Amy Galper, Amy Anthony, Amandine Peter, Justin Wertz & Elizabeth Urciuoli

Teaches at Veg-Appeal

Amy Galper, B.A., M.A., Dipl. AT, Co-Founder of the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies, has been a Certified Aromatherapist since 2001, as well as a passionate advocate, entrepreneur, formulator and consultant in organic beauty and wellness. She has also co-authored the newly released book, “Plant Powered Beauty”, published by BenBella Books.

Amy Anthony B.A, is a certified clinical Aromatherapist with a private practice in Manhattan, NY. Her focus is on customized aromatherapy and education: she consults with clients and teaches classes and workshops at the NYIOA and around the NY metro area. Amy also enjoys formulating customized delivery methods that encourage the safe, practical use of aromatherapy for her clients—like lip balms, fizzing bath balls, shower bars, body butters, creams and more.

Amandine Peter has lived with plants as long as she can remember. She grew up in the countryside with nature as her playground, and remembers playing all day long with her siblings and cousins in her grandfather's garden, picking fruits and vegetables from the ground and eating them, and helping her grandfather hand-pick beetles to keep them out of our potato plants. Her mother used to diffuse eucalyptus essential oil in the winter to keep the family safe from germs and purify the atmosphere. She started to study essential oils in her teens because she was a very sensitive person who used to be sick every two months, with all sorts of benign ailments. She was also diagnosed with depression and anxiety. After incorporating essential oils into her life, she is now physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and connected to her body and to mother nature.

Justin Wertz is a certified aromatherapist, teacher, and founder of Brooklyn-based Dirty Dude Apothecary. Justin started making beard oil in 2013 inspired by his obsession for fragrance and raw materials. He launched his first batch of Wertz all-natural beard oil in fall of 2014. For Justin, a beard embodies gentlemen qualities such as patience and commitment balanced by a "life is an open rode" mentality. All of his company’s personal care products are 100% organic, safe, plant based and awesome.

Elizabeth Urciuoli is a Certified Aromatic Studies MethodTeacher, Licensed Social Worker, Reiki Master and more importantly, stay - at- home mom of two. She has always had an instinct for living a greener and cleaner life. Coming from a family that believed in, “old folk home-remedies” which consisted of using food and plants as medicine, she continues to pass along her deep respect for plant life to her family.

Her experiences have led her to lead a healthier lifestyle in mind, body, and spirit. You will often find Elizabeth in the kitchen cooking meals from scratch, or creating products using all natural, organic ingredients. She believes the secret ingredient to anything you create is love.

Enlightened and inspired by the power of plants, Elizabeth takes a holistic approach when working with clients. She splits her time between Northern NJ and Upstate New York where she escapes the suburbs to reconnect with nature. She enjoys going on long hikes, kayaking, campfires and gazing at the stars. Her goal is to educate and encourage others to go back to the basics and live a happier, healthier, simpler lifestyle.