“IF YOU believe the magic, it can happen,” says Katy Simpson, the creative director and co-founder of Noble Isle.
The Co. Down-born business woman is one of the driving forces behind the luxury bath and body brand that’s hoping to encapsulate Britain – and Ireland – in a bottle.
With the company’s Rhubarb handwash and lotion now in all of Virgin Atlantic’s upper class flight bathrooms, Simpson is flying high.
The daughter of Irish parents, a Co. Tyrone father and a “city girl” mum from Belfast, it’s little surprise that Ireland has influenced the brand, which was founded in 2011 with three friends.
Sea of Green, one of 13 collections, takes inspiration from the roaring Atlantic and its coastline, with extracts of locally sourced sea oak and samphire to soothe and regenerate alongside top notes of lemon and juniper.
“The extracts are our unique selling point,” Katy says. “And all our packaging is bespoke. The lemon reminds me of a bracing walk by the sea, while the sea oak is sourced from a mussel farmer in West Cork.
“When I think of Ireland, I think of family walks by the sea and the smell of salt and burnt coal in the air, the fire and a cup of tea,” she jokes.
Katy SimpsonAnd it’s collaborations with the likes of Cork seafood farmer Colin Whooley, of Roaring Water Bay Rope Mussels, that have helped Noble Isle create a sense of history around their products.
Sea oak has been gathered for hundreds of years in West Cork, Katy says adding: “There’s hundreds of years of heritage and these organic collaborations are absolutely key to the brand. The sourcing of our ingredients is very important.”
With influences from across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, you’ll find a hedonistic mix among the Noble Isle collections, with rhubarb from Yorkshire, beets from Wales and malted barley from Scotland, which is used in the its Whisky & Water handwash.
With over 20 years in the luxury beauty industry Katy has lived all over the world, spending time in Ireland, Britain and as far away as New Zealand and the States.
Moving back to London to study fashion and working in the industry for five years she later moved into accessories and gifts working for companies such as Molton Brown and Miller Harris.
And the big brand association has continued with Noble Isle, which has attracted the eye of buyers from the likes of Liberty, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and Barneys in the US.
Now based in Buckinghamshire, most days you’ll find Katy Simpson on long walks in the country with her two dogs Hoagie and Slippers.
But Noble Isle and the search for the perfect scent and fragrance combination, is never far from her mind.
“I’ve always wanted to do something creative,” she says. “And the timing felt right.
“Over the last five years we’ve turned a corner, a huge part of that is brand awareness. Often you get 30 seconds to sell your idea - companies and buyers are inundated with new products.”
A selection of Nobel Isle's productsThe company’s main focus this year will be the hotel market, where they have already enjoyed success in Britain, Hong Kong and Scandinavia but are now looking to expand further into Asia and Europe.
“We’re the new kids on the block so to have got as far as we have to date, I’m delighted,” Katy says. “But getting off the ground is like a chess game, you don’t want to move your pieces too fast.”
An advocate of patience, she adds: “If you have a good product or brand, believe 100 per cent in it, and it will happen. It’s just a question of pushing and for how long.
“You get knocked over all the time so you need a thick skin. You just get up and dust yourself off.”
