ORTIR Apothecari: A Potent Blend of Ancient & Modern Perfumery

Lisa Howarth founded ORTIR Apothecari in 2021 with a vision to create niche perfumes that capture the essence of location. Launching in May 2022, ORTIR Apothecari has cultivated rare botanicals and distilled them into intoxicating scents that reflect the soil, climate, and seasons of West Wales.

Lisa Howarth was inspired to start ORTIR Apothecari after realizing she could leverage the land she owned and her experience creating perfumes. She wanted to produce scents that were traceable to a specific time and place. Over multiple harvests, Lisa Howarth has gone through a massive learning curve to nurture plants that thrive in West Wales. Extracting oils through distillation has been a magical and scientific process, allowing Lisa Howarth to craft authentic scents that mature over time.

Looking ahead, ORTIR Apothecari has several new perfumes in development, including mood-altering fragrances that can engage users in new ways. The company is also working on different perfume formats, such as new dilutions and consistencies, to expand on their successful eau de parfum.

Lisa Howarth is excited by the potential for perfume to have therapeutic effects. Botanicals have long been used for their medicinal properties to benefit well-being, and ORTIR Apothecari uses many natural ingredients known to influence mood and memory.

“Perfume as therapy. Now that is purposeful luxury,”

says Lisa Howarth.

Winning the Startup Awards in 2023 was the icing on the cake for Lisa Howarth after an incredible journey nurturing her niche. At the awards ceremony, she connected with other inspiring entrepreneurs sharing their stories. Despite just starting out, they all proudly championed their unique visions. The energy and passion were contagious, cementing Lisa Howarth’s dedication to her ancient yet modern apothecary. Through ORTIR Apothecari, Lisa Howarth has cultivated a potent blend of place, science, and well-being.