The Royal Tudor Collection
Royal Tudor Products
MOISTURIZE - DAY AND NIGHT CREAMS
BEAUTIFUL EYES & LIP PROTECTION
GLOWING SKIN - SPECIAL FACIAL TREATMENTS
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The Royal Tudor
THE TUDOR BATHROOM
The bath is one of the most perfect places to indulge in beauty treatments as well as in relaxation and reverie. In this 21 st century we are so used to washing ourselves with soap and water that we forget that there are many other effective ways to cleanse our bodies. In 1865 in Berbera, the British Consul would undergo a daily ritual of being rubbed down with dough, then rubbed all over with fragrant body oils. He would swear that the natives did not suffer with any skin diseases and were able to endure the cutting desert winds protected only by thin clothing because their skins were so well cared for. Nomadic tribes have been using fumigation to cleanse their skins for centuries. Shortage of water in desert situations has dictated this; it works effectively not only to clean and tone the skin but to deodorize and disinfect it. A hole is dug in the ground and an earthenware pot containing smouldering aromatic herbs is placed inside. The bather squats over the mixture covering himself and the hole with a thick woolen cloak and by doing so, traps the rising fumes. After a while perspiration streams off the body. After ten minutes, a brisk rub down and the bather has a clean fresh body.
In ancient Egypt , nobles took a succession of baths daily starting with a cold one and culminating with a hot one perfumed with many fragrant oils. The Romans turned bathing into a social event where they met and conversed with friends – they chose from a wide variety of bathing choices such as mineral baths, fruit, vegetable, milk and honey baths, the Hypocaustum (the predecessor to our modern Turkish baths) followed by different types of body massage.
When the Romans conquered Britain , the indigenous population would have none of their fancy notions on bathing! Instead they continued to use natural Soapwort and willow ash on the rare occasions they bothered to wash themselves. It was left to the Romans to introduce the herbs they used for toiletries, including Lavender (the word is derived from the Latin, Lavare = to wash). When the Roman Empire collapsed, so did civilized bathing with it. Then the Crusaders returned from the East bringing with them valuable Arabic knowledge about herbs.
By the time the Tudor reign of King Henry VIII arrived, flower waters were enjoying a revival and the Tudors sprinkled their floors and clothing with ‘casting' bottles filled with sweet herbal and floral waters. The aristocracy and of course, Royalty bathed in the most extravagant liquids such as red wine, the favourite of Queen Mary. Queen Anne Boleyn bathed in white wine – which prompted an envious courtier to exclaim, “ You are doubtless familiar with the degrading sycophancy of the English nobility who filled their glasses from her bath whilst the Queen herself was in it, and drank to her health with revolting jests.” Queen Mary was dark and chose sensibly as red wine was good for the darker greasier skin being rich in tannin which made it a good astringent. Anne Boleyn chose white wine to tone and lighten her skin.
Tudor baths were taken as much for medication as for beautification. Many different herbs, flowers and oils were used and always Soapwort which provided a natural soapy foam in the water. Plantain, Knot Grass, Wormwood, Comfrey, Fennel, Marshmallow, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice,
Frankincense, Myrrh & Violet Leaves are all recorded as being used in Tudor baths. A “ general bath for clearing the skin and comforting the body” is given below: -
“ Take Rosemary, Feverfew, Orgaine, Pellitory of the Wall,
Fennell, Mallowes, Violet Leaves, Soapwort and Nettles and boil these all together and when it is well sodden put to it two to three gallons of milk and then let the Party stand or sit in in for one hour or two and when they come out they must go to bed and beware of taking of cold “
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Queen Cleopatra
Roman Baths
A Victorian Bathroom
Our products are made with love and care by our team of experienced bio chemists well versed in the art of creating Natural and Organic skincare products to international standards. We are registered with the *CTFA of South Africa (Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrance Association and The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa, Our products are approved by Beauty Without Cruelty.
*Note: The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association of South Africa is the industry's voice committed to maintaining the high quality and safety of cosmetic products. The CTFA guides members on the Self-regulatory Codes of Practice & Standards to ensure that the South African cosmetic industry flourishes.
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