Bastide – Aix en Provence

I write a lot about my pivotal first trip to Paris at fifteen. The part of the story I gloss over is that I spent only three days in Paris before beginning a meandering journey south. At that age, I was a serious gymnast (or at least perceived myself to be one – in hindsight, my level of skill is debatable.) I spent most of my free time in training. The school trip to France, thus, was a lesson in how teenagers who weren’t focussed on a single goal, many of whom had no particular goals, spent their time. After Paris, I studied my classmates more than the scenery. I recall only bits and pieces of Provence – a Roman amphitheatre here, a gelato stand there. But despite not really paying attention to the history and culture, I managed to come home with a suitcase full of soaps, body washes and creams.

Provence is well-known for its natural beauty and fertile soil, which produces beautiful roses, juicy figs and lush olive groves. It is perhaps less known, outside of France, for its many natural beauty brands, inspired by local crops. Among them is Bastide, an Aix-en-Provence based brand that I’ve recently fallen hard for…

What it is: Founded by Frederic Fekkai and Shirin von Wulffen, Bastide is a clean and natural beauty line made in Provence. The line offers beauty, perfume, self-care and home products made from 98.5% natural and 100% non-toxic ingredients. Bastide’s philosophy is simple: natural beauty comes from the inside out.

What to do with it: Wash, moisturize, hydrate, nourish… There are a lot of possibilities. Bastide offers a full gamut of products, from scented soaps to hand creams, scented candles, perfumes and more.

What it costs: From $11 for a bar of soap to $165 for a bottle of perfume. Bastide is sold exclusively at Holt Renfrew (and on holtrenfrew.com) in Canada.

Why it’s fabulous: I can never have too much je ne sais quoi in my life. Bastide brings the French craftsmanship and quality-focused approach to their products that you simply won’t find at your local Sephora. They also bring a French understanding of the importance of aesthetics, which means every product is immaculately packaged. The idea is that your Bastide products should look as lovely as they work well. I can confirm that they do both. I admit to a particular fondness for their candles – I love a good candle, what can I say? The newest launch, Au Coin du Feu, is festive without being overly Christmas-y, subtle and delicate but perfectly on point. My love of all things French makes me biased, of course. But with their variety of products, their quality of ingredients and their effortlessly lovely packaging, I truly believe Bastide offers something for everyone.

In eighteen years, I’ve rarely considered returning to Provence. Been there, done that. Bastide has inspired me to start looking at flights to the South of France – and that is high praise, indeed.