Cote du Soleil - Monoi de Tahiti Skin and Hair Care Products

The Cote du Soleil Story

Bora Bora
Like Côte du Soleil’s products, the origin of this Australian company is quite unique. Some people would say it was accidental while others, including its founder, Melinda Charkow, would say it was fate.

While taking a well-earned rest in the Tahitian Islands, Melinda couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and well-preserved the skin and hair of the native Polynesian women was. “I’ve had to either use expensive creams and lotions or just plain cover up to keep my skin healthy”, said Melinda, “I just couldn’t get back on the plane home without finding out what their secret was”. The answer couldn’t have been more surprising but, in the ensuing four years since Côte du Soleil started, now makes perfect sense. Their “secret” was something the world has known for thousands of years.

Monoï de Tahiti was the Tahitian’s ‘fountain of youth’. Unlike other coconut oils, Monoï de Tahiti gets its distinct and highly beneficial properties from the Tiare flower (Tahitian Gardenia) which is infused within the oil to ancient production standards. So steeped in tradition are these methods, the French Government, by decree, issued the Appellation d’Origine certification to maintain the process and insure inferior products are not able to use the name “Monoï de Tahiti” unless the product originates from Tahiti and is manufactured to these specific standards.

By speaking with the local women of Tahiti, Melinda gained the knowledge that had been passed down through generations. Following this research, she sourced many of the natural and beautiful tropical plants that the French Polynesians use in their daily lives. “I just had to bring these natural resources including Monoï de Tahiti back to Australia to use as the base for products not even seen in the Tahitian market”, Melinda said. In 2006, she formed Côte du Soleil, French for the Sunshine Coast, where Melinda and her family call home, and went to work creating new and exciting products for the Australian market. “I felt inspired”, Melinda recalls today, “I was always one of those people who never really knew what they wanted to do. I always envied those who found their passion doing what they loved. As soon as I ‘discovered’ monoï, I knew my life would never again be the same”.

And it hasn’t been. In its four short years, Côte du Soleil has matured from a home-based, small business to one on the threshold of becoming a globally recognized company. Melinda wanted to maintain that “cottage-industry” feel but knew that in order to take her unique range of skin and hair care products to international markets Côte du Soleil inevitably had to expand. She has maintained the feeling of a small business by remaining hands-on. Melinda takes an active role in product development going as far as having her own fragrances blended for her in the famous Grasse region of France. She personally replies to direct and website inquires to insure her clients know she is still very much in charge of her business.

To date, Côte du Soleil manufactures four fragrances of Monoï de Tahiti in frangipani, tiare (Tahitian gardenia), vanilla and vanilla lime representing the scents and indigenous ingredients of French Polynesia, as well as their famous Island Candles that Melinda’s customers can’t get enough of. Last year, Côte du Soleil introduced a range of Massage Oils directed exclusively towards the Beauty and Day Spa industry. This allowed massage therapists the opportunity to use the base Monoï product while still being able to offer an exclusive retail line of products. In 2011, Côte du Soleil will bring out a new range of creams, exfoliants and a few new surprises. There are many products in the wings but Melinda wants to insure she remains focused on what Côte du Soleil does well rather than trying to be everything for every body, a mistake Melinda says has been the downfall of many in her industry.

“We’re realistic about our growth plan but even in these tough economic times, people need to indulge in a few of life’s simple pleasures. Côte du Soleil is a little luxury everyone can enjoy”, says Melinda as she prepares another shipment destined for one of her new US retailers.