Explore our new luxury Hand Sanitiser Collection inspired by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Here at The English Soap Company, we have evolved our range of hand hygiene products in line with the changing needs faced by us all. We are proud to announce the launch of our new luxury hand sanitiser sprays, created in partnership with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available in 17 fragrances to complement the existing range of sumptuous soaps and nourishing hand creams, these handy travel-size spray bottles are elegantly packaged to provide practical and pretty hand hygiene solutions.
Hand sanitiser has rapidly become an everyday necessity. The latest predictions suggest the global hand sanitiser market is expected to reach close to £4.43 billion by 2024. Most hand sanitisers you tend to see are of the sticky alcohol gel variety. But is hand hygiene really so important, and if so, why use alcohol hand sanitisers?
Must we stick to the standard hand sanitising gels, or is it possible to find a luxurious, beautifully-fragranced version of such a utilitarian product?
Why is hand hygiene important?
From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been aware of the importance of hygiene, with this awareness focused on the importance of clean hands as a necessity for curbing the spread of the virus. Now, months into the pandemic, there has been an evolution in how the world approaches hand hygiene.
We cannot responsibly avoid this reality. The thorough and constant maintenance of hand hygiene is essential; when hands are visibly dirty, it is important to wash them thoroughly. University College London estimates that we should also be washing our hands six to ten times a day. There are many charming methods to remind us how long to wash for, from singing the happy birthday song to reciting Lady Macbeth’s ‘Out, damned spot!’ soliloquy.
How do hand sanitisers work?
The high alcohol content prevalent in hand sanitisers kills microbial cells. It does so by breaking apart proteins, splitting cells into pieces or interfering with a cell’s metabolism. With viruses, the alcohol disrupts the virus’s outer layer. With bacterium, the alcohol damages the cell membrane.
COVID-19 is an enveloped virus. This means that the RNA (nucleic acid – the viral genetic material) is coated in a lipid (fatty) layer. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers break down this lipid layer, causing the virus to fall apart and stopping it from binding to our cells.
Is it essential to use hand sanitiser?
Put simply, it is imperative that everyone regularly wash their hands, but it is also essential that we use hand sanitisers to expand handwashing compliance. There are too many occasions when having access to soap and water is not possible. Also, for some people, regular hand washing may cause skin irritation and dryness, depending on their lifestyle or occupation. At these times, a hand sanitiser allows us to move through these areas with not only our personal safety, but the safety of those around us kept secure.
How Often Should I Sanitise My Hands?
The number of times we use a hand sanitiser will vary, based on our activities and interactions and it is recommended to use hand sanitiser every hour, as a rule of thumb, when soap and water are not available or when moving from one environment to another. Every shop we approach, every door we go through, now has a disinfection point.
It is a modern reality to have to spray or squeeze a veritable plethora of hand sanitisers on our skin. That is a lot of different scents (some more desirable than others) to build up, and more importantly, it’s a lot of chemicals, also of varying levels of quality.
A bombardment of variable and random qualities of products will eventually take its toll on the skin, especially on your hands. Most of the sanitiser stations we stop at are some form of a sticky gel that rapidly dries the skin.
Should I Use a Spray Sanitiser or a Gel?
The efficiency of both gel and hand sanitisers is on par, however, we feel there is a clear winner. Gels are often unpleasant to use, and they have a much harsher effect on the skin.
The English Soap Company sprays are gentle, and hold a fragrance beautifully, allowing you to customise them with your soap and with your cream, creating a harmonious and sophisticated overall scent. Spray sanitisers are also much more versatile, as they can be sprayed on to many different surfaces, which can be a real lifesaver when out and about. Often, with the use of alcohol gels, you end up with excessive amounts on the skin whilst a spray is more controlled
Is There an Environmental Impact to the Rise of Hand Sanitisers?
We must consider the environmental impact of the number of plastic bottles being purchased and discarded, with the rise of the use of hand sanitising products. Our Kew Gardens hand sanitiser sprays are packaged in 100% PCR bottles. PCR (Post Consumer Resin) bottles are made from recycled plastic, and can, in turn, be recycled after use. As such, they are an eco-friendly packaging solution. By reusing plastic that is already available, PCR packaging reduces plastic waste to landfill.
PCR packaging has a lower carbon footprint than other plastic alternatives, as the manufacturing process for PCR plastics is extremely energy efficient. In fact, the carbon footprint of manufacturing 100% PCR PET is 60% lower than virgin PET, even when taking into account the energy used to collect, recycle, and then repurpose the plastic.
There has been a dramatic increase in the chemicals released into the environment with the rise of artificial chemicals being used in the products people choose. The long lasting effects of this are still unknown, and we feel it is incredibly important to stick to the underpinning ethical foundation of our company. Just as with our soaps, our hand sanitisers are completely vegan, containing no animal-based products whatsoever, and are made using cruelty-free methods.
Sustainability is at the forefront of our entire business operations. It’s an issue we deeply care about, and are constantly improving upon. Working in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew provides a beautiful opportunity to give something back the environment: all of Kew’s profits support the vital ecological conservation work of its scientific research team.
Over 350 scientists at Kew are dedicated to the discovery and identification of new species, in order to understand global plant and fungal diversity and its uses for humanity. Their vast array of scientific projects include maintaining and enhancing the UK seed bank, working with with the Millenium Seed Bank Partnership and the Global Tree Seed Bank Programme, working within threatened biodiversity hotspots around the globe, and researching new agricultural methods that are adaptive to our changing climate. You can find out more about their projects here.
Watch this video below for further information about Kew’s incredible work:
Luxury hand sanitiser by The English Soap Company
Hand sanitisers have become the new essential, but it doesn’t mean they cannot be a luxury. The kind of quality you would expect from any high-end cosmetic can be and has been applied to the new range of luxury hand sanitisers created by The English Soap Company, in partnership and inspired by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The packaging is exquisite, with botanical motifs hearkening back to the high point of quintessential English style, the Arts and Crafts era, with images inspired by the magnificent Kew Gardens archives. The perfumes are created from a palette composed of the distinctive aromas from the plants that abound in Kew and are as gorgeous as one could hope for in a high-end perfume.
Hand hygiene may be routine, but we believe injecting a splash of beauty into our routine moments is a decadent and indulgent way of privately enjoying the processes of moving through life. Scent is both a deeply personal experience and one that we constantly share with others. It should be a gratifying sensual pleasure.
How Can I Look After My Hands When I Am Constantly Sanitising Them?
The best way to protect your hands from vigilant sanitation is by choosing the best possible products to use on them. That’s why people are becoming aware of a need to carry around a personal hand sanitiser crafted with ingredients they can trust.
Having continuity of care with high-quality ingredients will go a long way to keeping your skin smooth and allowing it to retain its supple moisturised appearance. A product like Kew Gardens luxury hand sanitiser is infused with aloe vera and vitamin E to keep skin moisturised, and is produced using the same stringent methods of sourcing and quality ingredients that you would expect. Having one always to hand ensures you can control the ingredients you use on your skin.
To ensure your hands remain soft and nourished after using the Kew Gardens luxury hand sanitiser, follow with a Kew Gardens hand cream, in a matching fragrance. To complete the fragrance and give your skin the ultimate sanitary protection and nourishment, combine it with the matching soap bar. Explore the entire collection of Kew Gardens products here.
Can a hand sanitiser be a gift?
The very nature of The English Soap Company’s products makes them excellent gifts. Choose items from the ever-popular range and have a chic and thoughtful gift for a sophisticated friend.
You can browse the entire range of Kew Gardens hand sanitiser sprays here.
