About Us

"Established in 2019 in memory of my Grandad, Fred Hatton, a gentle man who spent his life walking the hills and forests with his love, Kath". 

A Personal Journey of Healing, Ritual, and Resilience
By Felicity Stuart-Menteath, Founder

Menteath was born out of necessity—my own.

For years, I worked on the front lines of humanitarian projects: disaster recovery, crisis response, refugee support, and rehabilitation work inside male prisons. These were intense, emotionally charged environments—filled with trauma, fear, and survival energy. I’m highly sensitive, and over time, I internalised the weight of those spaces.

It affected everything. My nervous system was in a constant state of alert. I struggled to sleep, to connect, to feel grounded. My skin dulled, my eyes lost their light, my body carried the burden of stress. I was flooded with cortisol, and it began to show—on my face, in my posture, and in how I moved through the world.

(Ashdown Forest, Sussex, First Ever Menteath Shoot)

In the process of healing, I found myself drawn back to the communities I had once served—refugees, displaced people, and cultures that lived through unimaginable adversity, yet held fast to ritual, to wisdom, and to connection. They taught me that wellness is not a luxury. It’s a lifeline. A way of reclaiming your humanity.

Scent became my lifeline, too. It helped me regulate my body, access meditative states, bond with others, and even stay safe—alerting me to fear or calm before my mind could catch up. I’ve come to know scent intimately: the scent of fear, of love, of empowerment. And from that knowing, Menteath’s ritual was born.

(2010 Tsunami, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, Trauma Healing Programme)

At the heart of our formulations is smoke—inspired by the Sudanese Dukhan ritual, and by my own lineage: the rich peat of Scottish whisky, the frankincense that clung to stone church walls, the open fires in our English cottage, and the wild blaze of bonfire night in Lewes.

At Menteath, we honour the elements as essential to our ritual:

  • Earth grounding and nourishing the skin and spirit

  • Air clears and calms the mind

  • Fire transforms, protects, and empowers

  • Water soothes, hydrates, and renews

This elemental framework shapes the way we design, formulate, and experience skincare—bringing deeper meaning and sensory connection to every step of your ritual.

There’s something elemental in smoke. Woody, smoky scents ground us. They quiet the mind, anchor us in the body, and evoke strength. Across cultures, we’ve always gathered around fire—for protection, for transformation, for connection. Through the olfactory system, these scents act fast—stimulating dopamine, lowering stress, and restoring clarity.

(The Farm, Hamsey East Sussex 2020)

Menteath honours this ancient connection. Every product is made with science-backed, neuro-active ingredients—formulated not only to transform your skin but to support your nervous system. Our skincare is multisensory, blending modern science with ancestral knowledge to help you return to yourself.

This isn’t just about beauty. It’s about balance.
This isn’t just skincare. It’s ceremony.

Welcome to Menteath.
Where fire becomes ritual, and skincare becomes healing.

 

(Flash Floods 2009, Atlas Mountains Morrocco, Prevent & Preparedness Research)

 

(Water Shortages 2010, Marrakech, Morrocco)

(Maonai 2010, Indonesia, Shelter Programme)

(Trauma Healing 2011, Tumalei, Indonesia)