Soap
The smells that waft out of the Caurnie Soap Company's works are quite at odds with its unprepossessing location between a van rental yard and an ink factory. Lavender and lime, orange and marigold, lemongrass and patchouli. With eyes closed, it could be a spice store from the closing days of the empire.
Caurnie is the oldest soaperie in the world using the cold process and Scotland's oldest soap-making business, full stop. It sells to upmarket stores such as Heal's and Liberty, and counts celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Mariah Carey among its devotees, though Little says he is wary of "hubristic justice" if he bangs on about that too much.
Ten percent of the business is in exports, mainly to Sweden, North America and Italy. The main area of business is in wholefood and gift shops but, some 40% goes to farmers' markets - a new outlet which is proving surprisingly lucrative. (The Herald - Mariah Connection)
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