Shop Keeper of The week - Simply Roses

What could be more perfect for a summer treat than to luxuriate in the scent of roses! As a professional florist, Carolyn Dunster (Owner) has worked with just about every variety of flower but given the choice she would opt to use roses every time:

"They are always the star performers in any mixed bouquet and they are the perfect flower to work with. Roses are amazingly versatile - beautiful as a single stem or bunched together en masse; they come in a breath-taking palette of colours and as a cultivated cut-flower they know no seasonal boundaries."

Simply Roses was born out of Carolyn's personal passion for the world's favourite flower. Her range of rose-inspired body, bath and home fragrance products is a luxurious hand-picked collection created to reflect the natural beauty of a Simply Roses bouquet.

Rose Argan Soaps

Widely acclaimed as a miracle oil, argan oil which is extracted from the kernels of the argan fruit contains high levels of vitamin E, natural anti-bacterial properties and essential fatty acids that all work wonders on the skin. Long-known as a beauty secret in Morocco, the fruit is harvested from the argan forests in the south west of the country and local Berber women consider the extracted oil to be an elixir of youth. Combined with rose oil, organically grown argania spinosa is the star ingredient of our wonderful new soap made exclusively for Simply Roses.

Simply Roses's signature scented candles

The signature scented candle is delicately fragranced with the perfume of early summer roses. The wax which is of the highest quality has been coloured a soft pale pink. It has then been hand poured into a black glass votive for a beautiful and distinctive look. The burning time of the candle is approximately 30 hours - fantastic value!

Not satisfied with providing us with gorgeous products to pamper our bodies and home , Carolyn has introduced a range of rose inspired edible treats! These range from a wonderfull rose tea infusion, Rose Tisane, a blend of pure verbena, mint and rose petals that will promote relaxation and well-being by the cup to the newly launched Rose Meringues ! These are made to order and require a minimum of 48 hours notice for delivery to all central London postcodes. Perfect for a special occasion, they are crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside and sensationally flavoured to replicate the taste of a rose in full bloom.

Rose Tisane

Rose Meringues

We take a few moments out with Carolyn to take quick peek into her rose filled world!

How would you describe your e-shop ?

Simply Roses is a rose-inspired lifestyle emporium.

Who/what are your biggest influences?

My biggest influence comes from the fresh roses that I buy weekly at Covent Garden Flower Market. The signature pink labels and organza ribbon that I use on my packaging were chosen to match the colour of the Milano Rose.

Where is your favourite spring/summer place to visit for inspiration?

My favourite place for sping/summer inspiration is the Chelsea Physic Garden - a walled garden oasis in the middle of London. It is a scented apothecary's garden that provides a blissful refuge from the hustle and bustle.

What is your favourite item from your current collection?

My favourite item from my current collection is my pure distilled rosewater - the scent is truly uplifting.

Do you have any new items/collections about to be launched?

I have just introduced rose-flavoured meringues to my range of rose goodies - I make them myself to my own recipe. They are chewy on the outside and marshmallow-like on the inside. When you bite into them you get an instantaneous hit of rose which is like inhaling the deep perfume of a rich garden bloom.

What do you enjoy most about being one of the shops in The Secret Arcade?

The shops in The Secret Arcade have been selected for their originality. The site is beautifully designed down to the last detail and if I were to have a real bricks and mortar shop I would want it to be the same vein.

To view all of Simply Roses wonderful products go to the Simply Roses shop in The Perfume and Beauty Passage in The Secret Arcade. Simply Roses has also been been invited by the Royal Horticultural Society to stage an exhibit in the Rose Marquee at the Hampton Court Flower Show which runs from 4-10 July 2011.

Rose of the Year 2012 - Moment in Time