The fragrant beauty and wellness products by Lola’s Apothecary embody the restitutive properties of the Devon countryside in which they are crafted
Colleton Manor is the sort of handsome country home that exudes an unmistakable sense of Englishness. The house dates to at least the 13th century, and for a time was home to the Reverend Jack Russell, a parson who bred the Jack Russell Terrier from the grounds. Currently, the surrounding family estate of 700 acres comprises rivers, farmland, grassland, marsh and woods. Operating from one of Colleton Estate’s stable blocks is Lola’s Apothecary, a luxury lifestyle brand inspired by the abundant flora of North Devon and bringing its innate natural beauty to the world.
“We set out to marry the potency of natural ingredients and the aromatherapeutic benefits of essential oils with the glamour of fine fragrance and art of perfume-making,” says founder Dominic Phillips, who grew up at Colleton Manor and has run the company with his parents and partner since 2013. “We wanted to create a natural brand that wasn’t afraid to be glamorous,” he says. “We are artisan and made by hand, and work tirelessly to elevate every element of the product to find ways to bring joy and value to our customers, whether it’s the dried flowers we place in the bottles or the wellness tips we hide in the packaging.”
Lola’s Apothecary started with Delicate Romance, a fragrance inspired by the estate’s garden, hand-blended and refined in small batches in the farmhouse kitchen.
Today, the handmade range includes massage oils, body polishes and bath products, which have proved a success with destination luxury spas and hotels around the world. One popular product is the body soufflé, a whipped body butter that combines shea butter and coconut oil with camellia and rosehip extract.
Everything is manufactured at Colleton Manor, so the company retains control at every stage, enabling Lola’s Apothecary to create bespoke products. “We formulate and manufacture everything from scratch,” says Dominic. “We blend the base ingredients and essential-oil fragrance, then combine the two with unique techniques for beautiful textures. “We quality-control everything and we don’t use a third-party company to make our fragrances.”
Craftsmanship is at the heart of Lola’s Apothecary. “We believe in quality,” says Dominic, “and we design every element of the product with a mission to bring joy at every touchpoint.”
www.lolasapothecary.com