#OilsOnTour ~ Amsterdam Part. 1

William Ogboke
Jan 15, 2016
4 min read

It's 2am November the 25th 2015 and I am all at sea.

Every minute I move metres away from the island I know and love (the UK) and head closer to what we know as mainland Europe.

The plans have been set and

#OilsOnTour Amsterdam is timed to the hour and minute.

I stand on the deck of P&O ferry and it's a clear sky and full moon and the sea is so still it feels like I'm on a toy boat in a massive pond.

I'm relaxed, tired and reflective. It's my parents' anniversary and I am thinking back to the story my mum recently told me about her wedding day. A few hours ago I got news of the ferry delay and it dawned on me that the first leg of my tour may be in jeopardy!

I actually like travelling overnight as I wake up in a new city after having said goodnight and goodbye to the previous one. I have taken this journey enough times to take it in my stride, delays and all... but why a delay this time? I am 'on tour'.

I think back to recent events. The Paris terror attacks and the issues at border controls with refugees and security. I put things in perspective. I have my life, my passion, my health and the freedom to spread my message across Europe. Furthermore this trip wasn't cancelled. A two and a half hour delay cuts out my dedicated leisurely breakfast for sure and means that I have to email the people who have made the first booking, as I would be at least one hour late.

For me it was essential to bring my oils, massage and concepts back to Amsterdam.

The 16th of April 2008 was when I had originally went to Amsterdam as it was hosting a huge convention: 'In-Cosmetics' at the RAI exhibition centre. After Amsterdam it would go to Mumbai, so I decided that Amsterdam would be more feasible. At that time I was planting the seeds for what is now a key message and service within my remit.

It opened my horizons and literally brought me to the main players who supplied to the cosmetics

industry worldwide. At that time I had no idea I would later live in Amsterdam for a year and make connections I would treasure for life.

When Iiving there in 2009, I remember sitting on the Nieuwe Spiegelstraat at a shop and treatment space called Aromatique. Nieuwe Spiegelstraat is one of the main arts and antiques street in central Amsterdam. It is also the home of one of my favourite eateries Pasta E Basta. Back then Aromatique was the businesses of what could be called a competitor. Although, when we met each other we got on so well that occasionaly look after the shop when the owner couldn't be there. I sat there in dreamland, as it was a quiet Saturday morning. I had taken my oils as I'd thought, if it was quiet I would mix up a few aromatherapy concoctions.

As I looked out of the shop window, I got two second glances of the people all ages, sizes and shapes speeding past on bikes. Autumn was in the air and and I noticed that everyone's attire had moved with the time, so to speak.

What connected all these people? What did they all go through at the same time? The seasons!

So I decided to create a range of aromatherapy oils inspired by this revelation.

Years of piloting, researching and living out my 20's had passed, and whilst gazing out from the ship sailing across the channel, I had a brainwave: I needed to take a pic of this view!

The previous full moon was when I had blended the Ogboke Autumn/ Winter Body Oils. They were left to mature. Originally, I decided not to give the oils names, so as to let people engage with them in a liberated manner and build their own relationship with them. Although my own relationship with the oils grew more and more, they were my creation!

I decided that they had to go places, and for this they needed to have names. I also decided to give each one a motto or affirmation to guide the user to the oils they needed at the time. I had never seen this done before, so I felt that I was taking a brave step. Could this be another factor that would make the Ogboke products unique?

Eventually we arrived at Calais. We all descended to the lower decks to get into our vehicles. My carraige was a bus, with very few passengers thankfully. I had made a pillow using my most cosy jumper. The engine roared and I closed my eyes.

I woke up feeling nervous. I realised that the message I had tried to send to the first location hadn‘t got through as I wasn‘t connected to the internet or reception. FAIL!

My #OilsOnTour Amsterdam wasn‘t solely about my Autumn/Winter Body Oil Collection.

One of my goals for 2015 was to do more workplace sessions and I these were the first stops on the tour! I

Thankfully after I arrived in Amsterdam everything started looking up! I managed to go to each destination and let people enjoy my aromatherapeautic creations!

Follow my progress on www.instagram.com/willogboke #OILSONTOUR