Young Aussie turns her health battle into million-dollar business

After a decade of suffering before finally getting a diagnosis, this young Aussie turned her struggle into a million-dollar business.

An Australian woman’s ‘selfish’ pursuit to get on top of her health has turned her into a successful entrepreneur whose business is about to be worth seven figures.

It was Maddie Burton’s endometriosis diagnosis and subsequent surgery in 2017 that prompted a major shift in her approach to what she put in and on her body.

“I went down a full low-tox route and swapped everything in my life,” the 30-year-old told news.com.au.

When it came to perfume though, she was struck by the lack of alternatives to traditional products – many contained harmful chemicals with the potential to exacerbate endometriosis symptoms.

“There wasn’t much that didn’t have the hormone-disrupting chemicals … there was only really the option to rub essential oils on yourself, and I’m not about that life,” she said.

After identifying a clear gap in the market, the Queenslander created fragrance brand, Your Bliss, from her kitchen during Covid lockdown in 2020.

“I did almost as a selfish thing in the beginning, and then when I realised so many other women wanted it too, it just kind of blew up,” Ms Burton said.

Maddie Burton turned her personal struggle into a booming business. Picture: Supplied

The business element was a “massive learning curve” for Ms Burton in the early phases, having been a professional dancer for many years before becoming a personal trainer.

“I had no idea about margins or profits or anything, and everything was so expensive,” Ms Burton said.

“I went to perfume-making classes, then went looking for a manufacturer and almost gave up.”

She eventually found two women who made perfume, but at the time, only for their own business.

“When I told them my story and what I wanted, they loved it so much and agreed to do our manufacturing, and now do it for other brands as well,” she said.

Still, it took a long time of hustling with a small team before Your Bliss turned a profit.

“It’s literally taken us years to start making any money,” she said.

“But now we’re actually set to hit the million dollar range this year.”

Her business has resonated with thousands of women across the country and will soon be expanding into the United States and Europe.

It was a stark contrast to when she started five years ago.

“I went from doing a couple of orders a week then quit my job a year into the business, and it’s pretty much doubled every single year,” she said.

After outgrowing her kitchen, the fragrance production was outsourced to two locations, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney, while the packaging is manufactured in China.

The entrepreneur has been vocal about the difficulties experienced by one in seven Australian women living with endometriosis and joined a choir of outraged women who condemned radio host Marty Sheargold’s offensive comments on Triple M last week.

Ms Burton had no idea at the start. Picture: Instagram/maddieelliseburton

But now she’s totally thriving. Picture: Instagram/maddieelliseburton

While complaining about back pain, he went on to say women “carry on” about their period, before making the outrageous suggestion that endometriosis was “made up”.

Ms Burton, who waited an excruciating decade to be diagnosed with the condition, said it was “a terrible thing to hear”.

“When you hear something like that, especially when it’s said to a male-dominated audience, it’s so devastating,” she said, adding that it “almost takes away from everything you’ve been through”.

As part of her mission to continue giving back to women affected, Ms Burton regular donates to endometriosis charities, including Endo Articles.

Following a news.com.au campaign About Bloody Time in March – endometriosis awareness month – last year, the Federal Government announced a $49.1 million package that from July 1 this year will provide Medicare-covered consultations of 45 minutes or more to people with endometriosis.