BRONNLEY IS BACK - Better Than Ever

Reviving and reinvigorating a legacy is not a job for the faint hearted, especially in the world of perfume and beauty. This demanding market is crammed full of faded fragrances and tired treatments, and so taking the decision to fight for a scented slice of the pie is a brave move. However, when you have an instantly recognisable brand name, a tradition that is steeped in quality, and experience that stretches back decades, you have a distinct advantage. The world famous Bronnley is back on the shelves after 12 months of hard work, and the lustre has well and truly been returned to this classic British brand.

James Bronnley founded the company back in 1884, when it was based in a humble “shed” at 34 Verulam Street in Holborn. The area was heavily bombed during the Second World War, so those beginnings are long gone, but by then the company had already moved to Islington, the first of their four moves. James had originally studied perfumery and soap making in Paris, and his dream was to create “quality” products to cater for the ever-expanding fashion for scented bathing. It was one of his earliest products that became synonymous with the company, but we’ll come back to that shortly.

James died in 1938, but ownership of the company actually stayed in family hands until 2007. Originally passed down to James’ daughter, Gladys Rossiter, and then her own daughter, Ann Rossiter, the three generations guided Bronnley through many difficult years. When other companies folded, they expanded into fragrances, candles, and every bathing product you can imagine. The period out of family control, 2007 to 2023, brought both highs and lows, but the Bronnley name always managed to resonate with an audience that had grown up with their unrivalled bars of bliss. However, something big was about to happen.

For the past year the company has been on pause while the new owners, Heathcote & Ivory, waved their magic and picked through an extensive catalogue to decide how best to relaunch this beacon of British tradition. They have gone back to James Bronnley’s original concept, and formula books, and have rereleased the classic 1892 Lemon Soap, five of the bestselling triple milled soaps, and the boxed Herbarium Gift Set. Alongside these, the famous Bronnley English Fern Cologne has been lovingly restored to its former glory, and this alone is a must-have for all fragrance fans this festive season.

However, to celebrate the return of this British staple there can’t be any better way than that original, never bettered, Lemon Soap. With its true-to-life pitted skin, and the company name proudly stamped across the centre, you’re holding a piece of history in your hand. The scent combines a mouth-watering lemon, given a green edge thanks to a blend of lemongrass and neroli, with a gently wooded base of cedar and musk. Soap doesn’t get any better than this. Heathcote & Ivory really have breathed new life into this much-loved company, and I think have absolutely honoured Ann Rossiter’s long-held promise that “time will not change Bronnley’s adherence to perfection”.

The classic Lemon Soap, along with the full relaunch collection, is available from the Bronnley website at bronnley.co.uk There's also currently a “Three For Two” promotion on the complete range using the code WELCOMEHOME. [Samples provided by Bronnley]