Not Farm to Table but Farm to Skin for the Win
Colorado Aromatics is Skin Care Formulated in Longmont
Dr. Cindy Jones, the founder and formulator of Colorado Aromatics, has successfully merged her green thumb, scientific expertise, and passion for herbs and skincare for well over 16 years.
Jones’s Longmont shop, nestled at 340 Lashley St #220, is deeply rooted—not just in the soil of her farm, but also in her life’s work and philosophy.
“I’ve always had a deep interest in herbs,” Jones said. “With my background, I realized I could create a sophisticated skincare product that wasn’t being made at the time—something beyond kitchen cosmetics, using active ingredients for high-quality results.”
With a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Cincinnati and a background in cancer research, Dr. Jones initially delved into understanding the mechanisms of cell growth. While she loved research, she found the grant-writing and administrative aspects less appealing.
This realization led her to start Colorado Aromatics, a skincare brand dedicated to harnessing the power of herbs for skin health.
“People understand that herbs have medicinal values but connecting that to their benefits for the skin—that’s important to me,” Jones said. “I named it Colorado Aromatics because we grow aromatic herbs here and distill them. It’s not about aromatherapy—it’s about the natural beauty and strength of the herbs we grow in Colorado.”
The distance from farm to storefront is a mere hairsbreadth, with Jones’s farm located just north of Longmont. The farm spans less than an acre, but it’s enough to grow around 30 different herbs, including calendula and lavender.
The decision to grow her own herbs wasn’t taken lightly.
“There are days in the middle of summer, with my back aching from picking herbs, when I ask myself why I do this,” Jones laughed. “But the truth is, it lets me control the quality. I know the herbs we’re growing are high-quality, and there’s evidence that high elevation increases the actives in herbs.”
Though the farm isn’t set on fertile ground, herbs still thrive there.
“Our soil isn’t great for vegetables, but herbs are resilient. They don’t need the same rich soil, though we do water them a lot in this dry climate,” Jones said.
Jones pointed out a distinction between her farm-to-skin approach and that of other skincare brands.
“Some brands boast about sourcing herbs from all over the world—China, Egypt, Europe—but I believe in growing the best herbs possible right here,” Jones said.
From farming to growing a skincare line, Jones explained that the business evolved organically.
“We moved from Denver to Longmont about 16 years ago to start the farm, but at the time, the business was more of a hobby,” Jones said. “I started selling at farmers markets—Boulder and Longmont—and that’s how we gauged interest. We’ve been doing those markets for over 16 years now.”
The shop, which came six years after starting the farm, allowed her to expand production and consulting work. Jones’s expertise in biochemistry made her a sought-after consultant for other skincare brands, in addition to growing her own product line.
“Natural product lines often struggle to find chemists who understand how to use herbs and natural actives,” Jones explained.
Beyond the business side, Jones is passionate about sustainability and education. She noted the challenges Colorado’s environment poses for skin health.
“The sun, arid climate, and wind strip the skin of moisture. Skincare here is about more than beauty—it’s about maintaining healthy, functional skin,” Jones said. “I love that I can combine farming, which is physical, with the mental work of formulating products and understanding the skin’s needs.”
One of her earliest products, a face cream that remains a best-seller, was designed with Colorado’s dry, sunny climate in mind.
“It’s got vitamin C, which helps build collagen, antioxidants like calendula, and vitamin A, which helps skin cells regenerate,” Jones said. “It also has fennel hydrosol to brighten skin and reduce hyperpigmentation caused by the sun, along with peptides to stimulate collagen production.
Jones added, “Sun exposure really diminishes collagen in the skin, so this cream is perfect for our climate.”
Colorado Aromatics started with just a few essentials: face cream, a hand and body lotion, and a knuckle balm.
“The knuckle balm is great for cracks and fissures on the cuticles and knuckles,” Jones explained. “It’s something men, in particular, find helpful.”
Over time, the product line expanded as Jones experimented and incorporated new ideas.
“I loved the Farmers Market philosophy that everything we sold there had to include herbs we grew ourselves,” Jones said. “That pushed me to create new products, like our parsley eye serum, which uses parsley for its high vitamin K content to help with dark circles under the eyes.”
Jones distills her own herbs to create aromatic waters and essential oils.
“Aromatic waters are great for toning and hydrating the skin,” Jones said, demonstrating a spray on her own face.
The key, according to Jones, lies in her biochemistry background and focus on function.
“A skincare product should be three things: highly functional, sustainable, and feel good on the skin,” Jones said. “I’m always shocked by some high-end products that cost $200 but don’t contain anything truly active.”
With a team of four employees and a shop that has been thriving for 10 years, everything—from the science to the packaging—is done in-house.
“We grow herbs, dry them, and create extracts throughout the year as needed,” Jones explained.
These extracts are then incorporated into her formulations, which are produced in the back of her shop in an on-site lab—a space that feels as much like a science lab as it does a kitchen.
“We also distill herbs to make hydrosols,” Jones said, holding up a jar of aromatic water. “When you distill an herb, you get a tiny oil phase and a larger water phase. That water phase, or hydrosol, is pH-balanced to the skin and has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s great for hydration.”
Running a business isn’t without its challenges, particularly when it comes to getting the word out.
“As a scientist, I always thought, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ but that’s not true,” Jones admitted. “Farmers markets have been key for us. We meet a lot of new customers there, and it’s exciting when they become regulars.”
Jones takes pride in meeting customers face-to-face, whether at farmers markets or in her shop.
“Most people who visit the store already know us from the farmers market or have been buying online for years,” Jones said. “It’s touching when customers visit us while they’re in Colorado. I love hearing their stories.”
Social media is part of her strategy, but she acknowledged its limitations.
“It’s a crowded marketplace,” Jones said. “Word of mouth is often the most powerful.”
Jones acknowledged that her creativity is constantly at work when it comes to expanding her product line.
“The creative side of me wants to formulate new products,” Jones said. “But it takes time to perfect them and bring them to market.”
I have always been interested in natural products since I have sensitive skin. I love this what she has built from hard work and knowledge.