Meet Rae DiPaolo | Community Herbal Enthusiast | Physical Therapist Assistant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rae DiPaolo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rae, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have had a long relationship with trees, herbs and all good things that grow over the past eight years. I’ve played with making herbal soaps, salves, tinctures, elixirs, oxymels and more. I really became focused on skincare starting in 2020. As a healthcare professional, I was wearing a mask daily. This was causing terrible breakouts and wrecking my skin. I became determined to substitute the harsh chemical skincare products that haunted me from high school with all natural alternatives. Slowly, over time, my skin started to replenish and heal! I wanted to share what I had learned through this process with the world. This experience only reinforced what I have always known, we are meant to live in relationship with plants. Not only does this make us feel good (ask anyone who loves gardening, houseplants or hiking) but it also can help us heal. The root of my thought process in starting this business was to offer supportive, affordable, and practical body care to my community while working with the healing capacities of plants. It has been an honor to share herbal skincare and knowledge with others and hear their stories on how plants have affected their lives!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Oracle Botanical LLC was born from a strong desire to connect plants with people. I am really proud of my commitment to working with plants and learning about their medicine. The daily practice of nourishing my skin with herb infused oils is a small but potent piece of my practice. I’ve learned so much studying from herbalists such as Sajah Popham and Leah Wolfe. I am committed to never stop learning. I want the world to know that my business will only grow as my knowledge expands. Maybe that is what sets Oracle Botanical apart. It is a living entity nourished by knowledge.

I have been told the market is “oversaturated” or “the world doesn’t need more product makers”. Where others may see scarcity, I see connection. Where others may see competition, I see collaboration. I have always felt a strong sense of compersion and have learned that a supportive community is the key to lasting abundance.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Clintonville which is such a fantastic hub of small businesses and local events. I would first take them to an outdoor yoga class led by Andi Wesley at the Park of Roses, then get coffee/breakfast at Dough Mama’s. If it was Saturday we’d check out the Clintonville Farmer’s Market. On Sunday we could visit the Atomic on High outdoor market. During the week we could hit up some of the local stores including Re Wash Refillery, The Brass Hand, Rock Candy and Rag O Rama. Of course, Lucky’s Market and Clintonville Natural Foods would be where we’d find ingredients to make healthy nourishing meals for the week. Portia’s Cafe would be a great spot to enjoy dinner one day. I don’t really drink much these days so I’d ask if they’d want to go on a walk along the Olentangy River that then connects to Emmet’s Cafe and Understory where there is local live music on Wednesdays. For the weekend it could be fun to go to Studio 35 for a movie and then get ice cream at Whit’s Frozen Custard.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shout out to James Mann of Spicebush Woodcraft and Foraging and Jennifer Johnson of StagPath. Both of these individuals have encouraged me to honor my curiosity, dedication and passion for the living world. They are living examples of how to be a citizen naturalist and how to connect authentically to the world around us. I wouldn’t be on this small business path without meeting Jen and I wouldn’t be thinking of ways to connect others with nature if it wasn’t for James. Both of these individuals are true gems.

Website: oraclebotanical.com

Instagram: @oraclebotanical

Facebook: Oracle Botanical