Shop In person
At Our Beautiful Store in the Bay AreaNow Open in The Elmwood Neighborhood in Berkeley
Phone
(510) 898-1283
TOLL FREE:
(866) 787-3863
Hours
Mon – Wed | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thurs Summer Nights in the Elmwood: 11 AM – 8 PM with 10% off 6-8pm
(Through August 29th)
Fri & Sat | 10:30 AM – 7 PM
Sun | 10:30 – 6 PM
Our Story…
At Scents by the Bay, we are a proudly women-owned handcrafted boutique. We take immense pride in offering a diverse range of exclusive, handcrafted products and experiences that cater to your holistic well-being and self-expression.
Our mission is to create a haven for seekers of quality and uniqueness, a sanctuary where each item tells a story, born from the hands of our artisans who infuse their creativity and passion into every product we make. With our engaging classes and events, proprietary massage oil candles, soaps, shower steamers, soy melts, crystals, aromatherapy jewelry, over 600 perfume and essential oils, and custom bath and body products, we aim to enrich your life and elevate your senses.
We are committed to an ongoing effort for ethical sourcing and eco-friendly practices ensures that each product embodies a conscious and sustainable approach to beauty and wellness.
Exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of our promise. Our knowledgeable and caring team is here to guide you through our extensive range, offering personalized recommendations and ensuring that your experience with Scents by the Bay is nothing short of extraordinary.
We believe that self-care is a holistic journey, and our boutique is a reflection of this. From the calming flicker of our massage oil candles to the energy of our crystals, the enchantment of aromatherapy jewelry, and the artistry of our custom bath and body products, we aspire to inspire moments of reflection, healing, and empowerment.
Join us in experiencing the beauty of handcrafted, proprietary creations and the warmth of exceptional customer service. Together, we will ignite your senses, elevate your life, and celebrate the strength and creativity of women artisans worldwide, one unique creation at a time.
Frequenty Asked Questions:
What sets us apart from other handcrafted companies?
Our unique branding, our hundreds (yes hundreds! of scents) and of course, our proprietary Massage Oil Candles! All of our candles are hand-poured with skin loving, organic ingredients, that not only burn clean in your home – but feel amazing (and oh-so-hydrating) on your skin!
Besides that, we have an AMAZING team! Customer service is a priority to us – whether you’re cominging in for Essential Oils in Berkeley, or looking to create your own scent, or even simply just looking for your next crystal, our knowledgable and friendly staff is here to help. Not satisfied with your purchase? Come on back, we will work hard to make it right (and you happy!).
Why choose perfume oils instead of designer perfume sprays?
Oils do not contain alcohol or water – so they don’t break down and are much more true to scent. They tend to last longer on your skin, and much longer in the bottle (up to 12 years if stored in a dark place!). A small 1/4 oz bottle of our oil is equivalent to 2-3 spray bottles you find in the department stores.
Are our Products Tested on Animals?
NO! We work with Vegan and Creulty free brands for our Custom Bath & Body Bases, candle waxes, and more. We love our furry friends, and would never do anything to harm them.
Why do I think you need Scents by the Bay in your Store for Wholesale?
We work hard to create organic products, source as local as possible, and work to utilize recycled (and often reusable!) packaging. You can even work directly with us to create a unique private label for your own brand – design, custom scents, and the works.
We can’t wait to work with you, so what are you waiting for? Contact us today to learn more!
Meet the Team…
Meet our Owner, Tarah Ornelas. She has owned Scents by the Bay since 2007, and opened up the Berkeley Location in May of 2023. You may have already met her at any number of pop up locations throughout California, or in one of our previous stores! She has a BA in Marketing, a BS in Visual Communications, an EMBA in Business to help with the marketing and business side of the business, and she also brings along many years and certifications in Essential Oils and Perfumery.
Have you met our Manager, Sheila Watamaniuk, yet? She joined our team in January of 2023 and has been a definite asset to the team! Coming over from an Environmental and Project Management background, her experience and skills help keep the store moving efficiently, and her knowledge in crystals and stones have helped to expand our product depth. Plus, she is absolutely one of the best people to meet!
Sheila is the Store Manager of our Berkeley location, and as such aids Tarah in leading the team, works on launching new products and experiences, helps with our Wholesale division, and works most of the experience, retail and wholesale events we have.
Meet Madison! She joined our team when we opened in Berkeley, and has been nothing but a joy! Madison was promoted to Assistant Manager at the beginning of 2024 and is killing it at her job. She is driven, organized, and loves making our Intention Bracelet Line, many Bath & Body Products, and has a keen eye for design.
Meet our Owner’s Daughter, Ella! While she isn’t a regular, you might see her at a pop up event, a perfume class or helping out in the store.
Meet Marz! They are a transfer over from our San Francisco Store when it closed in July. Marz has great customer service skills, and is always ready to learn new products!
Meet Skylar! They joined our team originally in our San Francisco location and recently came to join us in our Berkeley location. They are very creative, and are often found crafting new wire wrapped jewelry at the bar.
A Peek into our Berkeley Home…
A look into our beginning…
Since helping to manage the San Francisco Fragrance Bar on Pier 39 when in college, to purchasing the inventory and rebranding to Scents by the Bay in 2007 – it has been a wild ride! Owner, Tarah Ornelas, started online only, then started stepping her foot into the event world with small Pop Up Events in El Sobrante, and the greater Bay Area.
After leaving her full-time Marketing gig in 2018, Tarah hit the “road” so to say, and grew to have multiple teams offering pop-up-shops all over California. When Covid took the world by storm, initially business was halted. However, with creativity in her roots, Tarah managed to use the ever-changing environment of in-person-shopping and used it to her advantage to open her first ever Brick and Mortar store in San Francisco in 2019!
As we are growing and changing with the environment, and after searching the Bay and doing events all over (checking out open retail locations on the way!) we decided in February 2023 that Berkeley would be a better fit for us. You can read the stories below about our first 2 locations, however in our permanent home in Berkeley, we are working on a class schedule for Aromatherapy Jewelry, Essential oils, and Master Perfume Blending – as well as “Wax Days” where you can refill your candles, or make a custom candle! So if you’re interested, please contact us to get your name on the list!
So come on in top shop in person (and see new products before they even hit the website), come smell any number of our over 500 perfume and essential oils, create your own custom bath or body product, and pick up something for yourself (or a perfect gift!). We can’t wait to see you soon!
Our previous locations…
Every book has a few chapters before it begins to develop into a beautiful story – and that is what our first two locations were.
Our previous locations…
Every book has a few chapters before it begins to develop into a beautiful story – and that is what our first two locations were.
San Francisco
PREVIOUS ADDRESS:
Stonestown Galleria
3215 20th Avenue, Space 155
San Francisco, CA 94132
Our SF Location, opened in late 2019, and provided the “foot-in-the-door” to a brick and mortar store for us. We thoroughly enjoyed crafting the growth of our brand here, and all the relationships we developed.
Unfortunately we lost our lease in Stonestown mall due to a big box store taking our place in July 2023. However, we are excited to all the doors that will open once we can really focus on products, developing classes, and a creating a wholesale division. Stay tuned to learn more!
Pleasanton
PREVIOUS ADDRESS:
Stoneridge Mall
1432 Stoneridge Mall Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Our Pleasanton Location, opened in mid 2021, and we were SO EXCITED to have a second location serving the Bay. Our first year that was great – but as the climate of the area changed, so did the popularity of the mall in that area of the Bay. It no longer felt like a “home” to us, so when another store decided to take our lease over, we let it go in April 2023, and have never regretted the decision! The neighborhood feel, the regular clients, and the footprint of the store we moved to in Berkeley has never felt more like home. We are LOVING it here!
Please Come Visit us in Berkeley!
Scents by the Bay
Located on the The Elmwood Districe in Berkeley, CA
Info@Scentsbythebay.com
866-787-863