Founder's Bio
Françoise dedicated her early adulthood to exploring mindful living, herbalism, and various forms of natural healing. With a desire to broaden her creative horizons, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology, subsequently embarking on a career as a textile designer within New York’s vibrant fashion industry.
A Journey to Wellbeing
With a desire to find more work/life balance, Françoise completed her teacher training at Kundalini Yoga East in 2005. Around 2009, craving more freedom, she entered New York City’s real estate market. She took a journey to Japan in 2013 searching for peace and a new perspective. This trip inspired her to launch the award winning aromatherapy-based bath and body line Amayori in 2015. Amayori was featured in some of the world's leading publications, such as Forbes, the WSJ, the NY Times, and Vogue.
After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, she transformed her health through dedicated diet and lifestyle changes, ultimately bringing the disorder into remission. Inspired by the changes she experienced, she became a certified Reiki practitioner through the International House of Reiki in 2017. She later completed a 350-hour clinical aromatherapy certification through the School of Aromatic Studies’ Aromatic Scholars program and earned additional credentials in menopausal skincare, trauma resiliency, and mental health. Her commitment to natural healing is further reflected in her herbalism studies, including coursework at The Herbal Academy and The Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism.
A Home in the Redwoods
In 2022, Françoise felt called to leave city life behind and moved to a small community in the mountains of the Bay Area Peninsula where she dove deeply into the plant wisdom of the redwood forest that surrounds her home.
The Way Apothecary
Françoise launched The Way Apothecary in spring of 2024. This brand is inspired by her own journey of hormonal balance, and that of her friends and private aromatherapy and herbalism clients. She pulls elements of her aromatherapy practice, herbalism, energy healing and spirituality to help guide women with mindfulness, and calmness as they walk their unique paths through menopause.
Françoise is dedicated to natural, mindful living and encourages others to explore the connection between diet, lifestyle, and health. She aims to inspire deeper awareness of the body and mind, empowering individuals to take an active role in their well-being. She believes that true empowerment comes from understanding our ability to heal, often far beyond what we realize.