The Modern Day Apothercary
The Alchemist’s Satchel is a place where herbs, oils and potions meet the everyday and ordinary. We harness what already readily exists around us and bring it to you, with a personal touch. Every box is a gift – whether to you or someone else – it is always packed so it feels truly special to open. We take great care in this, because a treat should be a memorable experience.
Our Recipes
Our blends are modern twists of grandma’s recipes, made with sustainable, kind to nature (and skin!) ingredients. They pull on knowledge passed from generations in mine, and probably your family, too. Every blend is our own, yet inspired by existing herbology and aromatherapy recipes. We learn from the Old Knowledge and harness from the plants around us to bring you all you’ll need to restore your own equilibrium, and find your most peaceful self.
Our Family
Every product is handmade, and often made to order. Our decorative flowers are grown and dried in Cornwall, by Bells’ grandmother. Therefore, like a few other aesthetic details, candle decorations may vary depending on the season and harvest. They are then dried in flower presses made by her father.
Our Ethos
Being holistic about wellbeing, for us, means taking every step into account. This means making sure that what looks after you and your wellbeing also looks after the earth and our future. It means being kind to you, and everyone (including the bees!) Our commitment is not simply being vegan, or eco packaged, it’s thinking about carbon footprint and the location of our suppliers, the sustainability of every ingredient and supporting small businesses wherever we can.
Meet the maker
Born and raised as a pagan, I always found that searching for pagan wares often led me to lovely makes but they were often of an aesthetic that didn’t match my intent or perception of paganism. I often found very dark, gothic, mysterious looking packages and hampers, whilst I was looking for white, pure, botanical; something that reminded me of woodland walks, foraging and communion with nature.
So, after many years of making gift baskets for friends and family, I decided to see if anyone else out there might like my take on pagan hampers. After some steep learning curves (editing product photography alone took days, I won’t even go into cosmetics testing or label designing!) I started a small Etsy store, thinking “what’s the worst that’ll happen?”
Well, as I write this, we are on the Eve of The Alchemist’s Satchel’s first birthday. I have a workshop in my garden, most of my belongings are in the attic so that my bedroom could become a packing station, and this is now my full time job. Which is funny, because I distinctly remember my mother laughing at me when I told her at age 4, having emptied the 12th expensive bottle of shampoo into the bath that month, that I wanted to make potions for a living when I grew up. So, there, Mum.
Best of all, we have the makings of a small team. Partner, family and friends have all learnt to make candles, cut labels, stir bath tea mix or just pull me away from my desk when it’s time to let the day go to rest. I have an amazing photographer, a very organised social media manager, and an incredible assistant, who help me keep this little ship afloat as we grow into the big wide world.
Thank you for joining us on this little adventure, from the dreams of a small child in a shallow bath to sailing the seas of this new year we’re entering.
Welcome to the coven,
Peace and Light,
The Alchemist’s Satchel