MEET THE BRAND: Angelika Davenport of TINCTURE interview

• Tell us about your brand and how you came about?

A: Tincture was started out of a pure passion. My eldest son, Freddie, was suffering from severe asthma and allergies from a very young age, which forced us, during his worst periods, to run an enormous Swiss air purifier “day and night” in his bedroom in a desperate attempt to aid his symptoms. Then, on top of this, my eldest daughter Cosima started to develop dermatological problems. As a result, I became increasingly concerned about the toxins and pollutants they were both exposed to inside our home, when showering, bathing, playing and sleeping etc.

As I started finding out more about the issue of toxins in the home, I came across a shocking body of research (UK and US EPA) which revealed that air in a typical home, school or workplace is, on average, up to 5x more polluted than the air directly outside! It is also estimated that we now spend over 90% of our time indoors!

Researchers identified the main culprits being the volatile chemical compounds released by the chemically based household products such as cleaners, candles, diffusers, plug-ins and air fresheners. As I continued reading and learning, I began to realise just how enormous the impact household chemicals were potentially having on my families health and wellbeing. I needed no further incentive to remove as many toxic products from my home, as I possibly could. I wanted more than anything to protect my children in their own home and this is where my TINCTURE journey began.

The more labels I read, the more I realised this was going to be harder than I’d anticipated. Toxic chemicals are everywhere, without most of us even realising. My cupboards finally cleared out, I set off to find a high-performance, natural, non-toxic cleaning range that was 100% free of nasties and totally safe. Wanting products that wouldn’t aggravate my children's conditions, I needed them to be safe for the entire family and our pets. I kept on researching and testing different products and soon discovered that many so-called “ECO” cleaners still contain substances which are not only harmful to our environment, especially our waterways and oceans, but moreover to our health and wellbeing! This is when I decided to create a range myself.

The result is TINCTURE and I am deeply passionate about it as our focus is our HEALTH! We believe, without a healthy home there cannot be a healthy family and without a healthy family there cannot be a healthy planet, as we basically live in a sealed bowl! Anything we put out which is toxic, eventually comes back to us, as it is the same air and the same water; so anything which is not completely circular is just poisoning ourselves!

The multitude of toxic chemicals used in our homes are released into the air and break down to form toxic chemicals (VOCs) like formaldehyde that damages our eyes and lungs. Indoor air pollution is being linked to many adverse health effects. Pollutants impair immune response and reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

• What’s your biggest challenge as a brand?

A: Our biggest challenge to date has been to create 100% natural formulations which not only clean exceptionally well but are also affordable! Our aim is to minimise the impact of VOCs in our homes by removing any known or suspected ingredient that has shown to be linked to causing indoor air pollution as well as exacerbating allergies.

• Tell us your favourite quote, mantra or best piece of advice

• Tell us your proudest moment as a business

A: When customers write into us and tell us how our products have literally changed their lives at home and how much they appreciate the work and research we are doing to highlight the dangers of indoor air pollution on our health, especially that of our children. This is one of many examples:

To whom it may concern,

I don't normally contact companies directly, but I feel I need to contact you to say a massive thank you.

The back story to this is as follows,

My little girl (8 years old) has some serious allergies, this has meant that I haven't been able to have a pre made cleaning product in my home since she was 5 months old and had her first reaction.

I have tried every eco friendly non chemical product known to man, and all have generated a serious, sometimes hospitalising reaction from her. Then my mother emailed me about your products, not knowing if it was something worth trying,

So she bought me a bottle of your all purpose tincture and I planned to spray a little in the kitchen as this is the room furthest from hers.

I sprayed one counter top to begin with.....oh my goodness the smell is divine!

I waited 30 minutes...no reaction, then proceeded to go right through my house a room at a time. (I had to use the same product for everything as I cannot use polish/bleach nothing!)

I have now been using this spray for a whole week and we've had no reactions!!

I am so grateful as a mother with OCD to be able to effectively clean my home with something other than white vinegar, which frankly smells awful.

I'm now going to save up and buy a selection of your products for each purpose, laundry bathroom, polish, floor etc and hopefully I can continue using your products in our home.

Tincture is the first thing I've been able to purchase for the last 6+ years that doesn't initiate a reaction from my little girl, and I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you, for sticking with what you stand for in your products, it means the world to me and her.

• What is your favourite product of A LITTLE FIND?

A: I love many of your brands listed, but in particular I am a great fan of COOLA, as they are eco-conscious and very research driven; they have come up with a fabulous natural, organic suncare product range which has been tested for ocean toxicity and is reef safe!

• What's your best beauty or life hack?

A: To start my day with a 20 minute morning meditation session followed by some cold splashes of water in my face.

• What's your favourite place to hideaway?

A: A tiny village in the Austrian Alps called Altaussee.

• What’s the most stressful part of your day?

A: The morning. Waking the kids up, getting them on time to school and dealing with the dogs - they love to join into the chaos!

• Which three items do you never travel without?

A: A Mini Tincture All-Purpose Cleaner… apart from spraying it around me in planes and trains to guard off viruses and bacteria, I also spray it on my clothes as a quick, effective stain remover …. It's simply a miracle spray!

Some fresh seasonal herbs which I grow at home wrapped together in a cotton cloth … I love to inhale their oils when travelling and at times, I stick them into my water bottle to infuse the water with their healing properties.

A refillable water bottle... no plastic!

Now, let’s FIND Out About You

• Wellies or Flip-Flops - Both can't live without either
• Bubble Bath or Hot Shower
• Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter - Hot summers and snowy winters
• Cinema or Theatre
• Paperback or Kindle
• Yoga or Run
• Pressed Juice or Cocktail
• Serums or Oils