Burt’s Bees began in Maine in 1984 when Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby teamed up to make beeswax candles using the wax from Burt’s bee hives. The pair sold the candles at local craft fairs and the business quickly expanded, with production moving from a one-room old schoolhouse to a bowling alley which could house their growing company. During this time, Roxanne found a 19th Century book of home-made personal care recipes and by 1991 Burt’s Bees had added natural soaps, perfumes and lip balms to their range.
Now based in Durham, North Carolina, and with more products added to their range, over half of their products are 100% natural, made from a blend of potent herbs, flowers, beeswax and minerals. Burt’s Bees’ aim is to create products that are good for both the environment and the consumer, maximising wellbeing and adhering to the ethos of reduce, reuse and recycle.
Burt’s Bees’ products and ingredients are not tested on animals and their range is formulated without parabens, sulphates, phthlates and petrochemicals.