Bishop’s Stortford-based international fragrance house CPL Aromas donates £250,000 to homelessness charity Emmaus

A Bishop’s Stortford business has donated £250,000 to homelessness charity Emmaus.

Half the cash from international fragrance house CPL Aromas will go to the organisation’s Hertfordshire community and half will fund national projects.

The pledge follows a donation of £50,000 in 2023, which was doubled last year with a £100,000 gift.

Emmaus Hertfordshire’s chief executive, Duncan Lewis, said: “A massive thank you to CPL Aromas for this incredible ongoing support, which will enable us to make a huge difference to the levels of support we are able to offer our companions.

“It will also enable us to fund vital repairs to our community minibus and completely renovate the dated and inadequate laundry facilities in our community, all of which will make a huge difference to the day-to-day lives of our companions.

“This latest donation is a critical step toward addressing the growing homelessness crisis and delivering tangible, life-changing support to vulnerable members of our community. We cannot thank CPL Aromas enough for their generosity, time and investment in our charity and the people we support.”

CPL Aromas chief executive Chris Pickthall and chief operating officer Nick Pickthall said in a joint statement: “We are delighted to support Emmaus and help them in their work to take the homeless off the streets, give them work and accommodation and help them get their lives back on track.”

CPL Aromas has made a positive impact on the charity in other ways. In October 2023, its staff hosted a fascinating and fun scent workshop for companions, staff and volunteers, which included making their own shower gels.

Community members reciprocated by joining CPL’s global marketing and development seminar in 2024 and 2025, where companions hosted a mosaic-making workshop and participated in a question-and-answer session about their experiences of homelessness. They highlighted how CPL’s support for Emmaus was helping them to rebuild their lives.

A fundraising team from the company slept out for Emmaus Hertfordshire at the St Albans Sleepout last November and, more recently, the company gave one of the charity’s companions, Adie, work experience. She joined the team at CPL’s Bishop’s Stortford headquarters at Innovation House, London Road, for three days a week over three months.

Emmaus provides people who have experienced homelessness with a home, tailored support, companionship and work and training opportunities. Companions gain skills and confidence within the charity’s four shops, workshop and house clearance social enterprise, while receiving individual support. The Emmaus Hertfordshire community supports up to 39 people.

Charlotte Talbott, chief executive of Emmaus UK, said: “This third donation from CPL Aromas is hugely appreciated as it will allow both Emmaus UK and Emmaus Hertfordshire to develop key projects where we have identified a real need.

“We will be able to provide more specialist support, better opportunities and more positive outcomes for companions. We’re extremely grateful for their ongoing support.”

CPL Aromas also supports charity projects outside the UK in India and Madagascar.