The name is an elision of the founder's two daughters, Calla and Andrea.
We read about Monica Nassif starting Caldrea a few years ago and went right out to find her products. It's a good story. At first they were hard to find (not anymore), and we were surprised to discover that she really had something here: natural earth friendly cleaning products that smell like the best outdoor scents.
This may seem too abstract when cleaning is the goal, but too many cleaners are made to smell slightly toxic, with harsh lemon or acidic fragrances, and it seems odd to us to put this out into the home after cooking a great dinner.
Caldrea uses natural fragrances that complement the natural cooking and activities of the home (like lavender, clover, mint) rather than cut against it. It seems simple, but it makes a big difference.
We've got Caldrea hand soap and moisturizer, pine scented, in our bathroom at my office. Very nice, smells terrific, though the moisturizer doesn't absorb easily.
I bought there Nutmeg Ginger room spray and votives gift set a few years back. Only break them out in the winter. Nice spicy scent.
My aunt used to rep this line, and from what she tells me, it's the same makers as Mrs. Meyers. The scents are definitely a bit more refined, but you sure pay a premium for them. Mrs. Meyers is a pretty good price for the same benefits.
If I could afford Caldrea products, I'd also be hiring someone else to use them for me!