Stephan Matthews

Showing posts with label Bronnley. Show all posts

Monday, 2 December 2024

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.

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Monday, 24 June 2019

THE SOAP RESURGENCE

It’s always interesting to see something become “fashionable” that was, just a matter of years ago, seen by many as belonging to another generation. “Everything comes back into style” was the mantra of my mother and, as I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that she is absolutely right. One of the recent popularity resurgences in the beauty industry has been the revival of the humble bar of soap, although some companies are anything but humble in the pricing of these scented tablets. So, to help you navigate the suds, I’ve chosen my top five perfumed soaps and none of these fragranced beauties will break the bank.

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Thursday, 2 May 2019

WHITE ROSE & RASPBERRY by Bronnley

Continuing a regular series can be a challenge for any perfume company but it’s made especially difficult when you’re having to follow an award winner. This is the situation that Bronnley found itself in with the release of their latest fragrance in the Contemporary Collection, and may even explain its slight delay. The third perfume in the range continues the theme of florals combining with fruits and, with a nod to the previous two scents, perfectly complements those past releases. One hundred and thirty-five years after originally launching, will Bronnley continue its legacy with the new White Rose & Raspberry?

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Monday, 24 September 2018

Bronnley's Bathing Ritual

With the season now starting to well and truly turn to autumn, the pull to settle back and sink into a hot bath has returned with a vengeance. An average bathtub uses around one hundred litres of water, one hundred and seventy litres if you go right up to the overflow, which is why the “bathing experience” is definitely not something that should be rushed. Anything that can add an extra layer of pampering is always welcome and that is exactly what you get with a new decadent duo from Bronnley. So, put the plug in, turn on the taps, and let me show you their Foaming Bath Relaxant and Regency Collection.

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Monday, 15 January 2018

ENGLISH FERN by Bronnley

Somehow we’re already half way through January and, as the New Year sales finally start to finish, the February fragrance launches begin to loom on the horizon. Hot on the heels of Christmas we enter the realm of the Spring scents with a promise of the warmer weather to come, but what’s available if you’ve still got a little bit of that festive money left? Well, we’re going to head back to a classic British company and a fragrance that you might have missed, English Fern by Bronnley. A staple since the 1920s, and loved by both men and women, just what makes this scent such an enduring evergreen?

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Monday, 20 November 2017

ORCHARD BLOSSOM by Bronnley

Now that the first frosts have really fallen on the British countryside there are two things that are forefront in everyone's minds. Firstly, the sprouts that you buy will be slightly sweeter in taste (my mother always swore that the frosts did this to these divisive greens) and secondly, people will begin reaching for their “winter” scents in ernest. However, for those ladies that prefer a fresher scent during the colder months, because they long for the warmth that Spring promised, help is at hand in the form of this year's release from Bronnley, in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. Say hello to Orchard Blossom.

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Thursday, 3 August 2017

IRIS & WILD CASSIS by Bronnley

A company’s follow up fragrance is always a bit of an unknown quantity in the perfume market. They desperately try to work out what made the first one so popular and how that information can be translated into number two. Bronnley found themselves in just this position after last year’s successful Pink Peony & Rhubarb and their approach is refreshingly “old fashioned”. Rather than create a variant on the first fragrance they have taken the original idea and applied it to a new combination of ingredients. Keeping the fruity floral pairing, but adding a contemporary twist, it’s time to welcome Iris & Wild Cassis.

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Monday, 31 July 2017

STEPHAN'S SIX - HELEN CAMPBELL

In 2009 Helen Campbell picked up a paintbrush for the first time and within a year was commissioned to catalogue the orchard fruits that Westons Cider used at their factory in Much Marcle, Herefordshire. These beautiful botanical paintings eventually came to the attention of Bronnley and her image of the peony was used on last year’s Pink Peony & Rhubarb. Now living in Spain, and with her latest collaboration with Bronnley about to launch, I though it was time to find out a little bit more about Helen during “Stephan’s Six”.

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Thursday, 25 May 2017

LIME & BERGAMOT by Bronnley

"Summer means citrus". There you have it, three words which sum up an entire season in the world of perfume. Okay, I know that I'm generalising slightly, because there are numerous other fragrances released at this time of the year as well, but the sparkling citrus scents always prove eternally popular when the weather gets warmer. Sunshine means drinks by the pool, lemonade on the beach, a Gin and Tonic in a holiday cafe. In a fragrance, however, I wanted a green citrus with a mouthwatering freshness, and that is exactly what I got with Bronnley's Lime & Bergamot. So, grab your flip-flops and discover your new summer spritz.

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Monday, 10 October 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - GEOFF PERCY

When Geoff Percy was brought on board to try and turn around the fortunes of Bronnley, after it had fallen into administration, he came with a wealth of experience. Ten years as Chief Executive of Simple Health and Beauty had taught him the importance of a brand’s loyalty, heritage and appeal. So, I thought it was time we learned a little bit more about his own fragrance journey during “Stephan’s Six”.

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Thursday, 15 September 2016

POPPY MEADOW by Bronnley

Collaborations in the perfume market are nothing new, although a large number of them have resulted in some rather dubious creations. So, it was with some nervousness that I approached the RHS Collection by Bronnley, and in particular their new addition to the range, Poppy Meadow. A company whose foundations were built on a floral bedrock would seem the perfect organisation to work with the Royal Horticultural Society, but would their scents be challenging florals or merely shadowy petals? Let’s head down to the garden and see exactly what awaits with the 2016 release, Poppy Meadow.

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Thursday, 25 August 2016

PINK PEONY & RHUBARB by Bronnley

The constant challenge for companies to create the latest blockbusting fragrance is one that many now approach with a reserved optimism. They often stay firmly within an olfactory style or even reinvent past favourites in an effort to hold onto an existing brand loyalty. The idea that past triumphs can again become the latest fashion is not as crazy as it sounds. After all, we can only reinvent the wheel so many times. It was with all of this in mind that I approached Bronnley's latest release, Pink Peony & Rhubarb. The name sounds like Jo Malone, the ingredients sound like Bronnley, but where will the scent take us?

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Thursday, 30 June 2016

ZEALOUS FLOWER by Bronnley

Historic companies all face the same difficult task at some point in their lifetime, how to modernise without losing the essence of their founder. One way of adapting to the changing market is to keep a classic back catalogue while introducing new products, that way you cater for your traditional customer but also reach out to a new generation. The latest company to face the challenge is Bronnley, whose one hundred and thirty two year history is a testament to family ownership and hard work. Zealous Flower couldn't be more different to a tradition of triple-milled soaps, but a link with the past is very evident.

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After twenty successful years as an actor, I decided the time was right to begin a new career, and that was in the perfume industry. Scent had always been a passion of mine, and working alongside a new group of creative minds ended up being the perfect fit.

As a Brand Consultant, Evaluator, Copywriter and New Business Advisor, the variety of work is exciting, and definitely draws on my acting background. Every day brings new challenges, experiences and delights to a workplace that is crammed full of new releases, evergreens, and fading classics.

This website brings together my ramblings on all aspects of the perfume industry from bottle design to fragrance, companies to noses, and everything in between.

Opinions are my own and do not in any way represent the views of the companies mentioned. Where products or services have been provided by the companies it is stated at the end of the article.

Companies and readers are welcome to contact me by using the Send Me A Message option below.

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Monday, 2 December 2024

Monday, 24 June 2019

Thursday, 2 May 2019

Monday, 24 September 2018

Monday, 15 January 2018

Monday, 20 November 2017

Thursday, 3 August 2017

Monday, 31 July 2017

Thursday, 25 May 2017

Monday, 10 October 2016

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Thursday, 25 August 2016

Thursday, 30 June 2016