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ONCE A PERSONAL chef to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Cork native Lucy Hagerty now creates one of Ireland’s best-selling home fragrance brands. With two perfume factories, a boutique in the south of England and plans for UK expansion, next year looks set to be a busy one at La Bougie HQ.
Why did you start La Bougie?
Having trained as a perfumer I wanted to use my creativity to introduce a range of true perfumery candles to Ireland when I moved back after ten years living abroad. I set out to create a world of difference to the mass-produced fragrances of the high street.
What do you do and how do you do it?
I make perfumes – many of which have over 100 aromatics which are sourced from all over the world. These perfumes are then adapted to work in a candle, room diffuser or linen spray with many of them also standalone Eau de Parfum.
How has your business evolved over time?
We started in a converted outhouse on our farm near Kinsale and I poured the candles alone – starting in batches of twelve. Fast forward to the present and we have two large factory units in the centre of Kinsale, a workforce of twelve, our own boutique in Lymington, UK and La Bougie is the biggest selling home fragrance brand in Brown Thomas and across Ireland.
What did you do before this?
I was a royal chef in the UK before training as a perfumer. I think taste and smell are so connected so it wasn’t a surprise to anyone when I had this change of direction.
Describe a typical working day.
I am a very early riser and often at my computer by 5am. I have recently lost a lot of weight so my daily workout is very important to me before showering and heading into the office for 9am. I’ll have a quick chat with the production and dispatch team before being cocooned in my office for Zoom meetings with one of our PR agencies, social media team or suppliers. It takes a considerable amount of time to source the best oudh or jasmine for some of our fragrances.
Where do you get inspiration for your scents?
Inspiration is all around me. One of my earliest fragrances, Honeysuckle & Sea Salt, pays homage to my beloved West Cork with the wild honeysuckle growing in the hedges and the beautiful beaches around Kinsale. My family home (where my parents live) is in Tuscany and this inspires so many of our bestselling fragrances including our much-loved Mission Fig.
Where do you work?
My office is large (and windowless) with high ceilings at the back of one of the units. However my perfume organ with over 1000 bottles of aromatics is my special place and I can wile away many hours creating new fragrances or simply accords that will one day find their way into a perfume. This is my happy place.
Do you take your work home?
I often work well into the evening and more often than not I am traveling to and from the UK. The pandemic taught us that we can work anywhere as long as we have good connectivity. Many of my meetings with my production manager take place over Zoom when I am away.
If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
Sailing. Peter and I are keen sailors. However I would never leave my perfume organ – I just haven’t worked out how to adapt a boat to take it yet!
How important is teamwork to what you do?
My husband, Peter, and I work together. He is in charge of the financial side of the business having retired as a bond trader twelve years ago. Both of us have now taken on the marketing challenge of the business, working together really well. Our employees are like family – we expect hard work but in return we have a happy environment for them to prosper. Our daughter, Tabitha, has been with the business since leaving school and she manages all of our retailers and customers – a candle does not leave the factory without her involvement.
What has been your proudest moment/ favourite project so far?
One of my proudest moments was finding out that there was a Mission Fig Whatsapp group in Dublin during the pandemic to share stockist locations when stocks were low! I’m proud of our lovely new Fir Baby! candle which has become the most sought-after Christmas candle this year.
Where can people find your products?
We are stocked in the Brown Thomas and Arnotts, Avoca, Meadows & Byrne, Kilkenny Design and in lots of fabulous independent stores across Ireland. We have our own boutique in Lymington on the south coast of England and 2025 will see us roll out across the UK.
What’s next for you and your business?
With a new fragrance launch at the end of January and a range of body products coming next summer we definitely have a very busy 2025 ahead at La Bougie.
Find out more about La Bougie’s range of home fragrances on Instagram or at www.labougie.com
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