You can’t live on the Isles of Scilly and not love the sea, it’s practically mandatory.  For me, sea swimming has been a way to find some time for myself as a busy mother of two, to reconnect with nature, to create some headspace and come home to my heart.  It’s where Phoenix and Providence began, the business was designed during these inspiring, soul-enriching sea dips.

At the heart of all that I do is the island history and kelp-burning heritage.  Kelp was burned on the islands from around 1680 to the last recorded kelp burning in 1835, the ash from this was then used in glass and soap making.

Phoenix and Providence were the name of two shipwrecks sunk on the Isles of Scilly – Phoenix in 1680 when the kelp burning began and Providence in 1833 as the kelp burning ended.  Providence means the protective care of nature as a spiritual power and Phoenix represents the rising from the ashes, quite literally in this case.

And now it has come full circle.  Now it’s me collecting the kelp and turning it into skincare, still with a handcrafted approach and immense gratitude for this gift from the ocean.  Providence is also about preparing for our futures and that sense of protecting our environment and choosing less chemicals, promoting a more natural, kinder approach.

I feel compelled to live a slower, more meaningful life that has presence and purpose.  I love that I spend my days harvesting seaweed from the clearest waters, then slowly creating skincare that softens the skin and soothes the mind.  Each product contains a simple ritual, created to inspire calm and introduce mindful moments to the everyday.

I hope that you love the products as much I enjoy making them,

Slowly and mindfully from Scilly,

Ella x