About oakhaven

I named this business after my son Oak. He was four when I registered the ABN, sitting on the kitchen floor eating Vegemite toast while I filled out the form on my laptop. Oakhaven felt right because that's what our house in Aberfoyle Park was — a haven, chaotic and loud and ours. The name stuck. I didn't plan to build a business. I planned to make enough to cover school fees and maybe a car service. By the end of the first year I'd cleared $34,000 in sales, all from a folding table in the kitchen and one shelf in the laundry I'd cleared out and called a studio.

Before Oakhaven I worked three days a week doing admin at a radiology clinic in Mitcham. Good job, good people, just not mine. I'd been making skin and body products for about six years by then, quietly, for myself and anyone who asked. My mum had been into natural remedies her whole life and I picked it up from her. I wasn't trying to go anywhere with it. Then our second kid started kindy and suddenly I had five hours a day to myself for the first time in years. I didn't want to go back to the clinic full-time. I wanted to try the thing I'd been putting off since 2017.

— Thanks for being here. — Bryn, Bryn Shirleen Robinson

Our team

• Dorinda Kasprzak — Fulfilment and Warehouse Coordinator: Dorinda joined in March 2022, two weeks after the Hobart facility opened, after Bryn found her through a notice at the Moonah Community Centre. She manages daily pick-and-pack, maintains stock counts, and liaises with the courier depot on Cambridge Road. Before this she'd spent four years running the back-of-house operation at a small soap manufacturer in Launceston, which meant she already knew how to handle fragile glass packaging without drama.
• Yusuf Tamboli — Customer Service and Orders: Yusuf came on board in late 2022 after responding to a part-time listing Bryn posted on Seek. He handles all inbound customer emails, manages the returns process, and keeps the FAQ updated when new questions come up more than twice in a week. He's based in Prospect, South Australia, so he and Bryn occasionally meet in person, which makes it easier to sort anything that can't be handled over a call. He previously worked support for a small furniture retailer in the city for three years.
• Cecile Anagnos — Product and Content: Cecile started as a one-off contractor in mid-2023 when Bryn needed product photos done quickly before a stockist pitch, then just kept working with the brand. She photographs new batches, writes product descriptions, and handles the Instagram account three days a week. She studied communications at the University of Tasmania in Sandy Bay and still lives in Hobart, which makes shooting at the fulfilment studio straightforward. Her background is in small food and beverage brands, which translates well to product-led storytelling.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard shipping with Australia Post takes 3–8 business days depending on your location, and express via StarTrack is typically 1–3 business days. Orders placed before 2pm AEST Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes — orders over $80 AUD ship free via standard Australia Post. Orders under that threshold have a flat $8.95 standard shipping fee or $14.95 for express.

Can I return a product if I change my mind?

We accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original sealed packaging. Opened skincare or hair products cannot be returned for hygiene reasons unless they're faulty.

What ingredients do your products contain — are there common allergens?

Full ingredient lists are printed on every product and listed on each product page. If you have known sensitivities to tree nuts, essential oils, or botanical extracts, please read those lists carefully before purchasing. You're also welcome to email us at hello@oakhavenwares.com with specific questions.

Are your products suitable for sensitive skin?

Several products, including the Kakadu Plum Luminous Facial Serum and the Rose Hip & Peptide Eye Renewal Balm, are formulated to be gentle, but individual reactions vary. We always recommend a patch test on the inside of your wrist before full use.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

Yes. At checkout you can add gift wrapping for $4.95. This includes tissue paper, a recycled kraft gift box, and a handwritten card with a message of your choice. Just add your note in the gift message field.

Can I place a wholesale order?

We do work with a small number of stockists across Australia. Send your business details and what you're interested in to wholesale@oakhavenwares.com and Bryn or a team member will get back to you within 3–5 business days.

Do you offer custom or personalised products?

We don't currently offer personalised formulations, but we do offer custom gift sets for bulk orders of 20 units or more — for example, for corporate gifting. Email hello@oakhavenwares.com to discuss options.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “The serum actually does something” I ordered the Kakadu Plum Luminous Facial Serum after reading the ingredients list three times to make sure it was worth it. Arrived in four days from Hobart to Sydney, which was faster than I expected. After three weeks my skin tone looks noticeably more even. I've already reordered.
• 4/5 “Solid hair oil, slight scent caveat” The Macadamia & Argan Hair Repair Oil has made a real difference to the ends of my hair, which were pretty wrecked from bleaching. I'll knock off one star only because the scent is stronger than I expected — not unpleasant, just noticeable. Packaging was secure and delivery was on time.
• 5/5 “Eye balm is genuinely impressive” I was sceptical about the Rose Hip & Peptide Eye Renewal Balm at that price point for 15ml, but I've been using it for six weeks and the fine lines under my eyes are softer. The texture isn't greasy, which matters to me. Will buy again.
• 4/5 “Good clay mask, be patient with it” The Tea Tree & Charcoal Clarifying Clay Mask took a couple of uses before I got the application thickness right, but now I use it once a week and my pores look cleaner. The 200g tub will last ages. Arrived well-packaged with no leaks.
• 5/5 “Body balm before bed — genuinely helps” I bought the Lavender & Eucalyptus Relaxation Body Balm on a whim and now I use it every night before bed. It absorbs better than I thought a balm would and the scent isn't overpowering. Fast dispatch from Hobart too — I had it in three days.
• 5/5 “Ordered as a Christmas gift, went down well” I ordered the Kakadu Plum serum as a gift for my partner and added the gift wrapping at checkout. The presentation was clean and the handwritten card was a nice touch. Shipped quickly despite it being close to Christmas. My partner has been using it daily since.

From the journal

• Why I named the business after a six-year-old — Oakhaven started as a name scrawled on a notepad at the kitchen table while my son Oak was doing homework beside me.
• Finding a reliable Kakadu Plum source took two years — I went through four different suppliers before I found one that could consistently deliver Kakadu Plum extract at the concentration I actually needed.
• How I actually use the clay mask at home — The most common question I get about the Tea Tree and Charcoal Clay Mask is how long to leave it on, and the honest answer is less time than you think.
• Packing orders during a Hobart summer heatwave — Hobart doesn't get many 38-degree days, but when it does and you're packing skincare in a garage, you figure things out fast.
• What I got wrong when I launched the eye balm — The Rose Hip and Peptide Eye Renewal Balm took three batches to get right, and I launched on the second one, which was a mistake.
• How I found a Queensland macadamia grower worth trusting — Most macadamia oil sold to cosmetic makers is a blend from multiple farms processed together, which makes traceability almost impossible.