The Burren Perfumery is a family-owned business hidden away in the heart of the Burren hills and a fantastic place to visit while staying in Doolin.
All perfumes and cosmetics at the Burren Perfumery are handmade of natural and organic ingredients. Taking inspiration from the landscape of the Burren.
What to expect when visiting the Burren Perfumery?
Expect a fantastic time! Explore the art of soap making, the Herb Garden, a delicious piece of cake and much more!
Are there tours at the Burren Perfumery?
Yes, the Burren Perfumery offers a free audio-visual presentation. Further, free guided tours are available daily, from June through to September at 11:30 and 14:30, offering a behind-the-scenes look at this unique operation and the history of the area.
Room to roam – What can you explore at the Burren Perfumery
The Soap Room – See how to make soap
Explore how soap is handcrafted right here in the Burren. The soaps made at the Burren Perfumery are mainly made using what is known as the cold process.
The first day of a new soap’s life consists of blending oils and lye to make cold-process soap, which the team then scents with essential oils while it is still liquid, before pouring it into moulds to cure and set.
After the soap has cured for between one and two weeks, it is removed from the moulds and cut it into long loaves, similar to loaves of bread. A week later, the loaves are sliced into what will become the final soap bars.
When the individual bars are fully dried, they are hand-wrapped. First, in parchment paper to preserve their scent and stop them drying out, then in their outer wrapping.
The Blending Room – Making of certified organic skincare
In the Blending Room, the team creates a range of organic creams and balms. The products are made in small batches, usually 30 to 50 units at a time. In this way the Burren Perfumery can ensure that the product you receive are as fresh as possible.
The herbal balms produced at the Burren Perfumery are a blend of fine oils and rich organic beeswax. The beeswax is gently melted in a double boiler, using just enough heat to liquify it. The oils are then heated and blended into the wax to create a very rich balm, particularly suited to relieving dry skin problems.
Face, body and hand creams are all essentially made in the same way: they are a selection of oils chosen for their particular properties and then blended with distilled water to create a light emulsion in the same way that one makes mayonnaise in the kitchen. Lighter and finer oils are used for face creams and sensitive areas; richer oils for hand and body. A lotion is like a cream made with a higher proportion of water, making it lighter and more appropriate for frequent use.
The Burren Perfumery product range of creams and balms are certified as organic by the UK Soil Association. That is, the ingredients used in our creams, the process by which they are made, the packaging they are presented in, and the production standards of the business all conform to the high standards of the Soil Association.
The Herb Garden – Dedicated to the beautiful flora of the Burren.
The Burren Perfumery Organic Herb Garden was planted in 1999 with the intention to provide visitors with examples of native herbs and information on their traditional uses.
The garden also contains a number of small, secluded areas where people can sit and relax in the quiet of the Burren.
Many of the abundant plants that grow along the roadside and in the fields of the Burren are, in fact, medicinal or cosmetic herbs which have many uses long since forgotten. The garden was laid out to reflect those different usages.
The Herb Garden is free to visitors and open year-round. The best time to visit is from May to September.
Join Darra for a walk around the Burren Perfumery
The Tea Room
The Tea Room aside allows you to relax and enjoy a mouth-watering selection of organic cakes, scones and pies, homemade soups with freshly baked bread, and selections of local cheeses and salads all made with organic vegetables.
Open 11am to 5pm, seven days a week from April through to October.
The Shop
You can find everything that is produced in the Burren Perfumery in the Gift Shop on-site. However, if you prefer to travel light, you should know, everything made at the Perfumery can be ordered from the website with worldwide shipping available.
How far is the Burren Perfumery from Doolin?
Located in the heart of the beautiful Burren, an approx. 35-minute drive away from our Lodges. The Burren Perfumery makes a wonderful stop while exploring the Burren National Park and region.
What else can I do in the Burren?
- Explore Caherconnell Fort and the magic of Sheepdog Demonstrations
- Take a self-guided walk, trail or drive around Doolin and the Burren region
- Get active on one of many Burren Walking and Hiking Trails
- Discover caves, wildflowers, local food and more
Do we recommend a visit to the Burren Perfumery?
Absolutely! We love visiting The Burren Perfumery ourselves. We can only recommend it to our guests and everyone visiting the area for their vacation.
