Dori Bell’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Dori Bell and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Dori, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Lately I’ve been reflecting on how driven I’ve been for most of my life, always trying to find the shortest distance between A & B, always multi-tasking, always figuring out ways to get the most done in the least time. I’ve realized that approach has done nothing but exhaust and deplete me. It’s prevented me from being who I’m designed to be, and it’s actually slowed down my ability to be effective in meaningful ways in my life.

I’ve landed on the word “meander” as my new approach to how I walk through life. Meandering involves curiosity. It’s relaxed. It’s being present in the moment. That’s where the real beauty of life can be experienced, in that relaxed, calm, curious, creative state. No surprise that since I’ve adopted a meandering approach I’ve seen benefits not just in how I feel, but in my physical health, my relationships, and in my work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I elevate experiences through scent. I’m a certified aromatherapist and founder of The Blossom Bar® where scent meets soul. For over 25 years, I’ve been blending essential oils and flower essences to help people slow down, breathe deeper, and feel more like themselves.

I love helping people tell their stories through scent. I’ve worked with authors to create custom scents that evoke the essence of their books. I’ve worked with spas and other businesses to create signature scents for their spaces. I’ve created contemplative spaces for prayer and meditation for organizations. These are all ways to tell a story that don’t require words.

I offer people aromatherapy support in conjunction with their functional medicine doctor as a wonderful complementary tool for reaching their health goals.

Scent is visceral and powerful, and so enjoyable! It makes the perfect companion for life.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was happily meandering through my days, living mostly in my imagination. My mom had me very young, and she had to work hard to provide for us. I was in daycare for long days, and with no siblings had a lot of time to myself. I had a rich imagination that became my safe place. Books became my friends. It’s a lifestyle that I aspire to return to!

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
As children we feel so vulnerable, and are forced to toughen up in order to survive. This process of toughening up leads to a lot of heartache and creates the habit of expecting the worst, even of ourselves sometimes. If I could say one kind thing to myself as a young kid it would be to give myself the grace I showed others, to give myself the benefit of the doubt too. I can look back as an adult and see that everyone was just doing their best, and to include myself in that grace.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Foundational to my work is a belief that we were designed for wholeness and created with intent. I believe that healing begins when we slow down enough to listen. Beauty, scent, and the senses aren’t luxuries; they’re invitations to return to ourselves and to God’s presence within all things. Through creativity, stillness, and savoring even the mundane parts of our days, we find our power and purpose. I believe I’m here to help people remember that peace and restoration are not something to chase — they’re already woven into how we were created to live.

Another foundational truth is one of depth over hustle. We are designed for deep connection, first to God and then to those we love. This core need gets drowned out by consumer culture. I believe that the pace of modern life is unsustainable and that savoring is a spiritual practice.

I see the creativity of my work and the creative act in general as acts of worship and co-creation with God, and a way to express gratitude, bring healing, and restore connection. I help others reconnect with their creative essence as a source of empowerment and calm, through scent and story.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when in the act of creation. Blending different essential oils together to create aromatherapy specific to a goal or feeling, and that evokes a specific healing response, is my happy place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theblossombar.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblossombar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblossombar/

Image Credits
Renee McDaniel, Brand & Product Photographer