Our Heritage
In 1978 Julia Lawless’s mother Kerttu, started the business. As a Finnish biochemist, she had specialised as a student in Helsinki on the research of essential oils, and was particularly interested in the formulation of innovative cosmetic products using aromatic oils. The brand went from strength to strength, and in 1988 Julia carried on her mother’s legacy and Aqua Oleum was born from the picturesque Cotswolds, where the company is still based to this day. Today Aqua Oleum is owned and managed by mother-daughter duo Julia and Natasha Lawless, so with a heritage now spanning over three generations, the business remains still very much a family affair.
“Our name comes from the ancient alchemical term meaning ‘water & oil’, since these two elements were the fundamental raw materials of all of the products. In alchemy, the name ‘Aqua Oleum’ symbolically refers to the two seemingly opposed aspects of matter and spirit, which are nevertheless unified within human nature. Bringing these two into balance i.e. the material and the spiritual, so as to work harmoniously together can be seen as underlying many of the greatest humanistic endeavours or quests.”
Julia Lawless
Julia’s professional training had originally been as a writer. But it was her love of nature and plants which directly inspired her to study Western herbal medicine and then train as an aromatherapist within the IFA structure in London. Over the following years she published a number of books on the uses of essential oils and the practice of aromatherapy. Her particular interest was in providing clear and accurate information about the oils, which was also presented in a very accessible manner from an educational point of view.
She is well known for her many books on herbs and aromatherapy, which include: ‘The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils’; ‘The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy’ ; ‘The Aromatherapy Garden’; ‘Aromatherapy and the Mind’; ‘Aloe Vera’; ‘Tea tree Oil’; ‘Rosemary Oil; ‘Rose Oil; ‘Lavender Oil’; ‘Home Aromatherapy’; ‘The Home Use of Essential Oils’; ‘Illustrated Elements of Essential Oils’ and ‘Heaven Scent’.
She wrote her first book, ‘The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils’ (1992) simply because there was no comprehensive guidebook covering a wide range of aromatic oils available at that time. The book became a best seller and was immediately translated into several languages as well as being produced in an illustrated edition. It became the standard textbook for aromatherapy training on an international basis, which has continued until the present day. An expanded and revised edition of the Encyclopaedia was released in August 2014, which documents over 200 aromatic oils.
Today Julia is highly respected as an authority in the field of aromatic plants and oils, appearing on TV and radio as well as giving lectures and interviews.
As Managing Director of Aqua Oleum, she is directly responsible for selecting top-quality essential oils and checking the quality of all products that are sold. She is also in charge of the formulation of all new products and acts as a general consultant to the industry. Julia is a keen gardener, as well as being trained in Tibetan Buddhist yoga and has practiced meditation for many years.
“Nature is the most dominant ruler of all”
– Hippocrates
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy at Aqua Oleum is based on a profound respect for nature and the planet on which we live. We are inspired by the wisdom inherent in the natural world and especially by the beauty and healing potential of aromatic plants in all their diversity: indeed, all of our products are derived directly from a botanical source. As Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine said: “Nature is the most dominant ruler of all.” In his therapy, Hippocrates used essential oils and plant extracts in combination with therapeutic massages and spas, to cure not only the body but also the spirit and soul. He took a holistic approach to the human organism, since he acknowledged that human health is based on the harmonious relationship between our body, emotions and mind.
At Aqua Oleum we incorporate essential oils into our products to heal and invigorate the entire self and promote a sense of well-being. Aqua Oleum’s blue glass bottles & gold embossed labels were inspired by the original apothecary shops, whose shelves were lined with deep-blue bottles & gold labels to identify the natural remedies within.
Quality Promise
Quality control of essential oils is the single most important issue for any reputable company trading in aromatics.
Essential oils, like all other natural products, will vary from one year to another. In some cases, like geranium, there can be extreme variations in oil extracted from plants growing in different parts of the same field, as well as variations within the same area from one year to another. The plant, the soil, the weather and the micro-climate all affect the odour profile and the constituents in the oil. So how do we define and measure the quality of an essential oil?
One way of trying to define quality is to identify a characteristic odour profile, against which you can compare the oil. But how do you determine what that odour profile should be? For example, bergamot oil from Sicily has a completely different profile to that of bergamot from the Ivory Coast: so should there be one standard for both or two different standards for bergamot?
At Aqua Oleum we believe that climate should be taken into account when defining characteristic odour. At present, international standards do not recognise the origin of an essential oil as a factor. We have therefore developed our own strict definition of characteristic odour using our own company records and having had over 35 years of experience in the field. We also work closely with trustworthy suppliers and growers to ensure the quality of our oils, which includes examination of their GC / MS traces. Thus, we ensure that all our oils meet the following criteria:
1. The plant must be the mother species
2. The plant must be grown in an area where the species is indigenous.
3. The oil must be extracted from 100% named botanical species.
4. The extraction technology should extract the complete oil rather than a fraction (as shown in the GC/MC trace).
Sustainability
At Aqua Oleum we are committed to creating a world that is environmentally conscious. We strive to provide our customers not only with the best quality products for their overall well-being but also to support the social and natural environment in which we live. We ensure that we only use the purest, natural ingredients in all of our products and utilize organic materials whenever possible in order to support the fragile ecology of our planet. We also ensure that our packaging, production and distribution are carried out with respect to the natural environment: thus we use the highest percentage of recyclable and recycled materials possible.
Since sustainability is at the heart of our philosophy as a company, we are naturally committed to the highest standards of ethical business practices to ensure that all our activities are carried out with respect to nature and humans alike.
Organic Standards
All Aqua Oleum organic essential oils & skin care products are certified by the Soil Association. This provides a guarantee of quality and high organic standards: thus their symbol is shown on our organic packaging. Their comprehensive standards mean there can be a large difference between a beauty product that has been certified and one that is merely described as ‘organic’ on the label. To ensure a product is guaranteed organic, look for the Soil Association (or Cosmo) symbol on the product before you buy. When you see the Soil Association symbol on a skin care or cosmetic product it means that:
1. The producer has had its manufacturing facility inspected annually by the Soil Association or another certifying body.
2. All product formulae and labels have been approved.
3. It will be clearly labelled so that you can make an informed choice about the product you are buying.
4. Any non-organic ingredients are being used because no organic equivalents were available.
5. All ingredients are GM free. Non-organic ingredients can only be used if their suppliers have submitted a declaration that it is non-GM.
6. It has used minimal non-organic additives and only those from a restricted list. These must be non-GM and can only be used if the organic version of that ingredient is not yet available.
7. Any processed ingredients are processed by ecologically sound means.