The joys of Pure Bliss

Or, why fabulous fragrance should form a daily part of our lives. 

I love creating skincare that actually does what it is designed to do. My morning and evening skincare routines are a few blissful moments that frame usually very hectic days, and it struck me recently that part of the joy of those moments is fragrance - I have always treated myself to really beautiful, fragrant hand washes and shower gels, which perfume my bathroom as I sit and apply my products. 

Not long after this realisation, by pure serendipity, I met a lovely chap who makes small batches of beautiful soaps, fragranced with essential oils. So - I asked him to make some for me, and I am thrilled to share my Pure Bliss hand and body wash!

The power of essential oils

Essential oils work through both the sense of smell and skin absorption, stimulating the olfactory system and potentially influencing the limbic system, a groups of structures in the brain linked to emotions and memory. When inhaled or applied topically, they can trigger physical and emotional responses. We all know that certain smells can trigger powerful memories - like, for me, the smell of pine needles and wild aniseed, which transports me back to my first holiday in northern Spain – and I hope that by creating a gorgeous, signature fragrance we can swiftly create that association with the pure bliss of me-time, which is all too fleeting but all so important.

As a result, when we were developing my new hand and body wash I wanted to choose a mix of essential oils that not only smelled great and would trigger that easy slide into a relaxed state, but would also have actual skin health benefits - remember, nothing that’s not useful!

My hand and body wash is made using three key essential oils: lemongrass, rosemary and grapefruit.

Lemongrass essential oil

Apart from being one of my favourite scents, lemongrass essential oil offers numerous benefits, including stress and anxiety reduction, muscle pain relief, and acting as a natural insect repellent. It also possesses antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it not only beautiful, but useful, too.

Rosemary essential oil

I have a rosemary plant in my garden, which I love to grab as I walk past and then smell the scent as the leaves break. It’s a hit of a Mediterranean summer I can’t resist. Rosemary essential oil is well-known for its invigorating, evocative scent and offers numerous benefits, including improved cognitive function and stress relief - contributing to a more positive and optimistic frame of mind. Rosemary oil also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help with skin conditions like acne and eczema.

Grapefruit essential oil

Of all the citrus fruits, I love the scent of grapefruit best. I have no idea why, I admit, but it sings of bright, early starts and fills me with a sense of energy. The essential oil also has antimicrobial properties; it contains compounds with antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can help fight off skin infections and promote healthy skin. I have actually bought myself a small bottle of the pure essential oil and I add a couple of drops to a spray bottle with water, and use this to spray my windowsills when cleaning. It adds a hint of citrussy freshness to the air and will kill off any mould spores that might have settled there over winter, too.

The artist and designer William Morris said: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Well, my new Pure Bliss ticks both of those boxes! I do hope you love it as much as I do. It’s been a very personal project, for me, and perhaps reveals a little more about me and my personality than my skincare products might!

Love, Penny x