Laura Thomas: desire for a natural life
Laura Thomas was down to her last £200 but now her natural products range is listed in high places, writes JULENA DRUMI
After the break-up of a relationship in New Zealand, environmental enthusiast Laura Thomas returned home to the UK with two children and just £200. She needed to find a way to sustain her new life, and a decade on from starting a skin products business she’s developed an unexpected Royal connection.
Back in 2014, driven by her desire to live a life free from harmful synthetic chemicals, East Lothian based Laura set about creating a lavender candle to naturally enhance sleep. She was encouraged by the positive response it received and so she developed a full range of products. Now her company Laura Thomas Co is designing ranges for the Balmoral Estate.
Commenting on the origins of the brand, she said; “Laura Thomas Co was born of a simple desire to live a more natural life. It has since evolved into a brand that supports a holistic, plant-focused lifestyle, empowering people to live in harmony with nature. Today, it is more than just a product line, it is a catalyst for a more mindful way of life.
“Balmoral Estate has long advocated for the need to take better care of our planet, championing a deep understanding and appreciation of the beauty and power of nature. So, of course when I was approached to create products for Balmoral, I jumped at the chance.”
For Laura, it was essential that her new ranges reflected the scents that fill the gardens surrounding the royal residence. So, she opted to include ingredients such as fir needle and cedarwood to evoke the herbaceous and woody aroma of a gentle walk around the woodlands, as well as bog myrtle, found in abundance at the estate and known for its soothing antiseptic and anti-ageing qualities.
By carefully selecting and blending ingredients like these, Laura has created two ranges that each provide a luxurious connection to the natural beauty of the royal retreat.
The business has since evolved into an online platform and is a supplier to boutique hotels in UK, Sweden and Iceland, with a retail store in North Berwick.
From the beginning, all packaging, bottles and jars have been plastic free and 100% recyclable. 30% of the paper product packaging is made using old coffee cups.
The other 70% comes from FSC certified forests to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards. The paper packaging is created in a mill in England and printed with a non-toxic eco solvent ink which is 100% biodegradable.
All items are posted in recycled cardboard boxes, packed with Eco Flo Chips made from corn starch which can be washed away with water, composted, or disposed of in kerbside garden waste bins.
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