It was 1999 when Aquiles Barros, then 26 years old, a professor of Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, was challenged to create a factory that would produce luxury perfumed soaps for an American brand. He, with his bewildering optimism, said “why not?” and the rest is history. In 2000, Castelbel started production, with only six workers and an annual turnover of 150,000 euros.
Castelbel's name reflects two characteristics that remain intrinsic to the company, combining the name of their land (Castelo da Maia, in Greater Porto) with the word beauty, which is present in everything they do. Much could be said about their history and the facts that mark them. Some will say they were lucky to be able to reach more than 50 countries and make 10 million Euros a year, but they say that they knew how to look for their luck.
In 2006 Castelbel launched their own brand of scented products for the body and home, which was joined by the premium brand Portus Cale in 2007. All this while continuing to produce aromatic soaps for some of the most important and reputable brands in the world. They have within them the same spirit that led them to discover new worlds, and this made them follow a path of searching (of opportunities) and challenges (which they never refuse).
