Why Natural Ingredients Are the Key: Swan's Well Spring and the Story of Castello de Haye
The ingredients in my products are the key to Castello de Haye, I started making soap initially as I was allergic to many high street soaps and skincare. I am no chemist, but I knew natural materials were what I wanted to use and what I wanted to work with.
I am happiest in the workshop and really love working with and getting inspired by the natural ingredients all around us, the starting point for the soap is the spring water.
The Pure Source – Swan's Well Spring
When I started making soap in 2010 I was advised that natural spring water was the best thing to use in traditional soap, so I started collecting it from the spring that flows past the motte and bailey adjacent to St Mary's Church.
After reading ‘A History of the Hay’ by GL. Fairs, I found out that this motte was possibly the site of the first Norman castle, documented in an ancient charter in 1121 as ‘Castello de haia taillata’. The name of ‘haia taillata’ should be noticed, as giving us the origin of ‘Hay’, and as representing apparently the French “haia taillée,” or cut hedge.
This inspired me to name my brand Castello de Haia. I later changed the spelling to Castello de Haye as no one seemed to be able to pronounce the former. Our aim is to create botanical skincare, using the finest ingredients nature can offer; spring water from the Black Mountains and active ingredients from the plant world – in tune with the seasons and the natural world around us. This means among other things that none of the ingredients used are tested on animals, they are not skin irritants (as in the foaming agents commonly used) and of course never using palm oil.
Our Philosophy – Botanical, Seasonal, and True to Nature
Perfumes, oils mixed with flower petals, balms and ointments gently scented with spices have the power to transform our emotions and aid wellbeing. I make the soaps with intention and attention, I choose to make soap in small batches using ingredients of the season; eucalyptus leaves, rose petals or dried nettles picked locally. It is a rewarding and contemplative process.
Spotlight on Key Ingredients
Soap is made by combining an alkaline solution with fats or oil. One of my favourite bases is olive oil, it is mild and moisturising and packed with vitamins, minerals, and proteins. The more we learn about olive oil, the more we understand that there are many medicinal benefits.
This is collected from the Swan's Well, a lovely outing every day in all weathers, connecting with nature, walking in the grove listening to the birds, it is then distilled in the workshop, a slow process usually taking 4 hours.
This is the very beginning of the process of making the soaps and the Room Mist Sprays.
Browse the
Handmade Natural Soap Collection
Checkout our blogs 'Inside the Workshop"'
