We recently had the chance to connect with Soniya Ekici and have shared our conversation below.
Soniya, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I am learning the most from my own experiences. While I have had many incredible teachers in the past who helped shape the way I think and navigate the world, it’s through living, really paying attention to how I respond to situations, emotionally and physically, that I have learned how to manage myself. Understanding my body’s signals and reactions has taught me how to move through life with more clarity and resilience. It’s made the ups and downs feel a lot more bearable, and even meaningful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Soniya Ekici and I am the founder of The Original Henna Company, where art, culture, and holistic living come together in meaningful and creative ways. With a background in biology and a deep understanding of the body, the skin, and the properties of plants, I see henna as a holistic art form. It is where science and nature meet—an intentional practice that honors both the physical body and the energetic experience. This knowledge allows me to work with natural ingredients in a way that is safe, effective, and deeply nourishing.
What sets my work apart is a freestyle approach to traditional henna, blending global influences and evolving artistic techniques that reflect my growth as an artist. But beyond aesthetics, I honor henna for its healing nature—both physically and spiritually. The natural dye nourishes and soothes the skin, especially dry or sensitive areas, while the ritual itself carries deep spiritual significance, offering a sense of grounding, intention, and connection.
Beyond henna, I am a 200-hour registered yoga teacher and I truly enjoy sharing my passions through teaching. Whether I am leading a henna workshop or guiding a pottery class, I love creating spaces where people can explore their creativity and connect with others. I also host private henna gatherings, including birthday celebrations and intimate sessions that combine henna with sound baths, meditation, and mindfulness—offering guests a chance to slow down and experience beauty in a deeper, more intentional way.
My latest offering to the world is my line of solid perfumes. Made with intention, love, and energetics designed to expand the wearer’s auric field, these scents are more than just fragrance—they are an experience. I am incredibly excited about the response so far and cannot wait to share them on a global level.
The Original Henna Company is more than a business—it is a reflection of a life lived with purpose, creativity, and care. Each offering is rooted in authenticity and a love for connecting people to themselves and to something meaningful.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is my mother who taught me this art form. From an early age, she instilled in me a deep respect for my craft and the value of my time and talent. Growing up in a family of henna artists, it was common to be asked by relatives or friends to work for free during weddings or celebrations. But my mother taught me that if I do not respect my own work, no one else will and I would only end up being taken advantage of.
I have followed her advice closely, and it has truly paid off. I believe that friends and family should be our greatest supporters, not the ones who expect free or discounted services. It is important to honor the creative work artists do by asking for fair compensation—even from loved ones. When we shower love and respect upon creative humans, we elevate the value and expression of art and beauty in the world.
This lesson has shaped not only how I work but also how I encourage others to value their talents and contributions.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining wounds of my life has been the loss of a loved one. Grief is unlike any other experience, it cracks you open, reshapes your understanding of life, and can leave you feeling unmoored. For me, losing someone I loved deeply was both heartbreaking and transformative.
In time, I discovered that healing does not mean the absence of pain. It means allowing yourself to feel, to remember, and to honor the person you lost while finding ways to keep moving forward. Creativity became a powerful part of my healing. Through henna, yoga, and the intentional spaces I create for others, I have learned to channel my grief into something meaningful and beautiful. These practices remind me of the sacredness of life and the connections we still hold with those who have passed.
Losing a loved one taught me compassion on a deeper level and inspired me to support others during their own transitions. My healing journey has been about turning pain into purpose and love into action.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Many smart people rely heavily on information and logic but often overlook the power of intuition. While knowledge is valuable, true clarity comes from within, and that inner knowing is only accessible through mindfulness.
Mindfulness is more than a tool for stress relief. It is a way of slowing down, tuning in, and connecting to something deeper. It helps us move beyond the noise of the mind and access our intuitive wisdom. Without it, intelligence can become disconnected from heart and soul. In a world full of information, what we need most is presence.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly believe I was born to do what I do. I am a henna artist, and this path has never felt like something I was told to follow, it has always felt like something deeply rooted in me.
There is a quiet magic in the fact that my name is Soniya, and the scientific name of the henna plant is Lawsonia inermis. It is as if my identity has always been intertwined with this sacred plant, written into my story before I even knew it.
I have been practicing henna for as long as I can remember, and it continues to bring me joy, purpose, and a sense of connection, both to myself and to others. This is not just a craft, it is a calling, and one that I am honored to follow every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hennacompany.com
- Instagram: @originalhennacompany
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