We are blown away by how the fragrance industry has risen to the challenges of Covid-19, whether it’s pivoting from perfume production to making hand sanitisers (companies like Louis Vuitton, Guerlain and Lalique) or giving a slice of profits or takings to excellent causes. Frankly, it makes us proud to be working in the perfume world.
Another heart-warming initiative now comes from British perfumer Ruth Mastenbroek, who has just released Gratitude and Hope, two limited edition candles created to benefit the charities behind Our Frontline, a new mental health initiative for key workers including NHS workers, carers and blue light emergency service workers.
The candles are £14.95 each, with 100% of profits going to this great cause. The first – which expresses the Gratitude we all feel for our key workers and NHS carers – is a beautiful, calming scent of amber and tuberose. The second, Hope, is inspired by ‘all those feeling alone or anxious’, explains Ruth, and is infused with ginger and lemongrass. They have a 15-hour burn time, blend natural coconut, rapeseed oils and paraffin wax, and have been hand-blended and poured in the UK by the Mastenbroek family, who are isolating together.
As Ruth says: ‘I think many of us can probably relate to our mental health having been affected recently. My family and I have been especially concerned about the impact this pandemic is having on our keyworkers, who bravely go to work each day to keep our country going. We felt it is now our responsibility to ensure they get the support they need with their mental health, both now and in the future. Our Frontline is providing round the clock support to keyworkers and so we wanted to raise funds and awareness for their brilliant work.’
Also supported by the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, Our Frontline brings together leading mental health charities including the Samaritans, MIND, Shout, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. As the Duke said, to launch the charity: ‘Over the past few weeks, millions of frontline workers across the UK have put their physical and mental health on the line to protect us all during the Coronavirus pandemic. Every day they confront traumatic situations at the same time as having to contend with their own worries about the risks to themselves and their families. That takes a real toll, and as I’ve seen for myself through my work with the Air Ambulance, without the right support at the right time the challenges they face will only be greater.’
We still don’t know when all of this will start to ease.
But meanwhile, literally, a flicker of Hope. (Not to mention Gratitude.)
£14.95 for 50g (including P&P – although please be aware that as with many deliveries at present, you may need to be a little more patient than usual)
Find them here
To read more much about Ruth Mastenbroek on The Perfume Society website, click here
