A Visit to the Burren Perfumery

Just about a 30-minute drive (some along winding narrow roads) from Beside The Tide is a very special place to visit.

Nestled among the rocky Burren landscape sits an oasis of Hazel trees, wildflowers, and beautiful loosely planted gardens. Within this little hobbit like haven sits the Burren Perfumery.

When you open your car door your senses will be immediately hit with delight. The beauty of the gardens, the lovely smells of soap making wafting through the trees, the sounds of the birds chirping and butterflies and bees happily exploring every nook and cranny. A sense of calmness will guide you into explore. The coffee shop-café is so sweet it beckons you in for a cup of tea, a yummy fresh baked scone or perhaps a nice bowl of steaming soup that you can dip your brown bread into. The café also serves Irish cheese platters, and several more selections to choose from. There is indoor and outdoor seating available.

The ivy-covered Perfumery building sells all sorts of unique products. The highlight of course are the perfumes. Each one is inspired by the landscape around the Burren. I picked up a scent called “Frond.” It is described as, cut grasses, wild rose, rhubarb, and violet leaf with a soft oakmoss and wood base. Another sent called Winter Woods is one of my favorites.

My friend and I took a stroll through the gardens and stopped to watch a little rabbit hop by. On every turn we saw species of flowers blooming that we would stop to admire and wish we could grow in our own gardens. Inspiration and creativity come to mind. We left feeling like we had breathed in fresh clean air, sampled lovely unique scents, seen a hobbit-like world, and of course enjoyed our lunch in the café.

Open seven days a week year round, the café is closed in the winter.