J. Maurice, born and raised in Denver, is the owner of The BluSaint, a line of products designed to nourish the skin and support mental and emotional equilibrium. J. Maurice is also one of four partners at Rosehouse Botanicals, which is a Living Apothecary & Botanica but most know it as the sexy plant store. Here’s what this local shared about being Black in Denver.

What does it mean to you to be Black in Denver?

The first word that comes to mind is intimacy. Because we don’t have the privilege of even having a double-digit population percentage, so to keep your spirit not only intact but expansive you have to have a militant practice of self-care. I feel like being Black in Denver means you have to consistently conjure family and be open to the ways the universe sends those “play cousins” and aunties into your life.

Given the city’s recent expansion in all areas, you have a lot of opportunities to fall in love with other Black people. You kind of fall in love with your friends over and over again, you feel affirmed every other day when you see unfamiliar Black faces which in turn remind you to romance yourself. Maybe that’s why I named my line “Rituals by TheBluSaint” I see my blackness as holy ground and my life a living ritual space.

What do you love most about living in Denver?

I really enjoy our laissez-faire attitude here. True Denver locals are chill and open-minded as fuck.

How have your experiences in Denver shaped you as a creative, entrepreneur, professional, etc.?

I’m beginning to realize my upbringing here isn’t the norm. I’ve always been padded by a ton of other artists, creatives, funky, eclectic types and whatnot. I think Denver has made me a bit of a shapeshifter. I have lived many different lives here and that is the only constant.

No one wants to move through the city or life dry and ashy. Maintain nourished skin with J. Maurice’s handcrafted products. You can order these luscious salves online here, and you can find The BluSaint products locally at Rosehouse Botanicals, Alchemy Ritual Goods and Apothecary Tinctura. Remember to follow along on Instagram.