Get to know me and West Byre’s story
Hello, I’m Allana.
Some might say that starting a creative business at the age of 33, with an intensely stressful and pressurised day job, in the midst of a major personal life adjustment and during a global pandemic could seem like a bad idea.
But it was a great idea. It gave me exactly what I needed. And I’m so glad you’ve found me, because I want to give you exactly what you need.
By day, I am a fraud analytics Senior Manager, a job which involves being in a state of constant defensive vigilance, on behalf of other people; a state in which many of us, irrespective of our jobs, find ourselves due to the pressures of today’s world. For around 8 years I have struggled with anxiety, and, unable to find a product which helped me to truly relax with the limited time that I had, I decided to prioritise my self-care and to make my own.
I want to inspire others to choose, maximise and prioritise their self-care method of choice; to delight in the little things. To be mindful and present when lighting a candle and creating a cosy ambience, taking some time to curl up with a loved one. To take a moment to delight in a scent which transports them to a different place as they pass one of my reed diffusers. To select a wax melt which gives them what they need, in their world, at that moment. I have designed my products to delight your senses; beautiful burners and diffusers which complement your home aesthetic, scents which awaken, relax and transport your mind to wherever it needs to be, and products which are a joy to give and to receive.
I hope I have inspired you to take a fresh look at self care and to invest in rest.
Love, Allana
The name West Byre Apothecary is an amalgamation of many aspects of my life. Moving West to live with my partner, and having a West Highland White Terrier, ‘West’ is a word which evokes home for me. I live in a converted byre, which is the Scots word for a calf shed. An apothecary is somewhere which dispenses products for medicinal purposes and while I am certainly no doctor, I am using my skill, creativity and intuition to bring you beautiful products which will improve your mood, enable you to relax and therefore heal.
There are a huge number of home fragrance businesses out there, but I was struggling to find one which used eco-friendly, plant based wax, which looked good and fitted in with my home aesthetic, and which evoked the kinds of emotions and feelings that I so desired and needed.
I love, more than anything, to take part in my favourite ritual with my partner Alan and my dog Angus; The Sunday Chill. Sunday is my favourite day of the week. It’s become somewhat demonised as the day that The Doom - that lurking, brewing, unsettling anticipation of what Monday and the new working week might bring - can rear its ugly head. I decided to create a range of products to allow us to reclaim our Sundays, and our Mondays, and our everydays - those precious mornings, evenings and days off where we can be truly at peace; where we take back control over how we feel. I gifted some of the resulting products to friends and family, word spread; and the business was born.
Each of my scents is inspired by a different method of self care. From Romantic Rendezvous to Seaside Stroll, Press Pause to Fireside Flames, you can pick a product which aligns with how you like to unwind. I have carefully selected and layered scent notes to transport you, using the ancient power of plants, flowers, trees and herbs to create balanced, sublime scents which are as unique as you.
I use 100% plant-based and eco-friendly coconut and rapeseed wax from sustainable sources, reusable jars and plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging.
