Meet Alyssandra Grizenko | Founder of Ramblin’ Soul Body Care

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

Hi alyssandra, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I was previously the Executive Director for a nonprofit in TN that focused on reducing litter through community action. During my time as ED, I picked up a lot of litter and a lot of plastic! But one thing I learned was that plastic always breaks down into microplastic, and can seriously impact our environment, water and eventually health…no matter how many times you recycle it.

As someone who loves traveling, and the outdoors, I can usually be found on a mountain or next to a campfire fire, and although I love being one with nature, there is one thing I can’t stand…I actually don’t like being dirty! Yes, it’s true, although I can go without a shower for a week…I’d rather not! But many times in nature it is hard to find a shower, warm water, or any water at all! So throughout my adventures, I found myself resorting to wet wipes and a lot of micellar water, but again and again, I found myself asking the question, “Isn’t there a product out there that will keep my skin clean without creating more waste or plastic?”. Well after many weeks of research, I found my answer! There are currently no body cleansing products such as wet wipes or sprays that are packaged without plastic! Some companies have mixed plastic packaging and some companies have biodegradable wet wipes, but ultimately they are all still creating more waste that has to degrade over time.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and figure out a way to create the product I wanted so badly. I started Ramblin’ Soul Body Care in June 2023, and started working on my hygiene spray, our “No Fuss Body Spray”. Packaged in a recyclable and reusable aluminum bottle, this spray is packed with natural and antibacterial ingredients like eucalyptus and fresh citrus. It cleanses your skin without the need for harsh additives like alcohol and keeps skin happy and hydrated through the restorative power of clean ingredients. You can either spray it on skin and rub it in for a quick refresh, or spray it on, wait a few seconds and wipe it off with a towel or one of our dry wipes if you need to get more dirt off!

What should our readers know about your business?
Ramblin’ Soul Body Care is a simple and sustainable solution to wet wipes, and other body cleansers that are packaged in plastic. Our No Fuss Body Spray (aka shower in a bottle) is perfect for those who are on the go and want that shower-fresh feeling without the need for water. Packaged in a recyclable and reusable aluminum bottle, this spray is packed with natural and antibacterial ingredients like eucalyptus and fresh citrus. It cleanses your skin without the need for harsh additives like alcohol and keeps skin happy and hydrated through the restorative power of high-quality ingredients.

The beauty of our spray is its versatility. I wanted to give people a choice on how much waste they create.
So, how can our No Fuss Body Cleansing Spray be used? (in so many different ways)
1. You are a little sweaty and need a refresh: Spray on skin, and rub in!
2. You are a little dirty, maybe a bit stinky: Spray on skin, wait a few seconds and then wipe off with either a towel or one of our biodegradable dry wipes. (Don’t want to spray? pour a bit of your spray into our air-tight aluminum dry wipe can, and presto you have wet wipes to take with you!)

Once you are done with your bottle or when you run out of dry wipes, you can simply order refills that come in an array of kraft paper and recyclable glass, so you can keep using your original containers!

My story with Ramblin’ Soul is not yet fully written, but I can tell you that so far it’s been the most challenging yet rewarding endeavor I have ever committed myself to. When I decided to start Ramblin’ Soul a year ago I essentially had nothing. I was making minimum wage at a non-profit and wanted something so much more than that. After a lot of research, planning, and simplifying my business plan, I was able to crowd-fund the bare essentials that I needed and decided to do a very soft launch this past May.
Now my current challenge is balancing my new full-time job with my desire to expand my company quickly. Thankfully I have an amazing marketing manager to help me get this company off the ground, but considering I am bootstrapping this company all by myself, I’m giving myself space to make mistakes, grow slow and steady, and make this company as authentic as possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Welp….I live in Golden, So I’ll do my best to incorporate some spots from all over the front range!

Rino is a great area with so much going on in terms of restaurants, clubs, and nightlife.
We would have to hit up the Santa Fe Friday Art Walk
I would absolutely take her to Cervantes for a show
Definitely an afternoon at Meow Wolf
Maybe give them a cultural experience at BuckHorn Exchange
and of course Red Rocks

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother. Watching my mom accomplish so much during my lifetime, she has taught me the most important lesson with just her actions; change can always be made.

I am a Hispanic Woman (my mother is Hispanic), and in this industry, I feel an internal pressure to make sure my products represent all communities and minorities. I want my company to stand for inclusion, I want all underrepresented communities to feel empowered when they buy my products, and know that there is a place for them in this big, beautiful, adventurous world. I have never let my race or s*x hold me back from achieving my dreams, but I also know that others have discriminated against me because of the stereotypes they seem to believe.

In my youth I was portrayed as a “dumb blonde”, an airhead; and honestly, many times I played into that identity because it was an easy role to fill. It wasn’t until I finished college with a degree in public health and epidemiology that I started taking myself seriously, and it wasn’t until I started my own nonprofit in Tennessee that I began to demand the respect of those around me.

As a human, I am powerful. As a woman, I am unstoppable. I carry the empathy of my mother, the loving, warm soul of my Hispanic heritage, and the courage of all of those who have stood up for what’s right… and now I am ready to be the catalyst for the change I want to see in the world.

Website: https://ramblinsoulbodycare.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramblinsoul_bodycare?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Image Credits
Adam McClatchie – Mile High Media House