I have to confess: I’m a big fragrance fan. I love incense and have diffusers dispensing beautiful fragrances strewn throughout the house. I have a pillow mister that lets me go to sleep at night smelling lavender and cedarwood. So naturally, I was drawn to learning all about Dimitri Allouch and his company HEXEH Studio.

I find it fascinating how so many artisan businesses get started and why. And that’s especially true of Lulu’s Shave Ice. Lulu’s owner, Tony Tan - a software solution architect - explains how his shave ice business originated. “In 2017, my 5-year-old daughter wanted to attend an overpriced theme park like all her friends. I explained that we could go if we saved up enough money. She took it to heart and came up with ideas. Selling shave ice was one of her ideas. To support her good idea and entrepreneurial spirit we moved forward with the business. The business is named after her nickname, Lulu.” He adds, “She is proud to announce that in 2019 we will be attending Legoland.”

Following a 25-year career as a research geneticist at the University of Utah, Kelly Beumer changed paths and created Wild Waters Soapery, which she says “was born out of a desire to help people live more sustainably. After making soaps, shampoos and other body and household products for family and friends for the past eight years, we wanted a way to reach out and share the things we have learned to love with our community.”

Our dogs - Ricky and Beau - love trips to Daily Rise Coffee. Well, it’s not exactly the coffee at Daily Rise that our pups adore, but rather the free dog treats that the super-friendly, generous baristas pass to them through open car windows at the Daily Rise drive-thru. It’s a risky proposition for the baristas, since one of our mutts, Beau, is a “grabber.” “Watch your fingers!” we always advise. The Fellas always know when we’re approaching Daily Rise, as evidenced by their excitement and wagging tails.

On the surface, it seems unlikely that brothers-in-law Pat and Tim would have ever wound up in the cheese biz. Ford had been working in land development and Welsh was looking for work, having recently sold his Bay area dotcom software company. Yet within two years of founding Beehive Cheese Co. - by 2007 - they were making 40,000 pounds of cheese annually and already garnering awards like the 1st Place ribbon for Beehive’s Barely Buzzed at the 2007 American Cheese Society Competition. Since that time, Beehive cheeses have won a truckload of honors in both national and international cheese competitions.

When I first considered moving to Utah some 27 years ago - and came to Salt Lake City to scout out the place - I was under the impression that this was a “dry” state. So imagine my delight when I strolled a couple blocks from my hotel my first evening here, and happened upon a place called Squatters. The brew pub had already been open for three years when I discovered it in 1992, founded by original owners Peter Cole and Jeff Polychronis. Not only did I learn that night that Utah wasn’t a dry state, but that there was also some damned good beer being brewed here!

The three Soberanis brothers are all professional chefs. Salvador Soberanis explains, “We began our culinary story right here in Salt Lake. We opened restaurants at The Grand America, the Ritz Carlton in Georgetown, and the Margaritaville Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, to name a few. We also have worked locally at Snowbird, Little America, Peery Hotel, Marriott, and Hilton’s Doubletree. We are hungry to share slices of our culture as well as the knowledge gained through our experience in our 25+ year culinary journey. This city accepted us; it gave us a solid foundation and helped us grow.”

Renate Green has a love of stuffed animals. As owner of RgGreenscreations, she hand-sews stuffed animals like horses, bears, puppies and doll with her daughter, Ginger. They also crochet items such as hats, purses and coffee cozies. Since they’ll all handmade, each is unique and one-of-a-kind.

Is there anybody who doesn’t like chocolate? If so, I haven’t met them. And even if you think you don’t like chocolate, my guess is that you’ve never tried chocolates from Ashlee’s Sweet Creations.

William Huff is a gifted photographer who specializes in Utah landscape and fine art photography, but also shoots weddings and other special occasions in ways that are far from the same old, same old. His work as owner of William Huff Photography is nothing short of stunning, whether he’s photographing people or places.

Yellow Yarrow Apothecary is a Utah business and “Locally grown backyard herbs and wild harvested Utah plant life are an important aspect of my products,” says Erica Bruin, the owner.