Step Inside Our Artisanal World
By popular demand, Old Mill Cosmetics is now offering guided tours of our historic flour mill workshop, providing visitors with an intimate look at how Ria Harman and her team create each product using traditional artisanal methods combined with modern sustainability practices.
"We've received so many requests from customers wanting to see behind the scenes," explains Ria Harman, founder and chief botanist. "These tours allow people to understand not just what we make, but why we make it the way we do. There's something magical about witnessing the entire process from herb garden to finished product."
Tour Experience Overview
Each two-hour tour, personally led by Ria Harman or one of our master craftspeople, takes visitors through every stage of our production process. Tours are intentionally kept small—maximum 8 participants—to ensure an intimate, educational experience where questions are encouraged and hands-on participation is welcomed.
Tour Highlights
- • Historic Mill Building: Learn the fascinating history of our 18th-century flour mill
- • Herb Gardens: Walk through our organic gardens with seasonal plant identification
- • Drying Rooms: See how herbs are carefully preserved using traditional methods
- • Extraction Process: Watch oils and essences being extracted using ancient techniques
- • Blending Laboratory: Observe the precise art of formulation and quality testing
- • Packaging Area: Witness our sustainable packaging process and innovation
- • Quality Control: Understanding our rigorous testing and safety protocols
Meet Ria Harman and the Team
Tours provide a unique opportunity to meet Ria Harman personally and hear her story of how she transformed a derelict flour mill into a thriving sustainable cosmetics company. Guests also meet other key team members, including master herbalist Emma Thompson and head of sustainability initiatives, James Patterson.
"I want people to understand that what we do here isn't just manufacturing—it's a continuation of centuries-old traditions of using plants to heal and nourish. Every product tells a story of the plants, the people, and the place where it was made." - Ria Harman, Founder
Hands-On Learning Experience
Under Ria Harman's guidance, tour participants get hands-on experience with several key processes. Visitors learn to identify herbs by touch and scent, participate in the gentle extraction of plant essences, and even blend their own small batch of facial oil to take home.
Interactive Elements
Sensory Experiences
- • Herb identification challenge
- • Essential oil blending workshop
- • Texture and consistency testing
- • Natural preservation methods demonstration
Take-Home Elements
- • Personal blend facial oil (30ml)
- • Herb garden seed packet
- • Recipe cards for DIY treatments
- • 20% discount on purchases
Seasonal Tour Variations
Ria Harman has designed tours to reflect the seasonal nature of cosmetics production. Spring tours focus on fresh growth and gentle cleansing ingredients, summer tours highlight sun protection and cooling botanicals, autumn tours emphasize nourishing preparations for winter, and winter tours demonstrate preservation techniques and warming treatments.
"Each season brings different plants, different needs, and different processes," explains Ria Harman. "Tour participants often return throughout the year to experience these variations. It's wonderful to see people develop a deeper connection with the natural rhythms that guide our work."
Sustainability Showcase
A significant portion of each tour focuses on Old Mill Cosmetics' sustainability initiatives, led byRia Harman's passionate commitment to environmental responsibility. Visitors see firsthand how the company has achieved carbon neutrality and eliminated plastic packaging.
Sustainability Features on Tour
- • Solar panels and renewable energy systems
- • Rainwater collection and filtration
- • Composting facilities for organic waste
- • Biodegradable packaging materials demonstration
- • Local sourcing partnerships with organic farmers
- • Zero-waste production techniques
- • Natural building materials and restoration methods
Booking Information
Tours are offered every Saturday morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with advance booking required.Ria Harman personally leads tours on the first Saturday of each month, while other Saturdays are led by senior team members trained in her methodologies.
Tour Details & Booking
Tour Information
- • Duration: 2 hours
- • Group size: Maximum 8 people
- • Age requirement: 16+ (accompanied minors 12+)
- • Cost: £45 per person
- • Includes refreshments and take-home products
Special Tours with Ria Harman
- • First Saturday of each month
- • Limited to 6 people for intimate experience
- • Extended 2.5-hour format
- • Cost: £75 per person
- • Includes signed copy of her herb guide
Early Visitor Feedback
Since launching the tours in January, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "Meeting Ria Harmanand seeing her passion firsthand was incredible," notes visitor Sarah Jenkins from Bath. "You can understand why her products are so special when you see the care and attention that goes into every step."
Many visitors have become regular customers after the tour experience, with several requesting custom formulations based on what they learned about their skin needs during the educational portions of the tour.
Future Tour Expansions
Based on early success, Ria Harman is considering expanding the program to include specialized tours for professionals in the beauty industry, educational tours for students, and multi-day intensive workshops for those interested in learning traditional cosmetic-making techniques.
Book Your Tour
To book your Mill Workshop Tour or inquire about special group bookings, contact us at tours@oldmillcosmetics.com or call +44 1234 567 891. Advance booking is required, and tours often fill up weeks in advance.