In the picturesque landscapes of Tasmania, where nature’s beauty flourishes in abundance, Tony Cox has crafted a fragrant legacy with Lavender House Perfumery. As the visionary behind this boutique business, Tony combines organic growing techniques with artisanal craftsmanship to produce world-class lavender oils, skincare, and therapeutic products. Beyond lavender, the business extends its expertise to heirloom roses, creating premium rose-based perfumes and skincare solutions. Since its humble beginnings, Lavender House Perfumery has grown into a global name, supplying its exquisite creations to hotels, spas, and boutiques across Australia and beyond. From a showroom inaugurated by Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism to earning multiple Tasmanian Tourism Awards, the brand exemplifies innovation and quality. Join Mystic Mag as Tony shares insights into his journey, the artistry behind his creations, and how he’s turning Tasmania’s natural beauty into a global aromatic phenomenon.
What inspired you to start Lavender House in Tasmania, and how does the local climate and environment contribute to the unique quality of your lavender and rose products?
We didn’t start Lavender House Perfumery. The business found us! I was actually looking at another property in Tasmania, then got lost! I saw some road signs to Lavender House and followed them, thinking it might be a great place to buy some gifts.
When I was amazed at the quality and range of products and, having a background in chemistry, remarked that I would love to work in a place like that. The lovely lady at the counter said that the business was for sale and asked if I would like to meet the owners. I did, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Tasmania has a pristine and unique cool climate compared to mainland Australia, with a reasonable amount of rainfall. We have a unique microclimate and soil in Rowella, in the Tamar Valley, which provides ideal growing conditions for both lavender, roses, and of course cool climate grapes. Lavender is naturally pest resistant too, which makes it easier for us to garden organically, and the cold winters help keep weeds at bay – at least in winter!
From skincare to culinary products, Lavender House Perfumery offers a diverse range. How do you ensure consistency and quality across such varied product lines?
We are meticulous in everything we do. We have to be. All products are crafted using precise measurements, using our state of the art equipment. We use only the best quality ingredients, sourcing organic and Australian ingredients, and oils, essences and hydrosols extracted from our organically grown lavender and roses. Our staff have specific areas of expertise. We make one batch of product at a time and every batch is tested to ensure it meets our stringent quality standards.
What is your process for creating signature lavender and rose perfumes, and how do you balance traditional methods with contemporary fragrance trends?
Contemporary fragrances are, unfortunately, little more than a cocktail of chemicals, which bear little resemblance to the plant scents that they mimic. Some are potent allergens and may cause other health issues, including skin and breathing problems, migraines and endocrine disruption.
This is why we created our signature lavender and rose perfumes, using natural oils and scents derived from our organically grown lavender and rose plants. We use special cultivars of lavender and heirloom roses that we grow on our property. We have chosen them for their outstanding fragrances. We use specific techniques to extract their scents – our methods are very special and a closely guarded secret!
There is nothing more alluring than natural perfumes obtained from the flowers, fruit, leaves, bark, resins and seeds of plants: these scents are timeless and transcend all contemporary fragrance trends.
The other important point to recognise about natural perfumes is that they also blend with your natural bodily chemistry, thus giving you a unique fragrance.
Your heirloom roses are a unique feature. What inspired you to incorporate them into your business, and how do they complement your lavender products?
Our rose growing started by accident – or intuition!
Lavender thrives in poor, alkaline soils. The soil on some parts of our property is unsuitable for lavender, as it holds water and is more acidic. But roses love it! So we decided to plant roses where lavender wouldn’t grow. We chose specific heritage roses for their sublime scents, disease resistance, and which would thrive in the cool Tasmanian climate. The roses also flower over a longer period than our lavender, which means our gardens are colourful and perfumed for most of the year.
Scent wise, roses and lavender are a divine combination. Besides its unique perfume, Lavender has many therapeutic qualities, being superb for skin, reducing inflammation, helping you sleep, relieving anxiety and depression, and helping you breathe. Roses have numerous therapeutic benefits too: they have fabulous anti-aging qualities as they help stimulate collagen, and reduce skin pigmentation and age spots. And red roses are the universal symbol of love.
Combining lavender and roses gives us the best of both worlds, superb scents and premium, skin and therapeutic products.
And everyone adores lavender and roses.
What are your long-term goals for Lavender House Perfumery, and how do you plan to innovate while staying true to your roots in organic, Tasmanian-grown products?
Being natural, happy and true to ourselves is the core ethos of our business. We are passionate about everything we do, and are committed to looking after the soils, plants and environment. Our gardens are literally abuzz with bees, butterflies and insects.
Being in an organic, peaceful and beautiful setting helps our creativity and enhances our powers of innovation. We are definitely guided by the power of our plants and their scents!
Our long-term goal is to expand Lavender House Perfumery by taking it to the global market.
You can visit our shop online at https://lavenderhouse.com.au/ and explore our fabulous range of products.
Or you can visit us in person. Tasmania is a must visit tourist destination. Lonely Planet has just revealed its top regions to visit in 2025 and Launceston & the Tamar Valley is listed as number 4 in the world! The perfect excuse to book your next trip!
We look forward to meeting you!
