"At the heart of my studio, art and alchemy intertwine, where the ancient craft of sculpture meets the timeless art of apothecary. Each piece I create — from hand-carved sculptures to organic soaps, skincare, diffusers and candles — is a testament to the enduring beauty of nature and the transformative power of tradition. Using pure essential oils and age-old recipes rooted in alchemy and ancient apothecaries, my work is a celebration of the senses.

In my studio, every sculpture tells a story of form and texture, while each skincare product and candle carries the essence of natural ingredients, crafted with the same care and precision. Through this fusion of art and craft, I invite you to experience the profound connection between artist, maker, and nature—each creation is an expression of both ancient wisdom and modern artistry”.

OUR APOTHECARY
Behind the gable door and timeworn step, hides an apothecary for the senses. Blocks of organic handmade soap, dotted with rosebuds and cinnamon sticks, nestle in wicker baskets. Earthenware bowls, filled with dried flowers, herbs and spices, brighten the table. And the air is scented with organic handmade soap and beauty products, gently hand-stirred to retain the natural goodness. Candles and Diffusers made in glass and ceramic containers contain natural waxes carefully handcrafted.  Here, time takes a back seat – and one batch of organic handmade soap takes a whole day to perfect.   After a long day in the office, designer Jacqui Sheard would unwind by making bars of crafted organic handmade soap. It was a passion that became a profession when she found a cosy little shop in Lacock and started Quintessentially English.   

Behind our products is an age-old philosophy: When you touch a flower you disturb a star. It’s an idea that goes right back to medieval times when herbalists combined the sciences of medicine and astronomy – and flowers, linked to the stars, were used for their healing properties. Like these early sages, we believe there’s a connection, between earth and air, fire and water – an energy that flows through everything: a quintessence.  

At Quintessentially English, we make organic handmade soap, natural beauty products, and luxurious toiletries – for your head, right down to the tips of your toes, available in our store and online. You’ll find everything from handmade organic soaps, sublime shampoos, perfumes and face creams, to ‘me time’ massage oils, fizzy bath bombs, bath melts and Shea butter lip balms. Each aroma matches to a candle, wax melt and diffuser completing the range. Everything we make at Quintessentially English is as pure as nature intended, so it’s always kind to your hair and skin. You’ll never find ‘nasties’ like SLS, SLES and parabens in any of our products – just the finest sustainable organic oils, beeswax, herbal infusions and 100% essential oils. To create many of the earthy colours, we simply add natural vegetable extracts or clays. And, for that personal touch, we lovingly hand-finish each batch, wrap every block in paper, and tie with a length of twine.
 
CURATED GIFTS
Organic handmade soap and beauty products aside, there are all sorts of curated gifts from vintage treasures and home accessories to discover, like beeswax candles, silkscreened cushions and enamelware. Many created by local British artisans and crafts people – and selected for their rustic beauty and good, old-fashioned quality. 
 
TEAS & HERBS

We also stock a range of herbs and fine teas. Many of our herbs are organically grown and our fine teas come from a family that has been running a tea plantation in India for over two generations.

SOAP WORKSHOPS
As well as supplying organic handmade soaps and beauty product gifts online, we also run courses in organic soap making in Lacock, UK. We teach you how to make natural soaps during an exciting and interesting day course which takes place in a lovely calm environment. At the end of the organic soap making workshop you will have learnt the essentials and secrets of creating beautifully smelling and gentle soaps and you'll leave with a gift, plus a personalised batch of handmade soap made by you!
 
WHERE TO BUY
You can buy our lovely handmade soaps online. But if you live nearby, or you’re visiting Lacock, you might like to pop into our apothecary to get a real taste of how they’re made and have one of our assistants help you whittle down your selection. You’ll also find our products in many shops up and down the country – just call us on 01249 730898 to track down your nearest stockist. If you’d like to bring a slice of Quintessentially English into your shop or outlet, please visit our Trade enquiries page.
 
LACOCK GIN
Our herbal gins are made on site by David and can be bought online at lacockdistillery.com