Fragrance house

Woods of Windsor

Woods of Windsor traces its historical roots to a Windsor apothecary established in 1770, where Roger and Kathleen Knowles found perfume and apothecary recipes in the pharmacy’s attic and launched the brand in 1971. Its first products—potpourri, lavender sachets and pomanders—grew into a wider range of soaps, toiletries and skincare. Fragrance releases followed with Lavender in 1974, Lily of the Valley in 1978, Forget-Me-Not and Wild Orchid in 1979, and a men’s fragrance in 1981. In February 2007, Lornamead acquired the brand’s assets, rights and inventory after Disperse Group entered administration, excluding the retail outlets. Lornamead relaunched Woods of Windsor in 2010 with updated fragrances and packaging that emphasized English gardens, botanical illustrations and Windsor Castle imagery. On 24 July 2012, Wipro announced an agreement to acquire the Woods of Windsor business alongside Yardley’s UK and selected European business. The brand is especially associated with floral fragrances and English-garden themes, including the True Rose and Lavender classics.