King Charles has launched a new range of beard grooming products made from a midge-repellent plant found on the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. The collection, created in collaboration with local firm Hairy Highlander, includes oils, washes and balms infused with wild bog myrtle, hand-foraged from the estate grounds.
Bog myrtle has been used for centuries by Highlanders to keep midges away. Its leaves and twigs release a fragrant oil that acts as a natural insect repellent when crushed and rubbed on the skin. Balmoral Castle and Estate said the shrub 'has long been valued in Highland tradition as part of skin-soothing botanical care – especially in harsh, weather-exposed conditions'.
The products feature two signature scents: Laird, a citrus-spiced blend of pink grapefruit, lemon verbena and cinnamon leaf; and Chieftain, a grounding mix of Norwegian fir, cedarwood and patchouli. Prices range from £25 for 30ml of Chieftain Organic Beard Oil to £32 for 200ml of Laird Organic Beard Wash and £27 for 50ml of Chieftain Organic Beard Balm.
Hairy Highlander, a family firm that crafts organic grooming products from wild-harvested botanicals, donates 10 per cent of its profits to rewilding northern Scotland. The company said it was 'a real honour to create this bespoke grooming range for Balmoral Castle'.
The beard care range is part of the Balmoral Exclusive Collection, which also includes items made from the newly launched Balmoral hunting tartan, such as a £962 cashmere throw and a £385 scarf. The King is due to travel to Balmoral for his traditional summer holiday next month, with the estate closing to the public on August 10.
