Gail takes inspiration from land
Bladnoch Botanics, a small family business near Wigtown which crafts luxury natural liquid soaps and lotions inspired by its surroundings in South West Scotland, is making a difference at one of the top hotel Spas in the UK.
The Cairndale Hotel and Spa in Dumfries – which recently secured the accolade from the AA – looked to the local countryside for its new range of in-room toiletries, chosing Bladnoch Botanics.
Owner Gail Macdougall set up the firm after leaving her job as a chartered civil engineer in Glasgow and moving back to her childhood home near the Bladnoch River.
She began discussing the partnership with Cairndale director Matthew Wallace Junior at a Christmas market at the region’s Drumlanrig Castle.
Gail said: “The scents blend pure essential oils with skin-loving ingredients, and are vegan, paraben and sulphate free.
“They’re inspired by the local landscape and my own personal memories.
“Among the ingredients are aloe, sunflower oil and shea butter.
“The bottles are made from recycled plastic recovered from the oceans of the world.
“The Cairndale has selected the Bergamot and Ginger scent, which isfresh, uplifting and designed to create a subtle but memorable in-room experience.
“The essential oils also have many benefits – grounding and balancing, antiseptic, calming, stress reducing and mood elevators.”
Products introduced to the 86 rooms include hair, hand and body wash and lotions and hair conditioner.
Matthew said: “Our Spa has achieved national fame and a world class reputation but for this latest stage of our wellbeing journey we have turned to our local roots. Bladnoch Botanics’ focus on nature, sustainability, quality and sensory awakening is a perfect match for our own philosophy.
“We are also proud to be supporting such a forward thinking local business.”