2025 Finalists - The Foxglove Tree
As a Gift of the Year finalist in the Home Fragrance category, Clare Towers (right) and her team have impressed the judges with their Botanical Cast Fragrance Diffusers, a beautiful fusion of UK flora, craftsmanship, and scent. Their intricate designs, infused with a touch of charm, showcase the magic of botanical casting while offering a sustainable way to fragrance a space.
In this Q&A, Clare shares what this recognition means for her brand, the inspiration behind the range, and how being a finalist has already made an impact.
Product in the Finalist: Botanical Cast Fragrance Diffuser Whimsical Range
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards?
We love taking part in the Gift of the Year awards. It is a lovely community and a great way to get feedback from the industry. As a small business it's very easy to become isolated so it's fantastic to have our products appreciated and recognised. We are so proud to have our new range make the finals and to receive the extra exposure that the awards gives to our business. Fingers & toes crossed for the results.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product?
We are lucky enough to be located in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds and surrounded by the wonderful flora of the UK countryside. Our aim is to capture a small piece of Mother Nature and allow you to bring it into our home. Botanical Casting preserves all of the intricate details of the flowers and leave used to create the designs. Combining this craft with home fragrance, produces a decorative and unique way to add scent to your space.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges?
This range combines the beauty of the natural plants and flowers which we capture with the craft of botanical casting. With the added little touch of whimsical fun. Each design has a quirky little bug as part of the design to make you smile. You can then choose which of our 20+ gorgeous fragrances you would like your diffuser infused with. These are a sustainable and decorative way to add scent to small spaces and are a unique and beautiful gift idea.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far?
These products are designed for anyone who would like a plastic free, sustainable way to add fragrance to their space, that looks beautiful too. Our customers are loving that they can reuse the product and that there are so many places it can be hung to release a subtle scent whist looking decorative. They love the packaging and that it is ready to be gifted and easy to post as a large letter.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now?
Combining sustainability with beauty. The need to make informed choices that the products you buy will be long lasting, are produced in an environmentally friendly way and can add value to your home. In addition to this, being aesthetically pleasing and bringing a smile to your face when you see and use them.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards?
This year we exhibited at Spring Fair and had a large number of visitors to our stand as a direct result of them seeing our products on the GOTY stand. We have gained eight new stockists that we can directly contribute to being part of the GOTY display. I can guess many more of our new stockists would also have either seen our products on the GOTY stand or taken a closer look at our stand seeing the logos displayed. Being part of the awards has certainly provided an added element of being an established business that consumers recognise. We have been lucky enough to make the finals with other ranges for the previous two years. Everything is crossed that third time lucky, this might be our year.
What exciting plans do you have for the future?
We are growing the wholesale side of our business. Focusing on developing our ranges to provide even more choice to our wonderful small business stockists. There are so many ideas in the pipeline. Currently we are renovating a new workshop and store room so we have the space to expand. We turn 5 years old in November so will see what birthday celebrations we can plan.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why?
A painted jam jar. Something that as no monetary value but the time and effort put into creating something is worth so much more. My kids listening to me moan that I can never find my pencils as I put them down randomly when I'm working. They took this information on board and came up with a solution to fix my problem and make my day better.
With a growing fanbase, new stockists, and exciting plans for expansion, The Foxglove Tree is proving that thoughtful, handcrafted gifts continue to capture hearts. Their Gift of the Year finalist status not only celebrates their artistry but also highlights the growing demand for sustainable, beautiful, and meaningful home fragrances.
