Rufus the Red Goats Milk Soap

Rufus the Red: The Last Hunt draws on the mysterious and dramatic events surrounding King William II in the New Forest. The forest, marked as a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror, was considered sacred and legend holds that a curse was placed on the royal male line by those displaced during its creation.

Rufus the Red was the nickname of King William II of England, who reigned between 1087–1100. The third son of William the Conqueror, he was nicknamed "Rufus", Latin for "the Red" due to his red-faced, ruddy complexion and red hair, and was known for a fiery temper and flashy dress.

On August 2, 1100, William Rufus set out for what would be his final hunt. He had ignored ominous warnings and troubling dreams, including visions of blood and divine retribution. During the hunt, he was struck by a fatal arrow. Accounts vary, some say it glanced off a stag or a tree, others that it was a deliberate shot. Suspicion immediately fell on Walter Tyrell, a noble knight in the hunting party, who fled the forest, leaving behind his beloved dog said to haunt the woods searching for his master. 

From Ocknell Pond, where Tyrell washed the King's blood from his hands, and which is said to turn red each year on the anniversary of the king’s death to the whispers of curses and hidden intrigue, the legend of the Red King still lingers among the ancient trees. The soap’s woodland fragrance of cedar, cypress, juniper, and sacred resin evokes the royal hunting grounds and the timeless majesty of the New Forest, bringing a touch of legend to your daily routine.

Made with creamy fresh goat’s milk from our own happy herd and a blend of skin-nourishing oils and rich butters, this soap cleanses and hydrates gently while soothing the skin. Gentle enough for all skin types, it leaves skin soft, moisturized, and lightly scented with a noble woodland aroma.