. Scent lives in the fine lines of our memories. It houses itself in the nooks and crannies of our emotions. It's the reason 'Clean Breeze' is the smell of laundry, fresh off the line. It's the reason 'Pumpkin Roll' is Thanksgiving, and family, and pies. It's the reason 'Satin Sheets' is... well, you get the picture. (ooo la la)

What's your 'Amortentia'? Let me help you find it, so you can feel the LOVE flow through your home. Because if we can use smells to impact our emotions and bring our memories to life, we should. We should add a little sprinkle of happy to our day. A quick burst of spray to help us feel at home. A few drops of oil to calm our nerves after a long day. A few cubes of wax to soothe our soul and make us feel alive.

So whether there's fresh peonys or skunks dancing around in your limbic system - 

Harness the power of Scent.

Viva la Scentsy!!

Check out my personal consultant website here:
https://mandyh.scentsy.us/

Join us for more blogposts and updates here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864522840250295/

Drinking the Purple Kool-Aid

I have always hated direct sell. Seriously. Most people who know me, know that I am a pretty optimistic person. I like to focus on the bright side of things. In fact, tend to be the most upbeat Positive Polly in the room, but... when it comes to direct sell, I'm more like Cynical Sally.

• "All it is, is a group of women, guilt-ing another group of women, into buying things they don't really want."
• "Do people really not realize that they're the ones slaving away at the bottom of the pyramid while Richy-Richardton drinks in the profits at the top?"
• "You can put a purple bow on anything and call it a business, but that won't make it one."
• "Who's really keeping that business alive? The customers or the consultants?"

Sound familiar?

So... you can imagine my thought process when a friend of mine, (also named Mandy) asked me if I might like to come to a 'Scentsy' Conference/Reunion with her in Las Vegas.

"It's fun," she said. "You don't have to sign-up or anything, but you can hang out with me and come to some good concerts and stuff as a guest." I'd been Mandy's Scentsy customer nearly as long as I'd been her friend, and I genuinely like Scentsy and Scentsy products, so I accepted. Mostly because I had been having a busy, stressful year and really wanted to go to Vegas and blow off some steam.

A couple weeks before the trip, I bit the bullet and signed up to be a Scentsy Consultant. It cost me $49. I figured it would be well-worth my money in free swag, and after the trip and the swag bonus, I could just let my account drift away into nothingness. No harm done. I wouldn't even have to file taxes later.

I was a bit embarrassed to tell my friends and family about it, even though they all use Scentsy in their homes. Not because it was Scentsy, but because I knew their attitudes about direct sale were probably similar to mine. My brother even told me, "Just don't drink the kool-aid," before I left.

So, I got ready and drove to Las Vegas to meet my friend.

I have never been to a direct sale conference before. I have never been to any work conference before, so I was completely unprepared for the madness that ensued. Everywhere I looked was purple... and rhinestones...and glitter, and POSITIVITY. I have never seen that kind of enthusiasm anywhere else in my life, and I've been to Disney Land, and a Southern Baptist Church. It was like some bizarre cross between a pep-rally and a rock concert. Don't believe me? Look at this.

See what I'm saying? Soon, some pumped-up announcer was calling the owners of Scentsy up to the stage like they were Van Halen. The crowd went wild. I smirked. "Let's see this guy and his wife," I thought, "the so-called 'preachers' of the Scentsy church ready to sell me a glass of purple Kool-Aid." 

They came to the stage, Orville and Heidi Thompson, smiling, waving, and enthusiastic. They were nothing like what I expected. No show-boating, no pushiness, no "get out there and sell, sell, sell" attitude, and no wildly charismatic speeches. Don't get me wrong. They're a lovely couple. Sweet and nice. Appropriately charming. They just weren't what I expected.

The Scentsy Stage

Orville is...well, (forgive me Orville, if by-chance you ever read this)... a bit-of a nerd. Not in an Urkel way, and not in a sleek-hipster-with-thick-framed-glasses-and-a-typewriter-at-the-park kind of way either. He's the kind of guy that would invite you to come to dinner and spend the whole time grilling hot dogs, jumping on the trampoline, and bragging about his kids. He's the kind of guy that gives people high-fives and thumbs-up. I'd bet good money that he owns a Hawaiian shirt. He's got a good sense of business too, and he's smart without making a big deal out of it. Man, he was likeable.

Orville and Heidi

Heidi was likeable too. Stylish without being tacky, sentimental without making me want to roll my eyes. Never once did I feel that they were trying to emotionally manipulate anyone. In fact, the majority of the focus was on self-improvement. Very little, if any time was spend talking about themselves. Heidi gave her 'keynote' address that evening, something she self-referred to as a 'talk', and not a keynote. She spoke passionately about butterflies, overcoming fear, and growing into your best potential. I know. Pretty horrific brainwashing stuff, right?

It was fun too. Lots of confetti and loud music and people dancing in the aisles. It cracked me up, to be honest. It's so rare these days to see a group of middle-aged people that psyched about anything. It made me reflect on how cynical I'd let myself become over the years. I felt transported back in time to my twenties when I was more concerned about fun than financial responsibility. There was an awesome concert. One Republic. It was a blast. I haven't been to a concert that fun since I was in college.

I saw Orville busting some really 'dad-looking' dance moves in the front row. He looked... comfortable. He looked like he was perfectly at ease with the thousands of adults dressed-up and screaming like they were in a nineties music video.

The next day I decided to let go of my skepticism a little bit and just let myself have a good time for once.

I dressed up like this:
(Dude, put the glass down)

Scentsy Vogue

I did this:
(I know it smells good, but don't you dare take a sip!)

Don't worry, they're temporary!

I got way too stoked about stuff like this:
(Seriously, you're scaring me!)

Scentsy Diffusers 

I cried my eyes out when I saw this:

(My son has autism. So does my Sponsor's son and daughter. 
Seriously, way to go Scentsy.)

(PUT THAT GLASS DOWN, I MEAN IT!)

(Glug glug glug)

(Uh oh.)

I listened to a lot of other consultants talk about how their Scentsy business has benefited their lives. One couple had been brought back from the brink of financial ruin. One wonderful lady used Scentsy to brighten her life after her only son died, and through five different cancers. One pair of sister-in-laws' relationship improved when they found that they finally had something in common to talk about.

These were not the kind-of people you would expect Scentsy to pick to speak in front of seven-thousand consultants. They weren't flashy, charismatic, salesmen. One man had a speech impediment. One lady spoke about the struggle of getting her business off the ground. Several were very very nervous. They were all fairly open and honest about their experiences with Scentsy. There were no fantastic claims of 'miracle money-making' and 'life-changing magic'. The underlying points? Work hard. Make friends. Focus on the customer. Encourage your team. Step out of your comfort zone a little bit.

Orville gave his keynote/talk that evening. He spoke about trees, letting go of good things for great things, and spending your energy in useful ways. He said stuff like, "Scentsy money should be used for Scentsy, and family money for family," and, "It's important to spend your energy where it matters most," and "This is your business. It belongs to you." Unbelievable. I couldn't believe the nerve. You'll never get me alive Scentsy wizard!

The trip was fun. The classes were interesting and informative. The concerts and performers were a blast, and not just because it was Las Vegas. I found that once I let go of my cynicism and suspicions a little bit, then I could focus more on the big picture of Scentsy, and the big picture was truly amazing. It's hard to explain, but Scentsy has... a spirit of joy, and family, and friendship. There's a little spark of madness to it all. It feels... well, genuine. The focus is on the individual and how they can use their unique talents and personality to make their business special - and that's something I want to be a part of.

When I got back home, and the glitter had worn off, I found that I was still every bit as enthused about Scentsy as I'd been when I was there. Once I lightened up about direct sell a bit, I figured out that in most ways, its actually pretty awesome.

Direct sell...well, I learned that it's pretty much what you want it to be. You're not going to be a millionaire from it. You didn't take that kind of risk, so you probably won't get that kind of reward. You can't expect a full time wage without putting in full time hours. It's not a miracle life fix, and they don't claim it to be. It's a business of good smells. And good smells make people feel awesome.

The best part, in my opinion, is that you get to have fun. Lots of fun. And when's the last time you did that as an adult? Seriously, think about it. When's the last time you got truly excited about something? It's easy in Scentsy. You'll make friends with a bunch of nuts who put pictures of sparkly, plastic wax containers on their shirts, dye their hair purple, and get super duper excited about Mason Jar wax warmers and aromatherapy - but don't worry too much, they all smell great. Seriously, the greatest smelling group of people you'll probably ever meet. Plus, you'll make some extra cash. Actually, if you put in some extra effort, you can make a lot of extra cash. And everyone likes cash, right?

Mandy Squared

It is low risk, and it is YOUR business. Trust me. There are a thousand different approaches used by a thousand different consultants. They talk about it. Everywhere. All the time. You just have to find what approach works for you. So yeah - I'm pretty much back to being Polly Positive again. Even about direct sell.

• "All it is, is a group of women (and men, learned that fast), encouraging another group of women, to have fun and improve themselves."

• "Do people really not realize that they're the owners of Scentsy are personally invested in the happiness and success of each consultant?"

• "You can put a purple bow on it, but it's still your business."

• "Who's really keeping that business alive?" - Well, people like me are. Regular people who love Scentsy, like to be in business for themselves, and want to have fun at work.

Don't worry though. I won't judge you if you're still Cynical Sally as long as you don't judge me for being Positive Polly. Also - take a sample of something that smells good, from me. There you go. Breathe deeply and let the soothing smell wash over you. Lighten up a bit, Sally. Once you drink the purple kool-aid, you'll be just fine.

Viva la Scentsy!!!!

  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/864522840250295/

My Personal Consultant Webpage:
https://mandyh.scentsy.us/