Welcome to our Winter 2006 newsletter.

The weather has turned cold and the winter berries are out. Ralph has gone off to Catalonia to source olive oil for the soaps and the rest of us are warmly wrapped up and enjoying the quieter autumn days after a hectic summer. Encouraged by your warm and enthusiastic response to the Burren Botanicals, I am working on a new range of 100% organic eau de toilettes with accompanying olive oil soaps, in keeping with our belief in simple products made from the best natural ingredients. I would like these to be more sophisticated and complex than the floral waters but keeping that light, refreshing floral note that is so pleasant and natural. I am working along the lines of bergamot, orange and citrus eau de toilettes with hints of mint or elderflower, echoing traditional colognes. We are aiming to have these on the shelves for late Spring 2007.

At long last we have a chance this winter to design our range of gift packs. Using a selection of Ralph’s photographs of the Burren through the seasons, they will be simple boxes printed with full colour photographs. The first packs will be for the new eau de toilettes and the Burren Botanicals. I'm really enjoying choosing the photographs to use as it gives me the opportunity to reviews hundreds of pictures of the Burren's flowers, plants and landscapes.

In response to your requests, we have brought out the Ilaun bath and shower gel. In keeping with the rest of the range, it is gentle, plant based and contains no parabens, SLS, animal derivatives, colourants or GMO ingredients. It is priced at €16.50 for the 250ml. The Christmas soap this year is Clove and Orange.

Our Christmas Gifts this year are a free Organic Pine & Rosemary gel (€16.50) with every order received before November 22nd. Every order over €100 will also receive a free Burren Botanical Autumn Bath and Shower Gel (€16.50). As always we are happy to giftwrap free of charge. For a really special gift, we have very smart black gift boxes (€6) filled with the items of your choice, packed and tied with ribbon.

For the first time this year we have made the decision not to send out the Christmas letter by post.  For some years we have been uncomfortable with the amount of paper and waste this generates and feel that most of you are by now using email.  Sending it as an email newsletter allows us to send you a whole range of photographs of the Burren that we think you may enjoy and include news, recipes and seasonal information on what is happening at the Perfumery.  It also permits a much more dynamic relationship with our customers, allowing you to contribute ideas and send in feedback.   We would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the thrice yearly newsletters and any requests of what you may like to see in them. I would also be happy to hear from you with thoughts and ideas for new products.  And of course, we are always happy to send out brochures by post to anyone who requests one.

Earlier this year we changed our worldwide shipping from fixed rate to weight-based to give you more flexibility when ordering and to reduce the impact of postal rate increases in Ireland. We are now extending weight-based to include European destinations. We only charge you what it costs us in postage; there is no charge for packing or gift wrapping.

I hope that you enjoy making Christina’s scone recipe and Julia’s lentil/lemon winter warmer soup. Do come and visit us in 2007 as we love to meet our customers face to face and see you enjoy the additions in the herb garden and new recipes in the Tearooms.

We look forward to seeing you at the Perfumery and wish you a happy festive season.

Best wishes,