About us
How it all began
Like so many of us, I’ve become increasingly aware of my personal impact on the planet. But I also love luxury cosmetics, which is sometimes conflicting, and I don’t think it needs to be.
Òir started with the soaps. I was conscious that I was using a lot of chemical-heavy shower gel in plastic bottles and wanted a more sustainable option, so I learned how to make soap using all natural ingredients - and no palm oil.
I wanted to create something that looked amazing, as well as having all the eco-credentials that are so important nowadays. And I'm really proud of what I created with the soaps.
After a lockdown full of soapy bubbles (and some pretty epic fails, like the time I melted our brand-new microwave with essential oil and we had to throw it out!), I launched Òir from my spare room in November 2021. I was working full time in a corporate communications job, so juggling things was tricky and my focus definitely wasn't on the day job! As the business got busier, I was able to reduce my other working hours, and eventually leave all together.
We now have a small team, and have moved into a lovely commercial property in Dalmeny, just outside Edinburgh. We have expanded our range to include lip balms, and are working on some other natural cosmetics that we'll talk about soon.
Òir (pronounced oar) is Gaelic for gold. We chose the name because of the association gold has with luxury, while also being a natural product taken from the earth. Just like everything we use in our products. And the fact that it's a nod to our Scottish roots, without the tartan and bagpipes!
Òir is a real passion project, and I hope you love the products as much as we do here at soap HQ. Let's change the future of the beauty industry together - one bar of soap at a time.
Jolene
Founder
