JANA BLANKENSHIP

Jana Blankenship is the founder of Captain Blankenship. She went to Cornell University and received a dual degree in Art History and Fine Arts. She also received an MA in Curatorial Practice from the California College of the Arts. Jana was the curator at the Wattis Institute in San Francisco when she started making natural perfumes and beauty products for herself, family and friends as a hobby. After numerous studies in herbalism, soapmaking and most importantly natural perfumery with her mentor Mandy Aftel, she saw that this was the path she wanted to follow. Jana dove headfirst into the rich palette of natural perfumery and plant based beauty and didn’t look back.

Founded in 2009, Captain Blankenship is a green beauty company now based in New York’s Hudson River Valley that makes haircare, skincare, bodycare products and scents with organic ingredients. Social responsibility and sustainability of ingredients and packaging are at the heart of the company, which is a B Corp, Leaping Bunny Certified and part of 1% for the Planet. Captain Blankenship was born out of Jana Blankenship’s desire to create organic beauty products that create a direct link with nature. From its birth in Jana’s kitchen, the company has grown into a full product line sold at The Detox Market, Credo Beauty, Anthropologie, Follain, CAP Beauty, and over 300 stores nationally and internationally. Captain Blankenship also launched a gender-neutral skincare and grooming line called Sailor by Captain Blankenship in 2018 that is available in Target stores nationwide.

Jana is the author of Wild Beauty (2019), a holistic primer for green beauty rich in practical wisdom, anecdotes and 45 DIY recipes for natural perfumes, skincare, hair care, body care, teas and tonics. She lives in Gardiner, NY with her husband, two children, dog and cat.