Our story

Kia ora, I'm Shannon

Founder of Seven Scents - your Wellington home for handcrafted aromatherapy, home fragrance, and honest, affordable perfume. Made by hand in our Lyall Bay studio, tested on me first, and never on animals.

Rest, relax, refresh.

Shannon Willoughby, founder of Seven Scents, in the Lyall Bay studio - Wellington, NZ

A bit about me

I grew up in Rotorua, and I've lived a few different lives along the way - a former World Champion Black Fern, then a qualified commercial pilot and flying instructor. Then, at 32 and completely out of the blue, I had a stroke. I was fit, healthy, and young - it was the last thing anyone expected. Overnight I lost my aviation medical and was told I'd never fly again. I was devastated.

Shannon flying as a commercial pilot and flying instructor
Happy Flying
Shannon playing rugby for the Black Ferns
World Champion Black Fern
Shannon recovering in hospital after her stroke
Stroke recovery

How Seven Scents began

During my recovery I went looking for something - anything - to ease the stress and anxiety I was carrying. That search led me to herbal remedies, and then to essential oils and aromatherapy. Honestly? I was a sceptic. But with daily use I noticed a real difference - less stress, a lifted mood, and finally some proper, restful sleep. This former non-believer was hooked.

What began as a personal ritual became a passion, and then a business. That was more than seven years ago. Today Seven Scents (originally Aromarrr) has grown from kitchen experiments into a proper Wellington maker studio in Lyall Bay.

For me, aromatherapy is self-care and ritual - a way to feel calmer and more grounded. It sits alongside professional care, never in place of it.

The name

Why “Seven”?


It carries three meanings - and all of them are true.

07

The Bay of Plenty

The 07 area code from home in Rotorua - it's why our phone number still starts with 07.

7

The number on my back

My first representative rugby jersey - openside flanker, number 7.

7

Seven scent families

The way our whole range is organised - from Floral to Warm & Woody.

In the studio

What we make


From our Lyall Bay studio, we handcraft everything you need for a beautiful-smelling home and a calmer, more grounded you.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils & blends

Pure essential oils, therapeutic blends, roller blends, and carrier oils - the wellbeing heart of the brand.

Home fragrance

Melts, diffusers & sprays

Soy wax melts and candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, oil diffusers, and fragrance oils.

Perfume

Designer-inspired scents

Sprays, oils, and balms that capture those iconic scents - without the designer price tag.

Coming soon - vegan natural skincare, aromatherapy-infused and made with candelilla wax, never beeswax.

Every product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, made by hand in small batches, tested thoroughly (on me first!), and crafted with ingredients we genuinely trust.

Why Seven Scents

Quality that works, priced for real life


We believe quality aromatherapy and fragrance shouldn't be a luxury only some people can afford. Whether you're after therapeutic essential oils, a wax melt that actually throws scent, or a perfume dupe that smells like the real thing - you'll find it here. Proudly Kiwi-owned, Wellington-made, and real about what we do. No fluff, no nonsense.

Made in Wellington

Handcrafted in our Lyall Bay studio, in small batches.

Vegan & cruelty-free

Always. Candelilla wax, never beeswax.

Honest about ingredients

Natural where possible, transparent where not.

Tested on Shannon first

Never on animals - a promise we keep.

Affordable luxury

Designer scent, real-life prices.

Made by hand, made with heart

Real people, real testing, real care.

Thank you

From our studio to your home


Thank you for supporting our small New Zealand business. Whether you're a first-time browser or a long-time customer, it genuinely means the world.

New here? I'd love for you to explore the range, or settle in with The Scent Journal - our blog full of aromatherapy tips, home fragrance ideas, and everything scent.

hello@sevenscents.co.nz · 07 394 6108 · Studio open Tue–Sat, 10am–4pm

Shannon x

P.S. - YES, I got my aviation medical back. And YES, I played rugby again.