michèle

The Chrüterhüsli is an herbal drugstore. It’s a love brand here in Basel and it’s always one of the first places I consider when gift shopping for family and friends. When you walk in you are immediately welcomed by one or several of the very knowledgable staff and your olfactory senses are greeted by an overwhelmingly pleasant scent – a mixture of candles, spices, tinctures, and herbs. All staff are wearing Birkstenstock sandals and are professionally trained pharmacists.

Michèle is one of the younger employees here. From an early age she has made only positive associations with these type of drugstores and credits these experiences for seeding an interest in the profession. What she enjoys most about the job is that the team will put their heads together to determine what products will best suits their clients’ needs in cases that are particularly complex. She tells me that the education is quite rigorous and that all her coworkers have a different area of expertise which helps her learn continually.

Coincidentally, Michèle is from the same small town that I grew up in. She likes spending time outside – the mountains in particular. On the back of her neck there’s a tattoo of a ginkgo leaf – a symbol of longevity. She hopes that when it’s all said and done, she can feel like she gave it her everything. Michèle thinks it’s good to seek out advice but equally important to listen to your instincts.

[27] Tuesday, June 8, 2021