Crabtree & Evelyn

General information

Crabtree & Evelyn was founded in 1972 by Cyrus Harvey. The name Crabtree & Evelyn was inspired by John Evelyn, a 17th century botanist, and the English Crabapple tree, known for its beauty and use in home apothecary. Initially a small, family run business, the first store specialised in fine soaps sourced from around the world.

One man’s passion for travel coupled with an inherent desire for natural products, set the foundation for creating an international brand renowned the world over for its fragrances, body care products, fine foods and beautifully packaged gifts.

Cyrus collected soaps and lotions made by small manufacturers around the world. What started as a vocation soon became a strong business proposition with customers delighting in the interesting and unique products available. From this one small shop selling an eclectic collection of fine soaps, Crabtree & Evelyn now has a strong retail presence in more than 65 countries including over 200 wholly owned branded retail stores.

Creating the Crabtree & Evelyn brand was borne out of Cyrus’ passion but he drew his inspiration from the life of John Evelyn, who was one of the first naturalists and conservationists and a visionary of his time. It was Evelyn’s personal motto ‘explore everything, keep the best’ that resonated with Cyrus and remains at the heart of the brand today.

Meal Soaps were the first products to be launched under the Crabtree & Evelyn brand and these have evolved over the years into a range of Heritage soaps which are still available today. These conditioning and rich-lathering soaps feature unique fragrance combinations from Crabapple & Mulberry to Black Sea Mud & Seaweed. From here the product portfolio expanded to include English Flower Waters and Toilet Waters, Bath Gels and Men’s Colognes. The use of natural ingredients continued with the introduction of preserves, biscuits, teas and confectionery and Crabtree & Evelyn became known for its gourmet products in beautiful, botanically inspired packaging.

Long before the ‘natural’ and ‘wellness’ movements became popular, Crabtree & Evelyn was producing ranges featuring fruit, flower and plant essences. The company continues to draw on its rich heritage and knowledge of plants and botanicals whilst embracing new discoveries.

Today the Crabtree & Evelyn product range comprises fragrances, bath and shower gels, soaps, home spa products, body lotions, hand creams and home fragrance.

The ethos of the company remains, seeking out the most beneficial ingredients inspired by nature to create a range of products which make a world of difference. A blend of the very best of nature and science coupled with tradition and innovation.