Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Hare.
Hi Charlie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all started when my partner and I were taking a shower together (ya know, to conserve water and whatnot) and he glances over my shoulder and notices a bottle of Vagisil pH balancing cleanser in the corner of my shower beside my shampoo and razor. You know… the brand everyone and their mother has heard of and has some relative comprehension of what it’s for. He then proceeds to semi-jokingly tell me, “I thought women who used that and Summer’s Eve had tainted cooter pops (his favorite word for vagina).” I immediately bursted out laughing at the idea and explained to him that his surface-level understanding was totally wrong.
I then continue to explain the reason why I use it and why it’s so important to maintain your pH balance as a women; Healthy pH helps beneficial bacteria to thrive and inhibits overgrowths of yeast and pathogenic bacteria. When pH becomes elevated, the environment shifts in favor of the pathogenic bacteria. This can allow pathogenic bacteria to cause odor, irritation and infection. Elevated pH is one of the key factors doctors look for when diagnosing vaginal infections. Maintaining vaginal pH within the healthy range can help reduce risk of vaginal odor and discomfort. So I DON’T have any abnormalities with my own lady bits but by practicing maintaining my pH balance, I avoid those super annoying inconveniences like urinary tract infections (UTI’s), yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis that can occur even with NO sexual activity and boosting my lady bits immunity and minimizing the susceptibility of contracting STD/STI’s.
While I was elaborating this, I was glancing back and forth at my bar of soap in the other corner of my tub (I can’t remember the name but I do remember it was from Trader Joes) and simultaneously remembered why I had recently switched to primarily using bar soap versus bottled or foamed soaps. I tend to optimize bar soap more because it lasts longer in the shower for me personally whereas I noticed liquid body wash was typically packaged with a generously sized pour spout, which encourages more than enough usage by pouring more than you really need and causing the consumer to purchase more and more.
I had also switched to bar soap to avoid the harsh chemicals and (pleasantly smelling) yet carcinogenic fragrances and perfumes that were loaded in the multitude of body washes I was constantly trying. I questioned, why would I switch to a bar of body wash and not a bar that essentially performed comparable duties as my bottle of pH balancing Vagisil? Of course, I ran to Google to peruse a few different articles and shops that may have an all organic, vegan, chemical-free, fragrance and perfume free BAR of vaginal pH balancing cleanser and I had more luck finding natural LIQUID and foamed bottled cleansers but nothing that offered similar results in a bar.
This was approximately when the mental lightbulb went off. I thought to myself, I wonder how many other men I’ve come across between having to share a bathroom with my younger brother growing up, my dad visiting and using the restroom myself and siblings shared and guys who I’ve occasionally invited over to hangout have potentially thought the same as my boyfriend did when they’ve gone into my restroom and casually notice a bottle of Vagisil in my shower. Although most understand it’s healthy to maintain your pH balance, most guys aren’t as educated on the concept and assume the latter when it comes to vaginal health because of its pellucid yet mysterious identity.
My thoughts paced back and forth trying to crack the code of how I could create an all-natural product that didn’t smell like grass or tree bark while maintaining a discreet factor in both branding and shower display for myself and other women who may knowingly or unknowingly run into the same instance with the men in their life. This was when I thought of creating a pH-balancing cleanser in the form of a bar and immediately conducted weeks of research on what formulas were safe to use on such a sensitive part of the body. After a few weeks, I narrowed the options down to essential oils and began to interchange a variety of essential oils and test them on myself (this was the dangerous part). After six months or so, I finally decided on a formula that I noticed positive results along with a gentle and inviting scent that was fragrance-free. Fast forward to the first of February 2021, I launched Charlie Oliver C|O.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Launching Charlie Oliver C|O has been by far one of the most challenging feats I’ve ever attempted, and the road here has come with quite a few speed bumps. Firstly, I have the slightest knowledge in business or being an entrepreneur. My background is in Physiology and Science. When I first started, the idea was there but the logistics of everything else was coming from trusted friends that knew more about the other areas I lacked my own knowledge in (accounting, business strategy, analytics, etc). The obstacle that came to follow was finding a formula I could curate that wasn’t going to burn my vagina off, leave a lingering and unflattering earthy smell and be all organic in one. It took quite a few trial and errors with friends helping behind the scenes before we finally found one that was effective and unfailing. My current hurdle is creating a curing room (the area the soap rests, uncontaminated for 4-6 weeks while any excess water from the original curation evaporates, increasing the shelf life). At the rate of success we are having, we are needing to expand our inventory and need placement to do so.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I’m not diving into all things Charlie Oliver C|O, I am a digital marketing specialist for Lease Labs by RealPage. I graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Sport Management with a Concentration in Marketing. Prior to graduating, I served at a few Dallas restaurants and bars, eventually finding my way into the property management industry that allowed me to have a flexible schedule to still maintain a full-time academic schedule and earn enough income to help take care of my mother who is ill with Multiple Sclerosis and put myself through school.
I would have to say graduating from school is what I am most proud of for myself. I was known by my friends and family for being an absolute lunatic trying to work full time and attend a school particularly known for its arduous and rigorous academic level. I honestly was convinced I was not going to make it to the finish line but giving myself no other option to fail is what kept me moving forward. My work ethic or “hustle” as I like to call it, is what sets me apart. When it comes to my career, my family, my friends, and the simpler things in life, I have this relentless hustle that can sometimes be a burden but overall a huge blessing. I tend to be a people pleaser, which can certainly affect the overall quality of my decisions but its rarely given a negative result. In fact, it is likely why the people that know me best would consider me to be reliable, honest, trustworthy and valuable.
I now currently work as a digital marketing specialist for Lease Labs by RealPage which is still within the property management industry just on the software and marketing side.
What does success mean to you?
The ability to keep moving. It doesn’t necessarily always have to be forward, but the strength to simply keep moving is how I define success. When I am pushed down, the strength to dust myself off, stand up (even taller than before) and keep moving is how I define success. It’s not money or status that defines success, it’s rooted in character.
Pricing:
- 1 Bar of Charlie Oliver is $12.75 and this *includes* shipping!
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@charlieoliverco.com
- Website: www.charlieoliverco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieoliverco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlieoliverco
