Hello and welcome!
I'm Jennifer Melville and Gunpowder Botanicals is my very own cottage industry. All the products you see here are crafted by me, by hand, from scratch in small batches in Gorebridge, a former gunpowder-making village in Midlothian, Scotland.
My soaps, shampoos, salts and balms are vegan-friendly and have never been tested on animals; that goes for each individual ingredient too.
My ingredients are certified organically-grown by COSMOS / The Soil Association and where possible I source from small ethically-run farms and co-ops across the globe.
My aim is to make high-quality organic products with natural ingredients and minimal packaging.
I respect the land, wildlife and nature, while supporting the rights of human beings everywhere to lead a self-sufficient and sustainable way of life.
My packaging is compostable / bio-degradable or 100% recyclable. I heartily encourage the re-use of all of these lovely containers!
Why Gunpowder?
After many years living in the city, in 2017 I realised a dream by leaving Edinburgh for fresh fields. I had never had a garden of my own and the need in me was strong! When my partner and I bought the house we now live in we were told that the original 18th century occupant had been the chief gunpowder mixer for the mill that stood across the road. This may or may not be true (never let the truth spoil a good myth) but I loved this idea and so my first ever garden became The Gunpowder Plot! It is from here that I formulate my recipes, make my products, design my packaging and send everything off to you from the local post office (long may it flourish!)
Today we view gunpowder as an agent of destruction because of the dreadful uses man has designed for it. But after the ancient Chinese discovered it, they used it in magical and alchemical processes and believed it could ward off evil spirits.
The chemical constituents of gunpowder - charcoal, oxygen, potassium, nitrogen and sulfur are vital for the health of our soil and crucial for life on our planet.
Why Botanicals?
The mineral salts, clays and pumice I use are all naturally extracted from the sea and the earth but those aside, 100% of my ingredients are plant-based - derived from plant roots, flowers, fruits, nuts, leaves and resins - all of it starts life in the soil!
Why Organic?
There is no escaping it, certified organic ingredients are more expensive to produce and to buy, but I made the decision right at the start of my soap-making journey that this was the only ethical way to go. Did you know that your skin is your largest organ, accounting for 16% of your total body weight and covering up to 2 square metres???? It envelops you with protection so the care you show it really matters. By using only certified organic ingredients from verified sources I can guarantee that Gunpowder Botanicals products do NOT contain any trace of
- chemical fertilisers
- chemical pesticides
- antibiotics
- hormones
- parabens
- sulphates
- GMOs
Organic farming benefits all of us - humans, wildlife, farm animals and our beautiful green and blue Earth.
Read more about it below