Our Fragrances

We’ve used the gentle floral notes of jasmine combined with sweet citrus in our Authentic Philosophy scented toiletries. It’s gentle and soft, but perfect for the skin. Whether you’re sinking into a bath, drenching in the shower or slathering your skin with body butter we know this fragrance will become a firm favourite with our devotees.

Quintessentially English, this will transport you to the very depths of a bluebell wood.

With the woody notes of cedar combining with the birch tar-y , burning leaves in winter smell of guaiacwood this is so sophisticated but  very warm and comforting.

In the woods above Valloires charcoal burners used to prepare fuel for the fires of the Abbaye. This delicious fragrance has notes note only of those fires but also fresher notes of the leaves of the surrounding trees and the fresh felled wood. Captivating.

A one time inhabitant of the Abbey, this fragrance is dedicated to the Countess. Orangey citrus notes carefully blend with the sweet notes of sage and rosemary from the herb garden. This is a sophisticated fragrance which we think the Countess would have loved !

Lavender is just the diva of all essential oils, and our Authentic Philosophy bath oils, shower foams and body butters contain it in abundance. Lavender oil can relax you, lift your spirits and even soothe away headaches! On top of that it makes the skin smell wonderful, and our addition of bergamot just makes it even more sophisticated.

This fragrance was developed for use in our Authentic Philosophy Bath Salts and Universal Cleansing Bar. It contains essential oils of eucalyptus and thyme and it’s zingy, powerful and packs a punch. It smells refreshingly clean and is definitely a fragrance for the aromatically astute.

Fig combined with wonderful lemony gingery notes. A firm favourite of mine.

No range inspired by France would be complete without a quintessential fig. This is a warm fragrance inspired by orchards graceful grey-green fig trees and their epicurean purple blushed fruits.

As the name suggests, this fragrance is reminiscent of the still fragrant air inside a church full of flowers. With a bouquet of white roses, jasmine,lilac and tuberose this perfectly angelic fragrance is perfect for the boudoir.

If you think of a full blown rose with a hint of geranium leaf, then you have it.

Perfect notes from the tiny, white tropical flower. A delicately feminine fragrance

This is actually a fragrance that we did many years ago, but it fitted so well in this collection we couldn’t resist using it again ! Garrigue is french for ‘heathland’ so you can detect gorse bushes, juniper berries and dry smokey grass.

My Father’s shed smelt just wonderful. Creosote and weedkiller, dried grass on the lawnmower and warm wooden tools. Next to the shed was a barn where my Grandfather kept a car he never drove and this barn had a similar fragrance, with the additional notes of petrol and age old leather car upholstery. Perhaps in retrospect there was also just a hint of warm whiskey………….

The fragrance of dying embers of burning logs in a huge stone fireplace. Hints of smoke and coal too, and perhaps just a touch of discarded Clementine peel thrown into the fire. This is one of my all time favourite fragrances and an absolute must have for Autumn/Winter and if traditional Christmas fragrances aren’t your bag this is the one to choose.

This fragrance transports me to my own childhood with horses, and then in later life of being with my daughter and her beloved ponies. It is the warm smell of a horses coat, with echoes of the tack room in summer, and that perfect leathery smell inside a saddlery. Hoof oil and stables full of warm straw and bulging haynets.

The scent of the Christmas tree ! Sharp notes of pine resin mingle with the sweeter aromas of juniper and blackberry in a sophisticated seasonal treat.

Bright and exciting, this fragrance cleverly combines essential oils of lemon grass and mandarin to create a buzzy exhilarating aroma. Perfect for scrubbing, soaking, relaxing, and preening. We’ve used it in the Authentic Philosophy Bath Salts and in our Universal Cleansing Bar.

A whimsical white floral accord of lily, narcissus and gardenia evocative of the flowers in the walled garden at Valloires.

Blended in honour of the gardener at the abbey this fresh light fragrance is reminiscent of an early morning walk through the herb garden and the sunshine on the beautiful avenue of bay trees.

What a fragrance this is! Its hard to define because the lemon isn't really strong but its definitely there along with other softer citrus notes perhaps...… it's an extraordinary citrus herb which is just delicious, even if its hard to explain.

A totally addictive combination of orange blossom and sweet pomegranate - our no.1 seller.

The smell of Christmas ! (But works well in the kitchen year round ).

Citrus notes mix sublimely with the fresh vanilla, but slightly spicy, background of ylang ylang.

Orange Blossom is a sweet powdery fragrance, and for our Authentic Philosophy toiletry fragrance we’ve combined it with the herbal notes of rosemary which means it becomes a little more complex and refreshing. Perfect for the bath and shower......am or pm you decide.

Named in honour of one of the oldest pear trees in France, planted in the Abbey gardens in 1796, this fragrance is a blend of pear and the delicate notes of sweet pea blossoms. Utterly enchanting and very feminine.

I’ve always loved the smell of old books, and certain types of print, particularly high quality catalogues, and this fragrance is an attempt to recreate that. Think also of the lovely musky smell of a library or a secondhand book shop. Reading Room is quite a woody aroma with soft notes of sandalwood and bergamot and a little wiffle of leather. Great for the office or study, maybe a little more masculine than feminine?

A classic rose fragrance, just as if you had picked a rose geranium leaf and crushed it between your fingers.

Made with both these essential oils the resulting fragrance is a soft herby rose, perfect for any room in the house, it's very feminine.

Think how wonderful the air in the spice room at the Abbaye de Valloires must have been, as the monks blended herbs, resins, wood powders and spices to create incense.

Warm notes of cinnamon and sandalwood mix with the softer fruity notes of cassis berries and vanilla pods to result in and aroma as soft as a whispered secret, and just as enchanting.

Patchouli can be quite a harsh fragrance but not so here where the more gentle notes of sweet pea win through giving the aroma a delightful delicacy and roundness.

Our determined daughter Lily left home to dream and work in France at nineteen. For several years she also worked in Switzerland and we visited her there often. This was an attempt to bottle the wonderful fresh air by Lake Geneva and the starbright snow of the slopes at Verbier. An individual, pretty and charming fragrance it will also always remind me of Lily.