ABOUT US
Camille Beckman is known worldwide for the quality of its fine creams and lotions. We base our formulas on rich and wholesome ingredients, blending small batches and using hand-crafted, old-fashioned methods that create a difference you can feel!
The Classic Camille Beckman Line originated in 1986 and was created for specialty shops. You will not find this beautiful line in large department stores, nor will you see it being mass marketed. The products are as timeless and charming as the shops that sell them. The jars and bottles of the Classic Line are adorned with our signature trademark - the tiny hand-tied satin rosebud.
The New Generation Spa Line was recently introduced with a whole new look. The New Generation's contemporary fragrances are reflected in their modern marbleized packaging.
Our goal at Camille Beckman is to produce the finest creams and lotions in the world. In order to achieve this goal we must adhere to the following principles:
- Consistent high quality is of foremost importance
- Formulas are produced with old-fashioned methods using 11 rich, high quality, and wholesome ingredients
- Packaging is very beautiful, soft, and feminine
- The products are sold in fine specialty shops
People always remember where they were the first time they tried Camille Beckman. After applying a small amount of Glycerine Hand Therapy, within ten minutes their hands felt like silk. Just imagine a company that produces over 30 quality products, all with similar results. Women depend on and trust Camille Beckman.
ORIGINS
In the Founder's Own Words
During my childhood, my mother was an editor of a small town newspaper and my father taught Agriculture at the local High School. All summer long, my father and I were best 'chums'. At the age of eight I found an old leather-bound book on my father's bookshelf entitled, 100 Things for Boys to Do. Being a bit of a tomboy, I was thoroughly intrigued by this book and the wonderfully inventive ideas which lay between the covers. The chapter that caught my eye, and even today holds my heart, was Extraction of Perfume from Flowers.
Throughout Junior High and High School my parents often found me lost in the kitchen with craft projects - slicing bars of hand made soap or mixing up special potions. I sold various tonics here and there and created blemish cream for a teacher's daughter. My three favorite projects were drying flowers for the creative process of blending potpourri, spinning pottery, and creating jewelry to sell in a local store. I loved spending time with my Aunt Rose as she was my first introduction into the world of herbs. It was an education to see the way she mixed different scents and herbal oils into her rich bars of home-made soap. My interest continued to grow and I was overjoyed when my best friend's mother added her old family recipes to my collection.
The local Pharmacy was an inspiring shop as they compounded medicines and sold a wide variety of perfumes and lotions. I am forever grateful for the kind pharmacist who took time for me and allowed me to wander his back storage shelves, just looking for ingredients. It was the adventurous mind of a young person that was forever questioning, 'What was this used for?' and 'Why would they have put this into that?' which helped create the formulations we know today as Camille Beckman.
As a young adult, living the life of an artist in Europe, much of my time was spent studying art history and techniques while learning how to make painting supplies from scratch. Finding myself researching a shampoo and glycerine soap project, I ventured to the Monasteraki area of Athens, known to house a few perfumers' workshops, located near the famous Spice Market. This is where I found my calling. It was not long before I returned home to begin my adventure. I have often been asked the question, 'How did you start Camille Beckman?' The answer is really quite simple. I took everything I love to do, tucked it into a great big sack, shook it up, and out came Camille Beckman. When one begins a company that incorporates all the things they love to do, it is easy to come to work every day, because you truly love your job.
And today, I have a wonderful husband, a lovely daughter, and a terrific group of people that surround and energize Camille Beckman. Other than that, life hasn't really changed much. I am still pursuing the concepts that the little book sparked within me as I continue to study Herbal Formulas and Beauty Secrets of Ancient Cultures.
- Susan Camille Beckman Roghani
LEGEND OF THE ROSEBUD
Our signature trademark, the hand-tied rosebud, is rooted in the founder's passion for herbs, plants and flowers.
A major goal when establishing the business was to provide an income for local 'stay-at-home' mothers. Each delicate rosebud, which tops many of the products, is individually hand-tied by someone in our community, most people are surprised that this process has not been sourced overseas. This remains a timeless tradition which is still carried on today.
Another goal was to produce products that all could afford. We realize that many women make a living by using their hands. When working hands bear a heavy load they need the luxury of a protective cream. Our products are designed for all women and therefore, our pricing must be sensitive.
OUR NEW HOME
The Camille Beckman factory is a source of pride for all of us who have the pleasure of working here. The exterior is reminiscent of Olde England with its heavy dark timbers and soft chalky brown stucco, reminding one of Shakespeare's home in Stratford-upon-Avon.
When stepping inside, one is pleasantly surprised to view a totally modern production facility. Lit by skylights and sun reflecting the pale mint floor onto white walls, we often hear from our guests, 'It feels more like a garden than a factory!'
Formulas are created and tested by Camille Beckman Research and Development in a wonderfully equipped laboratory located immediately adjacent to the production floor.
Our 104,000 sq ft facility is heated & cooled by a natural 62 degree year-round artesian well. A water treatment plant was built into the facility creating the purest water in the area. We combine the water with steam from the double-walled mixing units to heat our floors in the wintertime. In the summer months, it is delightful to have 62 degree water running beneath the floors.
In 2004 the factory was awarded the Better Bricks Award for the Pacific Northwest. It won this prestigious award because of the innovative and creative designs aimed at conserving natural resources.
Most impressive is the cleanliness and the orderliness of the factory. It is all very pristine. If you find yourself in Idaho, we invite you to visit the company. Ask for an informational pamphlet at the Gift Shop and you will be directed to the viewing windows for the self-guided tour. The factory is located a short 20 minute drive from the heart of Boise.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are as committed to our employees as they are to us. Most of them have been with us for over 10 years. We are also committed to diversity and social responsibility. Over one half of our workforce is comprised of minority individuals from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
We give back to the community directly through the Camille Beckman Foundation. Opportunities to contribute at the local, national and international level have impacted thousands of lives.
Domestically, we have focused primarily on partnering with organizations caring for the basic unmet needs of underprivileged children and the elderly in need. At home, the Idaho Food Bank has been awarded over $500,000 in cash grants in the last few years. We are also pleased to respond when our wholesale customers across the nation make us aware of needs in their local communities, such as Detroit's Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Internationally, our hearts go out to the children without parents and without food. We sponsor a school in Vietnam, where many of our employees have relatives, an orphanage in Columbia, and an Economic Development program that operates in multiple countries.
The Camille Beckman Foundation seeks out causes that provide relief to the truly disadvantaged.
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