Crabtree & Evelyn, Wrentham

Although Crabtree & Evelyn might sound like the latest buddy cop TV comedy, the roots of its name are quite a bit more thoughtful. “Crabtree” comes from the English crabapple tree, from which many home medicinal products can be drawn. And “Evelyn” comes from the beloved 17th century British diarist John Evelyn, who wrote a comprehensive book on trees, Sylva, that is still read today. In the 1970s, company founder Cyrus Harvey gathered the two names, as well as a range of soaps from around the world, and made them part of a small family-owned shop. Since then, Crabtree & Evelyn has expanded to incorporate a wide range of soaps, fragrances, and gifts, featuring essences of natural ingredients and botanically inspired packaging.