La Bougie

La Bougie founder, Lucy Hegarty previously had an illustrious career as a chef in the UK to the Duchess of York and now she has an equally colourful one as an expert perfumer.  After she married an Irish man, had children and eventually settled here after a life abroad, what she wanted to do was create the perfect candle.

“I think taste and smell are quite similar,” Lucy says.  The perfume world is a closely guarded one, but she spent 7 years learning its secrets and a further 2 learning how to create the candles herself.

La Bougie launched in the summer of 2012 and is now stocked across Ireland.  La Bougie artisan candles are hand-poured and have a devout following with candle connoisseurs and perfume lovers.  Lucys working life is non-stop, with the launch of new perfumes, custom fragrances for luxurious properties and introducing La Bougie to exclusive retailers across the US and UK.  However, you will often find Lucy working in her Perfumery in Kinsale and this is where she is at her happiest.

La Bougie Sage and Bitter Orange 

"The classic cologne notes of geranium, juniper and orange blossom from Samuele's barbershop drift across the square on a Saturday morning..... so I used every part of the orange tree - the wood, the fruit and the blossom to amplify this barbershop fragrance.  I adore it...." 

La Bougie Lichen & Winter Jasmine 

"Jasmine and precious rose otto on a blanket of moss is freshened with pure, clean white musk.  I adore Jasmine and it has its place in many of my floral  fragrances" 

La Bougie Misson Fig 

"The old gnarled fig tree in the garden of my family home in Tuscany takes centre stage in this fragrance. Whether lunching under it's canopy or reading a book in the dappled sunshine, this tree has inspired me to create my iconic perfume