Our story

ARRAN: OUR HEART AND INSPIRATION

Our story began in 1989 when, inspired by the natural beauty surrounding their home on the Isle of Arran, Janet and Iain Russell started handcrafting luxurious fragrant soaps. Keen to gift visitors to the island an unforgettable memento of their stay, the collection soon evolved into bath, body, home fragrance and perfumery products; each aromatic blend named after an island location. We’ve grown significantly since those early days, though always held true to our heritage. The Isle of Arran remains our heart and our inspiration; fuelling our creativity and passion for beautiful things, beautifully made.

Fragrance first 

THE CORNERSTONE OF ARRAN 

A sprig of gorse, a breath of sea air and a pinch of seasoned wood… it was a love of Arran’s vibrant and evocative natural fragrances that laid our foundations and inspired our pursuit for scents that soothe, seduce and beguile. From soap to candles, body moisturisers and fine fragrances, each starts with the subtle art of perfumery – signature blends that embody the essence of the Arran settlements whose names they bear. The results are remarkable, making every day cleansing far from routine.

Uniquely Arran 

INSPIRED BY NATURE

From skincare and perfumery to bathing experiences and home fragrance, behind every Arran blend lies three decades of profound pride in our island home. Arran’s wild beauty is, quite simply, inimitable. Woodland trails and lush green glens, diverse flora and fauna, exhilarating sea air and even our island’s soft freshwater spring… these untouched forces of nature find their way into all our blends, enriching our products and bestowing every customer their own moment or memory of Arran.

Proudly made in Scotland

COMMITTED TO CRAFTSMANSHIP 

Proud of our Scottish origins, every ARRAN product is skilfully researched, designed and formulated by our own in-house team before being made at our Home Farm premises, here on the Isle of Arran. Alongside a principal Perfumer and lead R&D expert, our team of chemists, designers and developers wholly immerse themselves in our island home, captivated by this alluring landscape to craft original and unexpected new signature blends. 

Partners of distinction

ARRAN EXCLUSIVES

Flourishing from a small, cottage kitchen company, today our reach extends wider, thanks to partnerships with some of the most distinctive hotel and hospitality groups – for whom we proudly create bespoke fragrances and formulas. We proudly partner Cameron House, Caledonian Sleeper, Malmaison, Old Course Hotel St Andrews, Cromlix House Dunblane, Auchrannie, Arran and Crieff Hydro Group.

Our Founder and our Future 

Janet and Iain Russell initially opened a gift shop on the Isle of Arran, making and selling their own provisions, before founding Arran Aromatics in 1989. The opportunities for our brand became ‘Endless’, so to speak, in 2017 when we joined forces with this Glasgow-based investor. Though Janet Russell has now stepped down from the helm, acting as our Brand Ambassador, her sons and several other family members proudly continue as members of our team, dedicated to sharing ARRAN with the world.

The making of an ARRAN icon 

Ten years after Arran Aromatics was established, our first fine fragrance was conceived. Capturing the exquisite scents in founder Janet Russell’s garden after a summer shower, it was named After The Rain and instantly captured the hearts and minds of our customers. Two decades on and this inaugural perfume endures as our global bestseller. Refreshing and reviving, it has stood the test of time, offering new and loyal customers a long-lasting, luxurious and affordable fine fragrance to enjoy every day.