Cath Kidston Returns with C.Atherley

For a long time, two of my favourite British brands were Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston.  Unfortunately, neither brand is still controlled by the founders; Laura Ashley died in 1985 and Cath Kidston sold her majority stake in the brand in 2010 and left for good in 2016. Since then, neither brand is what they used to be. But thats a post for another day.

Last week I saw an article on Cath Kidston and her new business venture, a line of bath and body products called C. Atherley. 

The packaging features her own botanical and toile de Jouy-style drawings on pale green and white. The products are scented with a new fragrance called Geranium No.1, inspired by Cath's favourite geranium, Pelargonium radens. The name Atherley belonged to her maternal grandmother and the C is of course for Cath.

She grows a large variety of geraniums in her greenhouse and the website offers suggestions and growing advice for other geranium enthusiasts, like myself. I love the bright, cheerful blooms and the scent that comes from the leaves; fresh, uplifting and clarifying.  Not to mention they are so easy to grow and require little maintenance. I always have containers of these beautiful plants in the house and out in the garden from late Spring into the Fall. And I have bottles of geranium and rose geranium essential oils in my aromatherapy box and know how well they work in skincare formulas. 

The range is crafted in Somerset from 100% pure essential oils and bottled here in the U.K. At present there are ten products including oils,  creams, washes and bath salts with prices ranging from £10 to £39.