About Me

Hello, my name is Stéphanie Bideau. I  was born in Châtellerault, France, in 1977, and lived in the picturesque town of Chauvigny until the start of my studies. As a curious child in an ordinary family, I grew and lived a simple life, with interests in athletics from an early age. 

Enrolling in studies in nearby Poitiers, I have obtained Master's degree in Applied Foreign Languages (English and Spanish) in early 2001, with specialisation in business and marketing, from University of Poitiers.

Life took me to the UK, London, and subsequently, after an improbable encounter, I found a family with a Croatian husband, moving to the picturesque town of Samobor, Croatia. 

Since 2009, I have engaged with the company Smilje i bosilje (English translation: Immortelle and Basil), then an official distributor of Oshadhi, renowned for its high-quality aromatherapy products.

At Smilje i bosilje, I have immersed myself in the world of aromatherapy, gradually mastering the intricate arts and crafts of this ancient practice. I have contributed to business development, enhancing the company's web presence and establishing a successful web shop at a time when online shopping was still a novelty in Croatia. 

I have contributed to the creation of personalized products for customers, either by fulfilling their specific orders or through the engaging workshops organized together with the company founder. These workshops, designed for groups of 8 to 15 participants, focused on specific natural cosmetic products, such as facial creams, based on individual conditions and preferences. During these sessions, typically lasting two to three hours, attendees were introduced to the benefits of natural cosmetics and the key elements of the preparation and production process. Under our guidance, they could continue to produce their own personalized natural cosmetic products, taking home and enjoying the benefits of a learning experience.

Smilje i bosilje were pioneers in raising awareness, providing education, and delivering high-quality products and supporting services for Oshadhi as their exclusive distributor in the market.

As for my family, my husband Davor, daughter Stella, and son Maxim, we have all been using homemade natural cosmetics since 2009 and never looked back to the industrial ones. The only ones not accepting these products were our cat Comet (now 12) and our dog Molly (now 11); well, they simply don’t do cosmetics.

Since 2017, I have lived with my family in Brussels, Belgium, a francophone country, though I am frequently reminded that I have an accent (well, French, as the name of the language has it.

Beyond my work at Smilje i bosilje, I had other, diverse experiences. As a native French speaker, fluent in both English and Croatian, I have worked in customer care, French tutoring (association Un Autre Monde), and digital media marketing.

I continue enjoying reading history books, following current world events, and practicing athletics.