Meet the Founder

Wild Life

I've always had a bit of a wild streak. In my early twenties, I dated the drummer of INXS and spent seven years on tour with the band. I saw hundreds of shows around the world, and I'll never forget standing on the side of the stage when the lights went out and the band came on — the crowd roared.

With all of the concerts and parties, I was always trying to look good — but I didn't really have a skincare ritual. That changed when I met a radiant young model who revealed her beauty secret, passed down by generations of French women: ‘You must cleanse, tone, and moisturize every morning and night — no exceptions.’ I’ve lived by that mantra ever since.

Macer Floridus, 11th-Century Latin Herbal Text | Liber de Vinis, Arnaldo Villanova, 13th-Century Latin Herbal Text | Italian Herbal 1475 | Liber de Vinis

Elixir of Youth

For years I followed that ritual. My journey to Wild Mary began when I wanted a facial toner that helped preserve the natural vitality of my skin. Everything I found was either overloaded with dozens of ingredients or made from extracts with little to no antioxidants. Determined to find a better solution, I turned to the herbal tradition.

In my research, I discovered a 17th-century Rosemary elixir said to restore the youth and beauty of the Queen of Hungary. But the historical record revealed the queen was most likely a creation of Montpellier perfumers, who introduced this legendary elixir at the court of Louis XIV. Intrigued by its mysterious origins, I kept digging — and uncovered something extraordinary.

Ancient Beauty Secret

Rosemary has been revered in beauty rituals for over 4,000 years. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use it in an elixir believed to preserve youth and beautify the skin. This recipe was a closely guarded secret, remaining unknown in the West until the late 13th century, when a Latin manuscript on the virtues of herbal wine emerged.

Written by Arnaldo de Villanova, the Liber de Vinis introduced the elixir as Vino de Rore Marino — a formula attributed to Dioscorides, the father of herbal medicine, who learned the secret in Cairo in the 1st century AD. The manuscript circulated across Europe for centuries, and by the 17th century, the recipe became legendary as Queen of Hungary Water — an elixir of youth and beauty whose popularity endured for generations.

Wild Mary

For centuries, women have searched for the elixir of youth — and time and again, they turned to Rosemary. Its rich history captivated me: a legendary elixir passed down through generations and woven into beauty rituals across cultures. But when I uncovered the science behind its rejuvenating properties, I realized I had found something extraordinary.

What inspired me to create Wild Mary was the desire to share my discovery with a new generation. To honor this legacy, I re-envisioned the time-honored elixir using full-spectrum CO₂ extraction to capture Rosemary in its most true-to-nature form.

By bringing centuries of herbal wisdom to your skin, I hope Wild Mary’s next-generation Rosemary skincare inspires you to feel confident in your skin at any age.