Traditional Naturopathic Herbal Beauty & Remedies by Wilder Botanics

Rachel, we are so thrilled to now have Wilder on Rêve en Vert! We’d love to know a bit of history about the brand – why you created it + how long ago? 

So incredibly happy to have Wilder with you at Rêve en Vert. Thank you!

Wilder was created from my practice as a naturopath & herbalist, I started practicing in 2004, and after a few years I noticed that many of my clients were seeking herbs to help support them with their healing journey but there was also a disconnect or lack of familiarity with the herbs even ones that grow seasonally around us, and I thought how wonderful would it be to create an extension of the formulas, and start to retell the herbs stories and traditions, something our forebearers would have done. Inspiring people to forage and to feel confident and connected to healing herbs. To inspire people to be wilder!

Can you tell us a bit about your background? 

I grew up just outside of Manchester on an old farm. My mum was incredible at growing all our fruit and veg she was a teen in the second world war and her frugality and ‘make do and mend’ philosophy on living was ingrained in us. Having said that I ended up working as a fashion model in the 90’s an experience that I look back on now and feel very grateful for, but at the time it was something of an emotional rollercoaster that I so wanted to get off but was told by all that I should get on with it.

As an introvert it wasn’t a natural environment for me but it was a brilliant life lesson, and I had something of a good fight going on, learning to survive in not the best of spaces, but saying that I got to travel and live in incredible cities, one being New York where I began to look at my own health holistically.

What were the first products you ever launched at Wilder? 

The first products were our Flourish, Serenity, and Solstice Tea formulas ones I would prescribe to my clients for detoxing, supplementation of minerals, calming the nervous system and for prevention and symptoms of colds and hayfever. We also launched our Tranquility Soak and Flower Of the Sun Body Oil that I created for myself infusing the oils in the light of a full moon! I would gift it to close friends and it was loved so much that we added this as Wilder’s first skin and beauty product.

What inspires you for new formulations and new product launches? 

With new formulas our philosophy is, if our family needs it then we make it and add it to the Wilder collection only if everyone falls in love with it. We are a family of 6. We only create what we need or what we feel is absolutely needed out there, for example, Heartfelt Tea was created during covid to hold and nurture the emotional and physical aspects of the heart, helping us to adapt more positively to stress and to add vitality. We will soon be adding a shampoo to our collection, called Gift Of The Earth and our Sacred Hand Cream too, with the same herbal extracts as our Sacred Wash, something that I’m using daily and loving.

What are a few of the many ways Wilder as a brand is committed to sustainability? 

There’s a slowing down within Wilder, we preserve all the plants vital properties within each formula often with a 42 infusion process. Sustainability starts from our ingredients only using organic, careful wild crafted so the growing environment can continue to thrive. No chemical perfumes just the highest quality plant extracts. We have a re-use system in place with a 100% fully recyclable system so minimum use and re use of plastic closures and pumps. Our teas have a refill system with fully compostable pouches, and eco recycled boxes and paper to ship, and we continue to constantly research, sustainable options this is so important to us for Wilder.

For those who aren’t familiar with flower remedies, can you tell us how they work? 

Flower essences work uniquely on our emotional and spiritual health on a vibrational level, helping to recharge and reset the whole body system, harmonising how we see the world and speaking directly to the nervous system. We are true to the Dr bach method so each ingredient is added to spring water to infuse for a few hours in the sun giving time to imprint with the water. This is then carefully strained and added to organic alcohol creating the mother essence. From here we mix and create our Wilder Essences from each indicial formula.

How do you begin your day intentionally personally? 

I am conscious that I’m always grateful for a new day, but as a mum i find myself being taken into each morning with gusto.. full speed, so i try and ground myself with cup of herbal tea often our Sunrise. My only other intentional offering to myself would be dry body brushing and stretching I often don’t manage to do as much as I would like but its enough to allow my body to exhale and connect as a whole!

How do you weave Wilder products into your everyday rituals? 

I only use Wilder! We always have a pot of one of our teas on the go. Often its Flourish or Lilli who works with us mixes it up and chooses which one we have ‘on tap’ for that day. Into my tea I’ll add Sacred Drops and in my water flask I always have a mixture of our other tincture formulas depending on my needs at the time, I sometimes add a flower essence too. I start the day using Sacred Wash, Phyto Radiance on my face and Goddess on damp skin. At night its Immortelle Cleansing oil with my Cloud Cloth a ritual I love, and the heavenly Recovery Night Oil.

What is the flower remedy you are reaching for at the moment and why? 

Revitalising Essence is the one right now, the build up to the end of the school year, theres so much juggling with the kids and work this is the essence to take when you’re feeling over extended and exhausted!