Bold Women. Bad Words. Good Products
Explicit Essentials is powered by a team of badass women who pour love—and a little bit of sass—into every product they make, and we couldn’t LOVE this brand anymore!
A brand that means business, Explicit Essentials is a self-care company that is real and focuses on the nitty gritty of life; not polished wellness bullshit. The brand is useful, funny, a little inappropriate and made for real-life self-care. Sam Daly, founder of EE saw a space for products that made women laugh and that’s exactly what happens when they walk into The Women Collective. Explicit Essentials has been with TWC from the beginning, is one of our top sellers and as a core brand within our own mission to uplift and inspire women with purpose, we intuitively align. Whether that’s through swear words, body lotion or a good shower steamer, Explicit Essentials is our go-to for sass.
Q + A with Sam
Your Story
Tell us the story behind your brand name? What does it represent to you?
Explicit Essentials started as a way to say exactly what we are: essential self-care products with an explicit little twist. To me, the name represents honesty, humor, and permission to stop pretending we’re all calm and put together all the time. It’s self-care for real life; a little bold, a little inappropriate, but always thoughtful.
What has been one of the most defining moments in your journey as a founder?
One of the most defining moments was when I stopped treating the brand like a side hustle and started seeing myself as a real founder. There was a shift where I realized this wasn’t just a funny idea or a few products people liked. It was a brand, a business, and something customers genuinely connected with. That moment changed how I made decisions. I started thinking bigger, taking the work more seriously, and trusting that I could build something meaningful on my own terms.
Uplift + Inspire with Purpose
The mission of The Women Collective is to uplift and inspire women with purpose. What does uplift mean to you personally and within your business?
To me, uplift means making someone feel a little lighter. Personally, and in my business, it’s not about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about giving people a laugh, a moment of relief, or just space to crash out. If our products can make someone smile, feel seen, or take five minutes for themselves, that’s uplifting to me. Our brand uplifts customers by turning self-care into a way to support each other. So much of what we sell is gifted from one woman to another; a little “I see you,” “you’ve got this,” or “please go take a damn minute.”
What inspires your products and designs?
Our products are inspired by real life, and the things women are actually feeling.... exhausted, overwhelmed, proud, pissed off, celebrating, surviving, or just needing five minutes alone. The designs usually start with a feeling or phrase that makes us laugh, then we build a scent and product around that moment. It’s self-care that feels useful, giftable, and a little too honest in the best way.
Who are the women (or people) who have inspired you most in your life or career?
The women who inspire me most are the ones who are done asking for permission. Women who are bucking the system, building things their own way, taking up space, being loud when they need to be, and staying authentic even when the world tells them to tone it down. I’m inspired by women who are rebellious in big and small ways, whether that’s starting a business, speaking honestly, setting boundaries, or simply refusing to shrink themselves to make other people comfortable.
What is the deeper purpose behind your brand beyond what you sell?
The deeper purpose behind Explicit Essentials is connection. We sell bath and body products, but really, we're creating small moments where people feel seen, supported, and less alone. Whether it's a funny gift, a much-needed laugh, or a reminder to take care of yourself, our purpose is to make real life feel a little lighter.
Behind the Brand
"Building a business can feel really scary, but having women who care about the brand, show up during the messy parts, and help bring the vision to life has made all the difference. They remind me that this isn’t just something I’m building alone anymore, it’s something we’re building together."
What does a typical day look like for you as a founder?
A typical day is a mix of creative work, problem-solving, and putting out whatever tiny fire decided to show up that day. I might be working on new product ideas, packaging, marketing, emails, photos, inventory, or operations sometimes all before lunch. Founder life is not always glamorous, but it’s never boring. A lot of it is just staying flexible, making decisions, and figuring things out as we go.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about your business?
People might be surprised to learn how much thought goes into making something that looks effortless and funny. The goal is never just to be vulgar or shocking. Every product must feel relatable, giftable, and genuinely useful. The humor gets people’s attention, but the heart of the brand is making something that feels like it was made for a real person in a real moment.
Real Talk
What has been your biggest challenge, and what did it teach you?
The biggest challenge has been learning how to scale production without losing quality or the heart of the brand. When you’re making everything by hand in small batches, growth is exciting, but it also forces you to build better systems, trust your team, and solve problems fast. It taught me that scaling isn’t just about making more. It’s about making sure the product, the process, and the people behind it are still cared for along the way.
What’s a piece of advice you wish you had when you first started?
Stop waiting to feel qualified. You can think yourself in circles forever, but momentum teaches you faster than overthinking ever will. Start messy, make the decision, fix it as you go, and let yourself get better in motion.
How do you define success today vs. when you first launched?
When I first launched, success was simple: sell the thing, survive the day, and prove the idea had legs. Now, success feels bigger and calmer. It’s building something that lasts, taking care of the people who help make it happen, and creating a business that gives me more freedom not just more work.
Rapid Fire
- Coffee or Tea? Coffee
- Morning Person or Night Owl? Both/Depends
- Current fave product you offer? Bad Ass Bitch Body Lotion
- A word you are living by right now? Whimsy
We are so grateful to feature Sam Daly and Explicit Essentials as part of the Uplift + Inspire Blog series at The Women Collective. Sam’s passion for creating products that encourage confidence, self-care, and honest conversations is a beautiful reminder of the power behind women building brands with purpose and authenticity.
At The Women Collective, we believe every product has a story — and every founder has a journey worth celebrating. Supporting women-owned businesses like Explicit Essentials means supporting creativity, courage, and community. We are proud to share Sam’s story and excited to continue uplifting the incredible women behind the brands that make our collective so special.
Ready to explore Explicit Essentials?
Shop the collection online or in-store at The Women Collective to discover products designed to empower confidence, connection, and self-care. Be sure to follow along with @ExplicitEssentials and @TheWomenCollective for more founder stories, new arrivals, and upcoming Uplift + Inspire features as we continue celebrating the amazing women behind the brands we love.
