A great aid to restful sleep and deeply restorative, this fine aromatic mist blends carefully selected essential oils to lift your spirits, clear your mind, calm your senses, and ease stress.
At Abrahams, we understand how much of a natural beauty therapy sleep is. It’s not just about how you look but your inner feeling too so this ticks boxes for us.
The Olverum Story
The story of Olverum is as rich and as rare as the oil itself. From a twelfth century physic garden to the latest modern laboratories, it’s a story involving a family secret carried for decades, and several lifetimes of passion and specialist knowledge.
A visit to Baden Baden
The dawn of the twentieth century in Europe saw a resurgent interest in natural health and wellbeing. Germany had been the centre of the world’s aromatherapy renaissance since the 16th century. By the 1920s, citizens from every corner of society would make regular visits to its many historic spa towns to take the waters. One keen enthusiast was Franz Otto Klein, a successful winemaker from the Mosel Valley.
Along with the fine wines he created by day, Franz had a another great passion: essential oils, the therapeutic benefits of which fascinated him. Together with his wife Edith, an accomplished pharmacologist, they scoured the globe, sourcing the finest ingredients for their personal collection. But throughout his travels, nowhere did Franz find such an exquisite blend as in his favourite spa in Baden Baden.
A Star is born
In 1929, the spa announced that they could no longer supply their house blend that the Kleins found so invigorating. Franz and Edith were struck with an ambitious idea. Taking the spa’s infusion as an inspiration, they would employ all their skills acquired in both winery and laboratory, and their to produce the perfect therapeutic oil. Franz and Edith experimented with blend after blend, seeking the definitive formulation.
Two years later, in 1931, they finally perfected an oil of extraordinary quality, with the preternatural therapeutic and restorative qualities they sought. The couple initially made just seven litres of their signature oil, which they decanted into traditional clay bottles on July 21st, 1931. So a new business was born. Demand grew and grew but in WW2 unable to source quality oils, production was suspended.
It wasn’t until 1948, facing demand from devotees of the Kleins’ unique oil, that production was restarted. Now their son, Peter, devoted himself to continuing the tradition of his parents’ creation. Over time, Peter further refined the production process, utilising technological advances in the extraction of therapeutic grade oils. He renamed this rarefied version Olverum, taking the name from the Latin oleum verum, meaning ‘true oil’.
International Stardom
For many years, Olverum survived by word of mouth – a cult product known only to a small number of passionate fans. Then fate intervened, Michael Hawksley chanced upon the oil while visiting his Mayfair hairdresser, Truefitt & Hill. Barbers by Royal Appointment. They had been asked to carry a small number of bottles for the Royal Household. Intrigued, Michael tried the oil for himself, and was so impressed he knew he had to bring it to a wider audience.
Together with his wife Betty, founder of legendary perfumery Les Senteurs, Michael travelled to Germany to meet with Peter Klein and secured exclusive rights to distribute Olverum in the UK.
Finally, in 2014, the Hawksley family acquired Olverum in its entirety, creating new packaging to embody the quality and impeccable attention to detail which defines the brand.
With a vision to preserve Olverum’s unique heritage for a new generation, Michael’s son, Dominic, relaunched the brand in 2015 and began work to develop it further.
New Horizons
Olverum has now embarked on a new chapter, with the launch of its two signature body oils. These the first of several new planned extensions to the line. Honouring the authentic spirit, traditions, and therapeutic ethos that have stood the test of time for over eight decades, be assured that Olverum is a new word in luxurious self-care.
Abrahams Store are delighted to offer these products in our collection. Here are some reviews:
Restful pillow spray – “Love the smell of this product and it helps me feel calm before I fall asleep.”
Best bath oil ever! – “I was gifted this by a generous friend after an operation & have never forgotten that first luxurious experience. A number of years later I received it in my Christmas stocking & its scent is all enveloping & dreamy. My teenage children were so blown away by its gorgeous perfume that they each, in turn, jumped into the bath afterwards to benefit from this high end bath oil.”
Why not have a look at our other Olverum Products