The Burren Perfumery was founded 35 years ago at the centre of a quiet valley in the heart of this inspiring area. It is located between Kinvara and Ballyvaughan on the route to the Cliffs of Moher. The limestone plateau of the Burren is famous for its nature, wildness and diversity of plant life.
There are more than 700 species of flowering plants here, about three-quarters of Ireland's native flora. The flowers of the Burren inspired the original Perfumery fragrances: Man of Aran, Ilaun, Frond, and Fraoch. The Perfumery is now owned and run by Sadie Chowen. Her philosophy is to continue the Perfumery tradition of creating products inspired by the landscape and environment that surrounds it, and to increase the simplicity and purity of the formulae
Perfume Making
In the main area of Perfumery, they prepare and finish their perfumes using oils from around the world. They blend the perfumes in 20-liter batches. Each batch is then macerated for two weeks prior to being chilled to promote clarity before being filtered into glass carafes for bottling. All the processes of filling, labeling, and boxing are done by hand - it does take a little longer and sometimes they don't get the labels perfectly straight, but it's nicer and quieter and more personal than using machinery.
Shopping and Gifts
If you're looking for a unique gift for family or friends, or a reminder of your visit to the Burren the perfumery has a wide range to choose from. Hand-wrapped soaps make pretty gifts while creams and lotions are both luxurious and practical. With their perfumes, you can find a variety of natural bouquets that are very different from the mainstream brands and will make your personal fragrance rather unique.
Audiovisual
There is a free audiovisual presentation about the plants and landscape of the Burren. With a flowering season from March through to November, the Burren's rich flora is constantly changing. For the visitor with only a few days or hours to spend in the area, the audiovisual is a great way to see the Burren in all its changing colors and moods through the seasons You can visit their website at http://www.burrenperfumery.com/.
