The Zest Of The Balearic Islands In A Bottle

Imagine cooking with aromatic Extra Virgin olive oil sourced just around the corner of your Tuscan Collection home, or relaxing into the scent of lavender from the French Riviera after a day well spent hiking Les Alpes-Maritimes. Being an August Homeowner is a beautiful experience in itself, but to complement journeys through Tuscany, Mallorca and beyond furthermore, we have created a sumptuous line of products that echo the very essence of the most iconic European locations.

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“We know, love and have spent a lot of time in our regions and wanted to encapsulate their spirit and enhance our Homeowners regional experience. As a result, we looked to the land our homes sit on, the botanicals associated with them and the ways those places made us feel,” shares Max Lozinski, Head of Villa Valeria.

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Introducing: Villa Valeria

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An exclusive Collection of handcrafted bath, beauty and lifestyle products, designed to add a flourish of pure unmatched luxury to staying in your August Homes, or further afield, wherever you may be in the world.

From handcrafted soaps to delicately balanced bath and body washes, whether it’s the zest of the Balearic islands or the fresh mountainous air of the French Alps that you yearn to bring into your daily rituals, Villa Valeria unlocks the most memorable moments. We spoke with Max Lozinski, Head of Villa Valeria/Product, about the conceptualisation of the Collection.

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How did August conceptualise the Villa Valeria products? Where did the inspiration come from?

We had been looking to upgrade our amenities offer, and having looked around the market we found a prevalence of average products - that neither delivered on quality, nor invoked a sense of place. This latter point was central to us, we know, love and have spent a lot of time in our regions and wanted to encapsulate their spirit and enhance our Homeowners regional experience. As a result, we looked to the land our homes sit on, the botanicals associated with them and the ways those places made us feel.

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Can you speak with us about the product development process, how are we working in our regions to source our ingredients?

A winding road that is always full of surprises! Like all great product development, it really is a process that takes time, energy and trial and error. We started with a range of fragrances that matched the regional briefs on paper, but when tested didn’t quite transport us with the clarity and sparkle we had hoped. As a result, we changed tack; shifting our focus to working with a smaller, family owned, natural seed oil business with whom we formed a base shower gel product that felt right - gentle, natural and with good lather and moisturisation properties. I then worked on scents - essentially, I started with the key botanical - be that lavender, rose or orange - and then sought to add complexity and depth to these through secondary scents, tending to be woodier, more herbaceous scents which to me, ground and deepen the lead fragrances and really make the terroir or landscape come to life.

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Naturally, essential oils and locally-sourced ingredients come with many benefits. Are there any lesser-known or interesting properties that you can share with us?

There is a raft of benefits, the mental properties are most interesting - destressing, invigorating, inspiring - to me these natural fragrances and oils represent a transportative tool unleashed in the shower! Wintergreen, used in our Alpine body wash, has great anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help relieve muscle and joint pain - making it perfect after a day's skiing or hiking.

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How would you say the products will elevate how August Homeowners experience their trips and Collection(s)?

It’s all about wrapping the world of the homes right around you… the alpine scent for example is crisp, cool and invigorating, like a hit of cold mountain air. Our Cotswold scent has the gentle heady floral notes of a rose garden in full bloom - connecting you to the horticultural heyday of high summer even on a gloomy January morning.

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The August Team loved the soap that we received on our day in the Cotswolds (and I know this fragrance is one of Mélie Dunod’s favourites too). Which is your favourite product, and why?

Hard to say - having a hand in all of them makes one feel a fatherlike neutrality! I have a soft spot for the Cotswolds lemon verbena soap, as it reminds me of my favourite bench in my garden which is surrounded by green verbena. The zesty citrus of Balearic orange, with its undertones of marjoram (known as the herb of happiness by the ancient Romans) has a summer sprightliness that is hard to beat.

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What are the main design direction for the packaging, and why? 

We have developed signature colours per region which will roll across multiple Villa Valeria touch points. Our packaging has been developed in aluminium - which offers both a premium feel, robustness and an environmentally friendly direction. We are also developing olive oil tins with a logo that is inspired by Roman stone tablets, they have a truly unique finish.

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How would you describe the aesthetic of the product lines and how might it style where these products live in the homes?

Elegant, but fun … pops of colour provide a direct association with the regions and connect the product lines with cohesion and instantly identifiable locations. As we launch pool towels, bags and accessories, colours will follow through and provide continuity.

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What are you most excited about with the Villa Valeria products?

The olive oil is really amazing, not only does it taste brilliant, but I love that Lars, our farmer, is part of the August story (the former owner of our Tuscan home in the Signature Cozzile Collection) and that he is completely engaged in what we do. It plays into the spirit of community that both Villa Valeria and August hold so dear.

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When can Homeowners find and try the Villa Valeria products?

They will be arriving in homes in Q4. I can’t wait to hear the thoughts of Homeowners. This is just the beginning of a very exciting journey that adds a unique element to our coveted August lifestyle.

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Eager to explore Villa Valeria's sumptuous line of products to add a unique element to the coveted August lifestyle? Start a conversation with our expert Advisory Team and take one step closer to your August journey today.