Time out with: Kevin Meechan

Congratulations on your success at the Veggie Awards 2022. Could you tell us about the winning products and why the judges loved them?

Arran Naturals is the next chapter in the Arran Sense of Scotland story, evolving our natural formulations, improving our sustainability promises and creating functional fragrances to enhance wellbeing. 

At the Veggie Awards, we had a commendation in the Vegan Body Care category for our Mindful Lemon & Patchouli Body Wash, and our Calm Lavender & Chamomile Body Wash, which contains 100 natural fragrance, is 100 per cent vegan and cruelty free, won the Cruelty Free Body Care category. The judges described it as ‘simply divine’, and they loved the recyclable aluminium packaging.

Your company has a strong commitment to sustainability and the environment. Why is this so important to you?

Arran products are proudly made in Scotland, and have been inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the Isle of Arran for over 30 years. As a result, we’re committed to protecting our natural environment and are working towards reducing our carbon footprint.

We know that the lifespan of toiletries and home fragrances is short, so we offer a refill option on many products and are working towards introducing more this year. We’ve worked hard to eliminate virgin plastics within our packaging and now have 100 per cent PCR materials across our 300ml bottles. We launched Arran Naturals using all aluminium packaging to further our sustainability commitment. 

How do you make sure your products are as good for the planet as they are for the mind and body?

We are committed to making products that feel luxurious for our customers and are kind to the environment.

Arran Naturals products have cutting-edge formulations with up to 99 per cent ingredients of natural origin, are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. Active ingredients such as Scottish botanical extracts have been combined in perfect harmony to create three multifunctional expressions to help improve our customers’ physical and emotional wellbeing: Calm, Awaken and Mindful. 

Some readers may remember your brand as Arran Aromatics. Why did you decide to rebrand as Arran Sense of Scotland?

To celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary, Arran Aromatics set out on a brand re-fresh to modernise and refine its proposition to enhance its Scottish roots. Our re-brand to Arran Sense of Scotland marks an exciting evolution of the Arran Aromatics brand as we move further into the natural wellness space. 

What are your most popular products?

Our signature fragrance is After the Rain, a beautifully balanced combination of lime, rose and sandalwood – it smells truly divine. Created by our founder Janet Russell, the fragrance was inspired by the scent of her garden on Arran after a summer rain shower. 

The Calm expression is the most popular scent in the Arran Naturals range. We believe that each of our Arran Naturals’ expressions provide escapism to those little moments of tranquil Island life. 

How can I become a stockist?

Please visit the Arran website to find out more.