It’s been a whirlwind of a week/month for me – on top of preparing for the brilliant 3-day Handmade in Britain event at Waterperry Gardens (hello and welcome if I met you there!), watching the amazing Hans Zimmer at the O2 in London (HIGHLY recommended!) and releasing Leafology’s first perfume, Bloom (recent review: ‘Oh my goodness so gorgeous! Love wearing it in the day or even at night before bed.‘*),  I visited a very good friend who decided to leave England for Portugal 2.5 years ago, where she’d bought some land in an act of rebellion against the British weather.

Totally off-grid, we’re talking compost toilets, solar power lights and water pumped up the mountain from the river. I stayed in a tent and embraced the ‘back to basics’ vibe.

No twelve-step skincare routine for me (actually, this is never my reality – I like multipurpose luxury and products that work, without the faff, which is why I created them!), but I do have some tips for anyone packing for an upcoming trip…