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Three Pillars, One Result: FEEL RESTORED
Olverum has been granted a Royal Warrant as a manufacturer of bath oil to His Majesty The King. A mark of recognition that speaks to more than product excellence alone.
It reflects our commitment to the values that define Olverum: sustainability, ethical sourcing, and integrity woven through every aspect of our business. To hold a Royal Warrant means meeting exacting standards across our practices — from how we source our botanical ingredients to our environmental stewardship and the care we extend to our people.
It is a distinction that acknowledges our dedication to the highest standards, in the bottle and beyond.
The story of Olverum is as rich and as rare as the oil itself. From a twelfth century physic garden to the latest modern laboratories, it's a story involving a family secret carried for decades, and several lifetimes of passion and specialist knowledge.
The dawn of the twentieth century in Europe saw a resurgent interest in natural health and wellbeing. Germany had been the centre of the world's aromatherapy renaissance since the 16th century, and by the 1920s, citizens from every corner of society would make regular visits to its many historic spa towns to take the waters. One keen enthusiast was Edith Klein, an accomplished pharmacologist from the Mosel Valley.
Together with her husband Franz Otto, a celebrated winemaker, Edith had two other great passions: international travel and essential oils, the therapeutic benefits of which fascinated her. Together, they indulged both these interests by scouring the globe, sourcing the finest essential oils for their personal collection. But throughout their travels, nowhere did they find such an exquisite blend as in their favourite spa in Baden Baden.
During a fateful visit in 1929, the spa announced that they could no longer supply the renowned house blend of organics the Kleins found so invigorating. Franz and Edith were struck with an ambitious idea. Taking the spa's infusion as an inspiration, they would employ all their skills acquired in both winery and laboratory, and the knowledge learned through the pursuit of their passions, to produce the perfect therapeutic oil.
Inspired, the Kleins returned to their home, Mönchhof, a former monastery farmhouse on the banks of the River Mosel. The original occupants of the estate were Cistercian apothecaries, who had established a carefully cultivated physic garden of rare plants. The Kleins' loving care of these singular herbs, and the curation of their enviable library of exotic tinctures, now paid dividends.
Edith and Franz experimented with blend after blend, seeking the definitive formulation.
Two years later, in 1931, they finally perfected an oil of extraordinary quality, with the preternatural therapeutic and restorative qualities they sought. The couple initially made just seven litres of their signature oil, which they decanted into traditional clay bottles on July 21st, 1931. Later that year, the Kleins presented their creation to close friends and family as Christmas gifts. The response was universally rapturous.
As the reputation of their exceptional elixir grew, the Kleins could barely keep up with demand. By 1943, however, the war had made it impossible to source oils of sufficient quality and Edith, unwilling to compromise, halted production. The remaining stoneware jars of oil were carefully stored in the wine cellars of Mönchhof, and under the cloak of night, the secret formula was buried in the monastic garden for safe keeping.
It wasn't until 1948, facing demand from devotees of the Kleins' unique oil, that the formula was retrieved and production was restarted. Now their son, Peter, devoted himself to continuing the tradition of his parents' creation. Over time, Peter further refined the production process, utilising technological advances in the extraction of therapeutic grade oils. He renamed this rarefied version Olverum, taking the name from the Latin oleum verum, meaning 'true oil'. A perfect encapsulation, he felt, of both its quality and the devotion with which it was created.
For many years, Olverum survived by word of mouth – a cult product known only to a small number of passionate fans. Then fate intervened, in a typically unusual form. Michael Hawksley chanced upon the oil while visiting his Mayfair hairdresser, Truefitt & Hill. Barbers by Royal Appointment, they had been asked to carry a small number of bottles for the Royal Household. Intrigued, Michael tried the oil for himself, and was so impressed he knew he had to bring it to a wider audience.
Together with his wife Betty, founder of legendary perfumery Les Senteurs, Michael travelled to Germany to meet with Peter Klein and secured exclusive rights to distribute Olverum in the UK.
Finally, in 2014, the Hawksley family acquired Olverum in its entirety, creating new packaging to embody the quality and impeccable attention to detail which defines the brand.
With a vision to preserve Olverum’s unique heritage for a new generation, Michael’s son, Dominic, relaunched the brand in 2015 and began work to develop it further.
Europe embraces natural wellbeing and the spa renaissance begins.
Edith and Franz Otto Klein set out to create the world’s finest therapeutic oil.
They perfect a unique blend and name it Olverum, meaning true oil.
War halts production and the recipe is buried for safekeeping.
The Kleins recommence production and Olverum gains a devoted following across Europe.
Introduced to the UK by the Hawksleys, Olverum quickly becomes a cult favourite.
The Hawksley family acquires Olverum and relaunches and expands the brand for a wider modern audience.
Olverum continue to formulate with bio-tech ingredients to develop it's award winning range.
"It really is an elixir whose restorative properties seem preternatural."
What was your first aromatic memory?
As a child, many of our family holidays were spent in the South of France. We would pile into the car and drive overnight, waking in the early morning to the rising sun and the herbaceous aromas of rosemary, lavender, citrus, and juniper, the unmistakable fragrance of the Garrigue. When I smell that even today, I instantly relax, transported back to those carefree childhood summers.
How did you first get into the world of fragrance and wellbeing?
In the 1980s, my parents founded a unique, and now legendary, perfumery, Les Senteurs, where some of the world’s greatest noses launched their personal creations in the UK. Meeting and hearing those master perfumers speak about the alchemy of perfumery with such passion for their craft truly inspired me.
Was your role in the family business a given?
My original career path was far removed from the family business. My father became the distributor of Olverum in the early eighties, and in 2014 my family took the opportunity to acquire the brand. It was only then that I came on board to oversee its development. It was a steep learning curve, but I saw my responsibility as preserving the Olverum ethos while building on its heritage to create an exciting new range of products worthy of the brand. It is a huge privilege, and I am proud to have relaunched Olverum for a new generation.
Olverum is said to be a cult brand. What makes it so well loved?
We have never compromised or sacrificed quality for cost when developing our products, and I believe our customers appreciate that. We constantly monitor the latest developments in botanical cosmetic science and responsibly source the finest, most effective ingredients to ensure our products are the very best they can be. Our bath oil has earned its rightful reputation as one of the world’s finest therapeutic oils because its formulation genuinely transforms how you feel. ‘Iconic’ may be an overused word, but I believe Olverum has earned its place among the great self-care brands.
Previously, you had a successful career as a professional actor. Has that helped?
To create an authentic character with a rich inner life, or to find the truth in a scene, every angle and element must be considered, sensual, emotional, physical, psychological, and spatial. This discipline helps build a deep emotional connection with an audience. At Olverum, our work is about caring for both the outer and inner self, so there are clear parallels. We create authentic, high-performance products with real character, products that are as much about how they make you feel as how they make you look. We understand the value of preparation, and our methods are scientifically rigorous.
How do you see Olverum evolving in the future?
Sustainability will always remain a priority for us, as will ensuring our products appeal to all genders. As a natural brand, we are continually refining and enhancing the quality of our formulations. We may diversify and introduce new lines, as we have with our skincare range, but our focus will always remain on crafting high-performance, natural products that work on many levels to restore mind, body, and soul to their ideal state.
