From a bucolic pocket of Somerset, Commune was born — a natural skincare brand that approaches self-care not as luxury, but as ritual. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Rémi Paringaux and Kate Neal, former fashion-industry luminaries with a shared devotion to beauty, intention, and the rhythms of the natural world, Commune is as much a way of living as it is a product line.
Every element is meticulously considered: from their signature scent, inspired by Somerset’s damp spring meadows and sun-warmed herbs, to the elegantly minimal bottles — crafted from infinitely recyclable aluminium, with bespoke steel pumps designed to last. Somerset is not only home, but muse: its ancient landscapes, shifting light, and quiet magic informing the Commune’s pace, palette and philosophy.
We sat down with Rémi and Kate to talk about their journey from high fashion to handmade, their reverence for ritual, and why going back to the land was the most forward-thinking thing they could do.
What inspired you to start Commune?
Commune was born from a desire to slow down and return to the essentials — to create something meaningful, tactile, and rooted in place and community. After years spent in luxury fashion, we craved simplicity, nature and connection. Commune became our way of translating that shift into something sensory and shared: a brand that encompasses design, intentional living, care and ritual.
Somerset plays a huge part in Commune’s story – how has it shaped the way you approach your work and philosophy?
Somerset feels ancient and alive. The land holds a kind of quiet magic — mists over fields, wild herbs growing in hedgerows, the pulse of seasonal rhythms. Living here has reawakened our sense of time and intention. It’s shaped Commune into something slower, more rooted, and attuned to nature’s pace rather than industry’s urgency.
You speak about ritual and the return to a more balanced life – what does a daily self-care ceremony look like for you personally?
It’s often simple: taking a walk in nature, feeling connected to the land, lighting a candle before the day begins, massaging our Seymour body cream into the skin after a cold swim. Ritual is less about routine and more about attention — taking a moment to connect with breath, with body, with the present.
Nature and ancient wisdom are woven through your brand. Are there any specific herbal traditions or rituals you’ve drawn from?
We draw deeply from ancient herbalism — plants like lavender, hiba wood, and galbanum have long histories in traditional healing. We also look to seasonal rituals, like spring cleansing or solstice baths, where water, earth and scent come together as quiet acts of renewal.
You are based near the legendary Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Well. How do these places influence your scent development and product formulations?
There’s something mythic and visceral about Glastonbury — the Tor rising through mist, the sacred spring at Chalice Well. These places evoke elements we try to capture in our fragrance blends and the Gothic architecture gave us the inspiration for the arch featured on our bottles.
Can you tell us more about Commune’s approach to sustainability?
Sustainability isn’t an afterthought — it’s woven in from the very beginning. Our packaging avoids all single-use plastic, with aluminium bottles and a bespoke-designed, reusable metal pump. Every detail is considered.
How do you begin the creative process when developing a new botanical scent?
It often begins with a place or a feeling — our signature Seymour scent, for example, draws from the Somerset countryside in spring. From there, we explore natural ingredients that evoke that mood, building the scent like a story: top notes that invite, heart notes that hold, base notes that linger. It’s intuitive and layered — like composing with nature.
You describe Commune as a return to community – how does Commune foster that beyond the product?
Beyond our products, we have our retail shop in Bruton, which includes a workshop space and our perfume organ — a place where people can meet, make, connect, and breathe in the natural scents.
What do you hope someone feels or experiences when using a Commune product?
A sense of beauty and grounding. We hope people enjoy holding our bottles and feel a pause — however brief — in which they remember themselves, their senses, and the land that supports them. Commune isn’t just about cleansing; it’s about returning.
What’s next for Commune?
We have some exciting new products launching this year and are continually exploring new ways to share our stories through ancient rituals and traditions. Every offering is part of a larger journey — one of reconnection, care, and belonging.
Shop our Commune collection here
