L’Occitane is not only it’s own brand but is in fact the L’Occitane Group; owning L’Occitane, obviously; L’Occitane Au Bresil, unfortunately; Erborian and the widely celebrated Melvita. So allow me to introduce the new brand launching last week exclusively in Boots stores – Le Couvent des Minimes.

Humble beginnings

In 2004, Olivier Baussan – the founder of L’Occitane, discovered the old ruins of the 1613 french convent and vowed to restore it.

The convent originally provided accommodation for botanist monks of the order of the Minims and then to a hospice by the late 1800s to care for the sick and elderly. Several years later the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary settled in the convent.

In 2008, Olivier reopened the convent as Le Couvent des Minimes Relais & Chateaux Hotel and Spa; then launching it’s own beauty brand available as of last week, exclusively in Boots stores in the UK.

Le Couvent des Minimes Collection

Gardner’s Hand Healer

Maybe I’m wrong but I think L’Occitane might have rather shot themselves in the foot with this; the products are just incredible and I’m a bonafide convert to the hand cream.

With citrus verbena; shea butter (20% in the hand cream); reparative mimosa; soothing marshmallow; antiseptic lemon balm and the antioxidant properties of rosemary, what’s not to love?

Hand Cream

With the Le Couvent des Minimes Hand Cream, the texture is thick, very thick, but 100% none greasy and sinks in like lightning. This £9 hand cream (75ml) is better fragranced, more hydrating and superior in texture to the original L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream (£19 but for 150ml).

Exfoliating Hand Wash Cleanser

Then there’s the exfoliating hand wash; everyone needs an exfoliating hand wash somewhere in their house. It leaves hands delicately and beautifully fragranced whilst gently cleansing and buffing away dead skin cells that can and will exacerbate dryness.

Hiker’s Leg Healer Lotion

It’s quite difficult not to simply write “mmm” for all of the Le Couvent des Minimes products. The Hiker’s Leg Healer is the essential post-gym product to massage in and smooth off those achy legs.

With borage oil, shea butter and grapeseed oil to hydrate; ivy, red vine and cypress to boost surface microcirculation in the skin and tapioca powder to protect against chafing – it feels soft, smooth and not remotely greasy or clogging.

It’s a perfect blend of citrussy lemon oil and cooling peppermint.

Eau des Minimes

I mean, I’m practically rubbing up against the furniture over how much I love these products; is that too weird?

Le Couvent des Minimes Eau des Minimes is a citrus cologne for men and women; it’s quite masculine and like a fight to the death between 4711, Acqua di Parma and L’Occitane Verbena.

Eau des Minimes is a composed of piercing lemon, blood orange and grapefruit as well as seven proprietary plants selected for their beneficial properties.

I’ve been spraying it on after the shower; on my towels; on my gym kit and even on my bedding – in danger of appearing to oversell this, it’s too uplifting for words.

Rire au l’prix

At an absolute maximum price of £20 and that’s for a gift set(!), Le Couvent des Minimes requires little thought when it comes to making a purchase and trust me, there’ll be no hesitation over these products.

Anyway, blah, blah, blah, you can buy it here from Boots; I don’t have time to finish as I’m now running out to buy the rest of the collection. Bye!