Simon Constantine: The Perfumer Turning Fragrance into a Force for Nature

Simon Constantine is a British perfumer, ethical sourcing leader, environmental entrepreneur, and conservation advocate. He is the eldest son of Lush co-founders Mark Constantine OBE and Mo Constantine OBE. He built his early career at Lush, where he created fragrances, led ethical buying, and served as chairman of the company’s board. He later moved away from daily leadership at Lush to focus on regenerative business, environmental restoration, and independent perfume creation.

Today, he is closely connected with ånd fragrance, Careys Secret Garden, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, and several nature-led businesses. His career brings together scent, farming, conservation, and responsible trade.

Who Is Simon Constantine?

Simon Constantine was born in December 1981 in England. He is 44 years old as of July 2026 and will turn 45 in December 2026. His exact birthday has not been confirmed. He grew up in Dorset in a family deeply involved in cosmetics, fragrance, and product invention. His parents created beauty products at home before building Lush into an international company.

As a child, he was surrounded by flowers, herbs, essential oils, soaps, and perfumes. These early experiences helped shape his interest in scent and natural materials. His younger brother, Jack Constantine, became Lush’s Chief Digital Officer and a bath-product inventor. His younger sister, Claire Constantine, developed a senior career in Lush retail leadership.

Simon Constantine’s Family Background

His father, Mark Constantine, is a perfumer, trichologist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Lush. His mother, Mo Constantine, is a product inventor and manufacturing leader who created the original bath bomb. The Constantine family built Lush with Rowena Bird, Helen Ambrosen, Liz Bennett, and Paul Greeves. The company opened its first shop in Poole in 1995.

Growing up inside this creative business gave Simon direct knowledge of ingredients, production, customer needs, and ethical trade. He did not become known only because of his family name. He developed his own skills in fragrance creation, ingredient sourcing, leadership, and land restoration.

Simon Constantine’s Early Career at Lush

Simon Constantine began his professional journey at Lush as a trainee perfumer. He later became one of the company’s leading fragrance creators. His work involved more than mixing pleasant scents. He studied how raw materials were grown, harvested, processed, and traded.

He traveled to farms and communities where ingredients such as rose, jasmine, sandalwood, frankincense, and essential oils were produced. These visits changed how he viewed the perfume industry. He saw that fragrance ingredients could support families and protect land. He also saw that careless buying could damage forests, exploit workers, and weaken local communities.

Head of Ethical Buying

Simon later became Head of Ethical Buying at Lush. In this role, he helped create a team that sourced ingredients with care.

The team considered several key questions:

• Were workers treated fairly?
• Were farmers paid properly?
• Was the ingredient harvested without harming wildlife?
• Could the purchase support damaged land?
• Did local communities control part of the process?

His goal was not simply to buy materials with less harm. He wanted trade to help restore ecosystems and improve livelihoods. This approach is known as regenerative sourcing. It aims to leave soil, forests, farms, and communities stronger than they were before.

Board Chairman

Simon also served as chairman of Lush’s board from 2014 to 2019. He helped senior leaders make decisions and guided discussions about the company’s future. His board work took place alongside his responsibilities in perfumery and ethical buying. This combination gave him experience in both creative work and business leadership.

Simon Constantine and Gorilla Perfume

In 2010, Simon Constantine helped develop Gorilla Perfume with his father. The project offered a different approach to fine fragrance. Instead of relying on luxury images, celebrity promotion, or expensive packaging, Gorilla Perfume focused on stories, emotions, music, art, and real ingredients.

The father-and-son team created perfume collections that explored personal memories, social issues, travel, grief, love, nature, and change.

Breath of God

Breath of God became one of Simon’s most respected creations. The fragrance combines cool, airy notes with smoky and earthy elements. It reflects his interest in creating scents that feel emotional and unusual rather than simple or commercial.

Smuggler’s Soul

Smuggler’s Soul grew from concerns about the sandalwood trade. After learning that sandalwood used in perfume could come from illegal or destructive sources, Simon traveled to India to study the supply chain. The fragrance carried a message about endangered trees, illegal trade, and responsible buying.

Other Fragrance Work

He has also been connected with scents such as Lord of Misrule, Vanillary, Death and Decay, Secret Garden, and Flower’s Barrow. Some fragrances were solo creations, while others were developed with Mark Constantine or additional Lush perfumers.

Did Simon Constantine Leave Lush?

Simon Constantine left his main daily role at Lush to focus on new businesses based on regeneration and conservation. However, he did not completely end his relationship with the company. He has remained an adviser and continues to have formal business connections with parts of the wider Lush group.

He also remains a director of Cosmetic Warriors Limited, a company linked with Lush. The most accurate description is that he stepped away from regular operational leadership while keeping creative, advisory, and corporate ties.

Simon Constantine and ånd Fragrance

In 2020, Simon co-founded ånd fragrance. The brand creates fine perfumes using carefully sourced natural ingredients. Its purpose is to support communities that protect forests, drylands, farms, and other important ecosystems.

Ethical Fragrance Production

ånd fragrance works to make the origin of ingredients a central part of each perfume.

The brand focuses on:

• Direct relationships with growers
• Fairer payments
• Protection of natural habitats
• Support for Indigenous and local communities
• Reduced waste
• Recycled packaging materials
• Handmade fragrance production

Bottle caps have been made from waste plastic, giving discarded material a new purpose.

Fragrances from ånd

The company has created scents with names such as Frånk, Påtch, Sånd, Måd, and Båre. These perfumes use ingredients including frankincense, sandalwood, patchouli, and other plant materials. Simon has worked with frankincense-producing communities in Somaliland, where drought and climate pressure threaten traditional livelihoods. Responsible trade can provide income while helping people protect trees and maintain their land.

Careys Secret Garden

In 2019, Simon Constantine discovered a neglected Victorian walled garden near Wareham in Dorset. The site had remained largely untouched for more than 40 years. Its old walls, hidden paths, trees, and wild spaces gave it a strong sense of mystery.

Simon worked with gardeners, builders, and environmental specialists to restore the site without removing its natural character. Careys Secret Garden opened to the public in 2021.

The Purpose of the Garden

The garden brings together:

• Regenerative growing
• Permaculture
• Wildlife conservation
• Food production
• Fragrant plants
• Environmental education
• Art
• Workshops
• Community events

Its plants include roses, herbs, citrus trees, salvias, pelargoniums, and other species with strong scents. Simon uses the garden to teach people about the relationship between fragrance and the living world.

Awards and Recognition

Careys Secret Garden has received several tourism honors. In 2025, it won awards for ethical, responsible, and sustainable tourism. It was also named Winner of Winners and received a Silver Award as a small visitor attraction. The garden has worked with wildlife groups, local communities, and organizations supporting people facing hardship.

Conservation and Charity Work

Simon is a trustee of the Sumatran Orangutan Society. The charity protects orangutans, rainforests, and communities in Sumatra. Its work includes forest restoration, wildlife protection, education, and support for local people. His experience in ingredient sourcing gives him a strong understanding of how farming, business, and habitat loss are connected. He also supports permaculture, fungi education, biodiversity, and land restoration.

Simon Constantine’s Wife and Children

Simon has mentioned having a wife, but her name has not been confirmed through a strong source. He has at least two daughters. One of them is named Immy. Careys Secret Garden has shared that Immy and her sister were among the first family members to enter the rediscovered garden. Further details about his wife and children remain private.

Simon Constantine’s Net Worth

His personal net worth has not been confirmed. No trusted wealth publication provides a separate figure for him. The fortune linked with the Constantine family mainly refers to the ownership held by his parents, Mark and Mo Constantine. Simon has business interests in ånd fragrance, Careys Secret Garden, Keystone Species, and Cosmetic Warriors. However, company roles do not reveal his salary, ownership share, or total personal wealth.

The Lasting Impact of Simon Constantine

Simon Constantine has built a career that connects perfume with environmental responsibility. At Lush, he helped create memorable fragrances, strengthened ethical buying, and promoted regenerative sourcing. Through ånd fragrance, he uses perfume to support ecosystems and communities. At Careys Secret Garden, he has helped restore neglected land and create a place for education, wildlife, and human connection.

His work proves that fragrance can be more than a luxury product. It can tell stories, support farmers, protect forests, and help repair damaged landscapes.

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