The main roads leading to the Isle of Purbeck are lined with yellow gorse, infusing the air with a soft, sweet perfume, often likened to coconut. For Julia Roberts, this is a nostalgic aroma. “When I was younger, I used to go to the beach with my grandmother, and we would sing a song about gorse bushes,” she recalls. “The yellow colour is so uplifting and evokes happiness, so it seemed a fitting name for my business.”
After two decades in interior design, a serendipitous discovery at the local library sparked a new journey for Julia.“I happened upon an old Victorian apothecary book filled with natural recipes. I took it home and became a bit obsessed with essential oils.” Candle- and soap-making soon absorbed her evenings, alongside explorations into natural skincare to soothe her rosacea. These early experiments sowed the seeds of her organic wellness brand, Yellow Gorse.
Julia’s son, Oliver, who now manages the marketing and operations side of things, has vivid memories of the company’s nascent years. “I was growing up at the time, and I remember there being ice cream tubs full of soap in the fridge and big saucepans on the counter,” he laughs. “It’s been fun to see it slowly blossom into something.” At university, he watched the first Yellow Gorse shop in Swanage flourish from afar and supported Julia as she opened her second location in Bridport. Eager to forge his own career, he left for London, but the tug of home brought him back to the peninsula. Oliver returned after six years away, equipped with valuable experience that would help grow the family business.
Yellow Gorse’s recent relocation to a larger space in Swanage is the result of years of perseverance. Julia balanced multiple businesses as a single mother, and Oliver navigated an uncertain path, unsure of his vocation. Together, they renovated the former bank, now a light-filled shop with large windows and cascading greenery. It houses Julia’s studio upstairs, where she crafts bath salts, soaps, candles, and skincare inspired by the Dorset countryside.
The bath and body products are formulated to meet specific needs; comforting bergamot and calendula blends encourage relaxation, while lemongrass and green tea have an uplifting effect. “There is a science behind aromatherapy, but I find the process of mixing essential oils quite intuitive,” explains Julia. “Being out in nature inspires different emotions which I try to tie the products into.” Ideas emerge as she meanders through community gardens and woodlands, encountering native rosemary, sage, lavender, and pine.
The ingredients list is completely natural, and organic wherever possible. Julia and Oliver use local beeswax in their candles, with most of the oils and herbs sourced in Dorset. Their respect for nature extends to their packaging, made using recyclable materials by sustainable manufacturers. “It’s important for us to work in synergy with Mother Nature and minimise our environmental impact,” Oliver says. “Glass, for example, is infinitely reusable. But it also feels much nicer and more substantial than a plastic bottle.”
Firm believers that wellness touches every aspect of life, Julia and Oliver have embraced a holistic approach. “Our products help, but it’s not just what you put on your body that counts,” Julia says. “What you put in your body matters, too.” Their new flagship shop and studio has become a beacon of wellbeing in Swanage: Yellow Gorse products are sold alongside plants, handmade cards, ceramics, and and wellness beverages featuring adaptogenic mushrooms and raw cacao. “We've got another big space where we hope to invite artisans to come in and hold workshops,” Oliver shares. “We want to create a kind of sanctuary, keeping as close to nature as possible in everything we do.”
That Yellow Gorse is a family affair seems fated, given the consistent role of nature in both Julia and Oliver’s childhoods. Julia grew up with New Forest National Park on her doorstep, and her earliest memories are centred in her parents’ carefully tended garden and orchard. Both her mother and father were teachers who propagated plants and sold them at markets to subsidise their modest income. “Because we didn’t have the money to holiday abroad, we would go camping around the UK instead,” she says. “We went out for long walks daily. I suffered from depression when I was younger, so being outdoors really helped.”
When Oliver came along, he was similarly brought under nature’s wing. Then based in North Dorset, the family started spending more time by the sea, camping on the Isle of Purbeck and gradually growing more attached to the scenic peninsula. This unique corner of Britain is characterised by its spectacular geological landmarks – most recognisably its stretch of steep ‘Jurassic Coast’ cliffs which fall to the sea, dense with fossils hidden in their chalky scarp. Beyond the cliff faces, yellow gorse bushes bloom along the roadsides, weaving through gently rolling hills.
“Yellow gorse is a reminder of happy times walking around the Isle of Purbeck,” Oliver says. “As we continue to grow, it’s important that we keep these personal values at the forefront.” The evergreen shrub is more than a keeper of memories or a carrier of joy; it stands as a symbol of strength, flowering even in the depths of winter, bringing colour and life to the harshest landscapes.
In many ways, Yellow Gorse embodies this spirit, offering small yet meaningful moments of solace that people can turn to in life’s cloudier times. Rooted in nature, the brand echoes the power of the outside world to nurture and inspire. “Nature has always been a place where endorphins flow and happiness finds me when I need it most,” Julia says. “Yellow Gorse was born from that feeling.”
Discover Yellow Gorse.
Oliver wears the TOAST Frank Cotton Long Sleeve Tee, Duncan Wool Cotton Trousers, and Arlo Garment Dyed Herringbone Jacket. Julia wears the TOAST Orla Donegal Wool Sweater and Denim Wrap Skirt.
Words by Bébhinn Campbell.
Photography by Marco Kesseler.
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