Monasteries, abbeys and convents weren’t just centres of worship – they were sanctuaries for knowledge and healing. Monastic libraries preserved texts on the medicinal uses of plants, passing them down generations, while carefully tended cloister gardens blossomed with flowers, herbs and fruits. These plants were dried into tea, distilled into tinctures and ground fresh into poultices.
The quiet power of nature promised restoration, healing and peace. It’s this time-honoured botanical wisdom, elevated by modern science, that inspires our collection today.
Meet the first two monasteries that inspired our collection.
Iona
Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona
This tiny island by Mull has been a vibrant centre of Christian worship ever since St Columba arrived in AD 563.
Columba’s monastery survived until the end of the 12th century, despite repeated Viking raids. Around 1200, the sons of Somerled – ‘King of the Isles’ – founded a Benedictine abbey here. Pilgrimage to St Columba’s Shrine continued to thrive, though monastic life on Iona ended with the Protestant Reformation of 1560.
It’s thought that the world famous Book of Kells was made here, along with other great works of art. Iona’s Abbey Museum houses Scotland’s finest collection of early medieval carved stones and crosses.
Vibration: Revitalising. Energising. Uplifting.
Signature Notes: • Lemon Myrtle • Eucalyptus • Spearmint • Rose Geranium • Lavender • Coriander • Cardamom • Cedarwood
Fountains
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
This Cistercian abbey is the largest monastic ruins in the country. It was founded in 1132 by a group of Benedictine monks seeking a devout and simple lifestyle elsewhere.
Despite periods of hardship, including bad harvests, Scottish raids, the Black Death and economic collapse, Fountains Abbey endured and later saw revival under Abbot Marmaduke Huby, whose great tower still stands as a symbol of hope.
Its wealth and power grew, but in 1539 the Abbey was abruptly closed down by Henry VIII with the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The dramatic ruins are now part of Studley Royal Water Garden and was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Vibration: Balances and reconnects the mind. Calm focus.
Signature notes: • Aloe • Rose Geranium • Vanilla • Rosemary • Spearmint • Litsea • Linden • Ylang Ylang • Clary sage • Cananga • Caraway
Six more exquisite fragrances coming soon...