We first met Iris Verbaas, founder of Nabalo, through her luminous, nature-rooted world. A space where poetry, plant medicine, and ritual live in gentle harmony. Her work feels like a return to what’s essential. The quiet intelligence of the earth, the art of attunement, creativity, and the remembering that we belong to something vast and tender. Her writings, and her offerings help us to reconnect with the land, the seasons, ourselves and the rituals that sustain us.
Q: You write that Nabalo is “powered by love and respect for the earth.” Can you share where that reverence began for you? Was there a moment or memory that opened that door?
I’ve always been a pretty sensitive person. I grew up in a busy city in the Netherlands, and the constant noise and fast pace of city life often felt like too much for my system. But even in the middle of all that, nature kept showing up for me. My parents and extended family had a strong connection to the natural world, so we’d often spend weekends walking through forests, visiting old castle grounds, or wandering along the dunes. Those were the moments I felt most like myself, barefoot in the grass, standing quietly under the trees, breathing in that cool forest air. Nature was the only place I felt fully calm, like my body could finally relax. That connection became a constant in my life. Even as a teenager, I wasn’t into partying or big social events. I always felt more at home in quiet places, reading, being outside, following the rhythm of the seasons. Over time, that connection has only grown stronger. Nature isn’t just a place I go to reset, it has truly become a relationship. And that’s also where Nabalo began. The earth has always been my biggest inspiration, teacher, and guide.
Q: What does ‘slowness’ mean to you in the context of your creative and daily life?
For me, slow living isn’t only about moving at a slower pace; it’s more about paying attention. Listening to what my body needs, what my energy is doing, and where I am in the season or my cycle. Especially as women, our rhythms are not linear. We move in spirals. Some days I feel full of ideas and creativity, and other days I need quiet, rest, and space to pull inward. Reminding myself that slowness is okay helps me honor that instead of pushing through. We live in a world that constantly asks us to show up. Choosing to slow down feels like a form of resistance. A way of staying grounded in who I am. It gives my nervous system room to breathe, and it’s where my creativity really comes from, when I’m not rushing or trying to force it. Nature reminds me of that all the time. She never rushes. I try to bring just a little bit of that into my day, even if it’s just five minutes outside, standing in the sun or watching the trees. Those tiny moments help me reset and feel more like myself again.
Q: You mentioned that written, visual, and intentional content is your natural language. What draws you most deeply to storytelling through words and imagery?
I don’t do well in crowds, and I’ve never felt drawn to being in the spotlight. I need space to think, to feel, and to process before I express anything. Over time, writing, photography, and design became my way of communicating. They gave me the tools to express myself in a way that felt real and aligned. It’s how I show the world through my eyes. The soft moments, grounded textures, the way nature moves and shifts. Telling stories through visuals and words is my way of sharing what matters to me. Whether it’s a misty morning, the scent of pine needles, or the way the light changes when the sun sets, those small things move me. I think people can feel the sincerity in that. I never started with the intention to grow an audience. I just wanted to share something real. And slowly, that turned into connection. Over time, it became a community that values the same kind of presence, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Q: How do you nourish your inner world, especially as an introvert and sensitive creator in a time that often demands constant output and visibility?
Honestly, I just try to stay true to what works for me. I listen to my body and my energy, and if I need to take a break, I take one. If I only feel like showing up once a week, that’s okay. I don’t let algorithms or trends tell me how or when to create. I try to follow what actually brings me joy. And for me, that joy almost always starts in nature. A simple walk in the woods can shift everything for me. That’s where my ideas come from, where I feel most inspired and clear. Because what I share online is rooted in my real life, those quiet nature moments always find their way into my work. I also make sure I’m doing things that refill me, like reading, resting, and having small rituals that feel grounding. I’ve learned that consistency only really works when it’s coming from a place of inspiration and passion.
Q: Are there rituals, practices, or landscapes that bring you back to yourself when you feel untethered?
Nature is always what brings me back. And walking, just getting outside and moving through a natural space, that’s the thing that helps me reset more than anything else. I go for a walk in nature every day, no matter the weather. It’s how I clear my head and reconnect with myself. I’ve always felt especially at home in pine forests, by the ocean, or in wide open dunes. Those landscapes have been part of my life since I was young, and they still hold something really grounding for me. My mornings usually start with a little bit of each element. I shower to wake up with the water, take my matcha outside, stand barefoot on the ground to earth, let the sun hit my face, and breathe in the air. It’s simple, but it helps me feel present and grounded. Evenings are slower, skincare, soft light, reading a few pages before bed with my salt lamp on. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Sometimes it’s 30 minutes, sometimes it’s just a couple of minutes of quiet. It’s less about how long it is and more about the intention. That’s what helps me come back to myself.
Q: What is your relationship with beauty? How has it changed or deepened over time?
Nature has always shaped how I see beauty. Things like a rose in bloom, a deer stepping onto a foggy path, or hearing the first birdsong in spring, those moments really move me. I’ve definitely teared up over them more than once. That kind of beauty feels timeless to me. But as I’ve gotten older, especially now that I’m past 40, I’ve started to notice beauty in other places too. I see it in kindness, in how people care for each other, in quiet moments of connection. Beauty isn’t about how something looks, it’s about how it feels. I find it in people who’ve been through hard things and still choose to show up with softness and honesty. There’s something really powerful in that.
Q: How do you choose the people, projects, or brands you align with? What qualities or values are non-negotiable for you when it comes to collaboration?
For me, it really comes down to two things: the energy has to feel right, and the values have to line up. Even if a brand looks perfect on paper, if there’s something that doesn’t feel aligned energetically, I usually trust that and say no. I need to feel a real connection to the people and the project, it has to feel genuine. And then there’s the earth. That’s non-negotiable for me. I won’t work with brands that use synthetic ingredients, plastic-heavy packaging, or practices that harm the planet. I want the things I share to reflect the world I want to live in. And kindness matters too. The people I work with need to lead with heart. I really believe we can build something meaningful when we center integrity and care, both for each other and the planet.
Q: What are some of the plants, oils, or scents you feel most attuned to right now? What do they offer your skin, your spirit, your space?
I’ve always had a deep love for trees. Pine, especially, feels like home to me. There’s nothing like the smell of warm pine on a crisp autumn afternoon, it’s one of my favorite things in the world. I’m naturally drawn to tree oils like fir, spruce, juniper, and sandalwood. And I love the depth of resin-based scents like frankincense, myrrh, and vetiver. They feel grounding and ancient, like they carry a kind of memory in them. Right now, one of my favorite pairings is the Tulsi Hydrosol from evanhealy with the Balm of Gilead Elixir. I use them together every day, the scent, the way it feels on my skin, it just really works for my skin and calms down the spirit. I also love combining earthy oils with something fresh like lemon. That mix reminds me of walking in a place where the forest meets the ocean, probably my favorite kind of landscape and scent. With so much air in my chart (Gemini sun, Aquarius moon), I really need grounding scents to help me feel steady. Tree oils and resins do that for me every time.
Q: How do you envision the future of beauty, business, and earth stewardship intertwining? What are you dreaming of?
I’d love to see a world where the planet comes before profit. Where success isn’t just about numbers, but about doing something meaningful and rooted in values. I want more brands to lead with integrity. Because they care about what they’re putting into the world and how it impacts people and the earth. I also hope more people start to pay attention to where they spend their money, supporting companies that are doing things with care and intention. And I think we need more conversations around this. More education about what real sustainability looks like, and how to live in a way that’s more in tune with the natural world. Evan Healy is a beautiful example of how it can be done, combining beauty, business, and respect for the earth. I’d love to see more of that become the standard, not the exception.
Q: Lastly, what feels most alive for you right now in your work, your world, or your inner life?
Nature, always. She’s at the heart of everything I do, my business, my writing, my daily rituals, even the way I move through relationships. I really believe that when we live more in tune with the elements, we feel more like ourselves. We remember that we are nature. Right now, what feels most alive for me is helping others reconnect with that truth. Through my work, I want to guide people toward more joy, more connection to nature, and more kindness, toward a life that feels a little softer and more grounded. I honestly believe that kindness is a choice, and that joy, when it’s real and rooted, can shift everything. That’s what I want to keep growing in my life and work: more beauty, more belonging, and more respect for the world around us.
