Soap-maker to the (Michelin) stars
In the North West of England, there is a hidden gem not many people know about; that is until you look at Sedbergh Soap Company’s list of clients, and it seems that top hoteliers and Michelin starred chefs have kept the secret to themselves.
The business was founded in 2007, by Danish born Dorthe Pratt, and their handmade products have the familiar Scandinavian blend of high quality and functional design.
Now one of their brand new spa treatments – Body Scrub with Pomegranate – has beaten off some stiff competition from across the country to win a prestigious gold award in the Natural Beauty Awards. It is Sedbergh Soap’s 15th national award and the product is one of over twenty developed for one of the Lake District’s most luxurious hotels, Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, in Windermere.
The award-winning body scrub is made from natural and organic ingredients, that includes Dead Sea salt, pomegranate oil and bamboo, to ensure it is both environmentally friendly and suitable for sensitive skin. Surprisingly, all of their products are tested on eczema.
Spa Lodge at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
Julia Critchley is Spa Manager at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House. She says, “It was important for us to work with a company with the same ethos as ourselves and we’re over the moon to see a spa product we have developed together here in Cumbria gain national recognition. It’s fitting that it will be used as part of our Jetty Spa Trail, set in unspoilt woodland for the ultimate holistic experience.”
Dorthe, Founder of Sedbergh Soap Company explains, “To compose a bespoke scent and 21 new products required a lot of research, which included everything from tasting the ingredients used in the food to analysing the scents of the flowers and foliage surrounding the Spa Lodges. This award-winning body scrub is handmade in three stages, adding specific ingredients at different temperatures, so it is a complex product to make”.
Upon entering the development lab you are met with a sensational scent and a hive of activity. Dorthe lights up, “This is where it all happens; this is the heart of the business where I tinker with ingredients, play with ideas, and new concepts take form”, she says with passion in her voice. “We like to partner with places and people who appreciate the high quality ingredients and skill that go into our products. We have for example created products for Simon Rogan’s two-starred L’Enclume since 2010. They were the first to embrace our concept of ‘purity of product from kitchen to the bathroom’ ”.
A quick glance at a shelf, reveal a selection of glass bottles with handcrafted silver crests and Swarovski crystals. “We also make products for superyachts and private estates for high net worth clients”, explains Dorthe with a smile. “But I couldn’t possibly tell you any more; we take our clients’ privacy very seriously”.
You are left thinking that Sedbergh Soap Company in many ways is a small business with a big reputation.