The Story of Rata & Smudge

Rata & Smudge began with a lifelong love of plants, nature and the quiet magic found in a garden.

Some of my earliest memories are of the beautiful hydrangeas surrounding my grandmother’s front door. That connection with plants has stayed with me ever since—growing into vegetable and medicinal herb gardens, foraging for wild plants and eventually learning how to turn nature’s offerings into something that could support others.

Today, Rata & Smudge is my small herbal apothecary nestled at Forever Views in the Teviot Valley, Central Otago. Here, surrounded by gardens, farmland, native plants and wonderfully fresh country air, I grow, gather and create my range of handcrafted Herbal Hugs.

Each product is made with intention, care and a genuine belief that everyone deserves to feel good.

From Plant to Product

Many of the plants used in our products are grown in our own pesticide-free gardens or sustainably foraged from our property.

Every plant is carefully chosen for its traditional properties and the support it may offer. The herbs are then gently prepared, infused and blended by hand in small batches, allowing time and nature to do their work.

Other ingredients are sourced locally or from trusted New Zealand suppliers wherever possible—including our beeswax and the beautiful Saffron petals grown by Graham and Wendy at Wynyard Estate in nearby Ettrick.

Our kawakawa is gathered for us by our sons in the North Island, so we know exactly where it has come from and that it has been harvested with care and respect.

Grown and Gathered with Care

We personally grow plants such as mullein, yarrow, calendula, lavender, white sage, comfrey and many of the other herbs found throughout the Rata & Smudge range.

Growing and gathering our own plants gives us a connection with every stage of the process—from planting a tiny seed to harvesting the mature plant and finally transforming it into an oil, balm, tincture or another gentle herbal creation.

It also means we can be confident that our plants have been grown without pesticides and harvested thoughtfully, at the right time and in a way that protects what continues growing around them.

Our Journey

Rata & Smudge was created from one simple belief:

Everyone deserves to feel good.

Life can be busy, exhausting and overwhelming. Sometimes we all need a little support—a restful night’s sleep, a calmer moment, comfort for tired muscles or some extra kindness for our skin.

Rata & Smudge is more than a collection of products. It is my way of sharing the plants I love and creating gentle, practical Herbal Hugs that can become part of your everyday wellbeing and self-care rituals.

My Promise to You

I promise to create with honesty, care and respect—for you, for the plants and for the land they come from.

Our products are handcrafted in small batches using plants we have grown, sustainably gathered or carefully sourced from people we know and trust.

Every Rata & Smudge creation begins with purpose and is made to encourage a deeper connection with nature and support the moments when you need a little extra care.

Plants are clever… we just put them together.

Fiona
Nature’s Alchemist and founder of Rata & Smudge