Castelbel

Castelbel is a Portuguese home-fragrance and soap company founded in 1999 by Aquiles Barros, a chemistry professor at the University of Porto's Faculty of Sciences, after he was challenged to build a factory capable of producing luxury perfumed soaps for an American client brand. Production began in 2000 with just six employees and an annual turnover of around 150,000 euros. The company takes its name from its original home in Castêlo da Maia, near Porto -- 'Castel' referencing the place of origin and 'Bel' evoking beauty -- and is now based in the greater Porto area, on the south bank of the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. In 2007 Castelbel launched Portus Cale, a more elaborate luxury sub-brand with ornate packaging, complex fragrance compositions and designed glass diffusers and candle holders, sitting above the core Castelbel range. Over more than two decades the company has expanded from soap alone into scented candles, diffusers, hand creams and body lotions, and now distributes to more than 1,000 points of sale across over 60 countries. Castelbel is today part of BR Investments Group, a diversified Portuguese investment group.