brand history

When Yardley first opened its doors on London’s Bond Street in 1770, lavender was the herb chosen to perfume an exclusive range of luxury soaps. Combined with the finest quality plants and oils, English lavender has become recognised as the international signature fragrance of Yardley, the proud owner of two royal warrants.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the oil was used to sweeten the repellant and rancid smell of soap, and during the Black Plague of 1665, bundles of lavender were hung extensively throughout London and its surrounds to sweeten the air from the smell of death, and also for its cleansing and anti-bacterial properties.

The romantic images today of the Lavender Girl were generated from the young women of that time walking the streets with baskets of lavender selling their wares for pennies; although it must be said that in times of great demand, like of those during the Plague, it was, of course, a very lucrative business!

Lavender‘s greatest contribution to the world of science and technology was its application in oil form in the early 19th century (in1826 to be precise) as a solvent for bitumen of Judaea, a substance that changes its solubility in lavender oil according to light exposure. For those interested in pictures, this was the birth of modern photography! However, we still associate Lavender with the Victorian era, and particularly with perfumed linen, lavender sachets, pillows and ladies‘ fragrances.

Travelling with lavender was essential in the Victorian era not only because of its calming and refreshing qualities in the merciless heat of the sun, but also because it also evoked fond memories of home in England. It still, however, remains a firm favourite today with women of all ages, although nowadays, women (and men!) tend to carry little bottles instead of lavender pillows, and use it more for anti-stress, insomnia and jet lag than for anything else!

During the early part of the 20th century, lavender was used in abundance to cope with the casualties of the First World War, here and abroad, even though modern medicine had discovered chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. It is used today by the discerning parent as a complementary treatment for domestic injuries, and by herbalists and alternative and complementary practitioners