In Depth: Asia Luna Green & Natural Products

Maria & Paul Crespo tell the story of their natural products business, Asia Luna!

“We started this because we used to buy handcrafted soaps from a friend, Cynthia. She retired after 9/11 because she often sold her soaps in NYC and her business took a major hit. Paul has allergies to harsh soaps (many of which are mostly detergents), so we started looking into making it ourselves. After 6 months of researching we started making a couple batches, reviewed & tested by Cynthia and friends. Shortly thereafter, we started selling at a local farmers market.”

Our Philosophy:

“What you put on your body is as important as what you put in it. That’s because your skin is the largest organ of your body, and it readily absorbs everything you apply to it. Natural bath products with essential oils are vitally important for your entire well-being. Essential oils contain hundreds of trace elements that are balanced in subtle and complex ways. The effect they have acting in total biochemical harmony with the human body cannot be duplicated by synthetics.

By using natural products with essential oils, you promote pleasure and harmony within yourself – and kindness to the earth around you.”

All of our products are made in our home in Philmont, NY since 2005 (wow, it’ll be 20 years next year).

Additionally, the ceramic soap dishes are crafted by artisan Sue Browdy who lives in Hillsdale and has her ceramic studio there.

About those bubbles:  

“When we first started doing markets, Paul played around with making bubbles to attract people to our booth. We had bought one of those cheap bubble toys but it didn’t last very long nor did its job of attracting people’s attention until they were at the booth. It took a couple of years for him to create a good solution and build a wand that sustained the bubbles. He found that cotton was the best for the string and the wooden wands also had a couple transformations. The big bubbles did the job and then people started asking if they could buy the solution. So something that started as a promotional thing, ended up being a product! Thus, Paul became “the bubble man” to many children, and adults.”

Retail stores in Columbia County NY: Philmont Co-op, Hawthorne Valley Farm Store,  Chatham Food Coop, The Barn at Millers’ Crossing (above), and Random Harvest.
Retail stores in the Berkshires: Williams & Sons Country Store (Stockbridge), Only in My Dreams (South Egremont)

Our website for online orders: asialuna.com

People can usually contact us through the website for order pick up at markets we participate in. Some have come to our home for pick up, and at times we’ve also delivered.

“Our products have drawn some loyal customers and for that we’re truly grateful. It is because of them that we haven’t retired from our business just yet. It certainly doesn’t make a lot of money but Paul & I love doing this together,  and especially love the people we’ve met through the business.”