Meet the ‘Candleman’

Now based in Wiltshire, I continue to be inspired by nature and artisans, from its spa towns and chalk downland to the malty sweetness of the county’s breweries. Fragrance is such a powerful sense, evoking memories and changing mood. So when I blend one of my fragrances, I think not just about what it smells like but how it makes me feel, whether it takes me back to an experience I’ve had, calms me or uplifts my mood.  

HOW DID YOU GET INTO CANDLE MAKING? IT’S QUITE UNUSUAL FOR A CHAP TO BE IN THE CANDLE MARKET. 

One of my favourite pastimes is working on my garden, but as the winter draws in I find myself spending less time outdoors. My love of candle making started as a hobby; a way of bringing the scents of my garden indoors and of creating something natural and beautiful when the plants outside are dormant. Candle making has become an art form in its own right and Candleman is part of a growing community of artisan producers, some of whom are men. There are so many candles out there with floral, some may say feminine fragrances but I felt there was a gap in the market for candles that appeal to men as well as women. Since creating my first scent, Black Pepper & Sandalwood a year ago, I’ve attracted a number of loyal customers, many of whom are men looking for bold, vibrant scents in a candle that has simple, contemporary style. 

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Candleman is still a young company but I’m growing my customer base and I’m delighted to have started supplying independent retailers as well as selling my candles direct through my website www.candleman.co.uk. As I continue to grow the business I want to ensure that the quality of my product is consistently good. I’m hoping to grow the number of retailers I work with over time, to get my brand out there and share my passion with more customers. Who knows, I may have to find myself a larger studio soon! I’m also thinking about expanding my product range beyond candles and I’ve been experimenting with reed diffusers and home fragrance oils.

OTHER THAN YOUR OWN CANDLES, WHAT BRAND/FRAGRANCE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I’m a little bit candle obsessed actually! I can’t walk past a shop window or fixture displaying candles without taking off the lid and smelling the fragrance. One of my favourite brands is “Jo Loves”, by Jo Malone. I love her story and the stunning simplicity of her products and branding. Like me, Jo recognises the positive impact that fragrance has on wellbeing. But more than that, Jo Loves understand that it’s all about experiences too. I like that you can have your own fragrance blended for you; scent is such a personal thing after all. My favourite scent from Jo Loves would have to be Log Fires because it casts my mind back to spring time cottage holidays in Cornwall.  Lighting the fire after a long coastal walk with my beagle and my partner, hearing the crackle of wood and curling up with a good book and a Cornish ale.

I felt that Candleman fitted perfectly in my Keep it Local section of this blog.  I received a fabulous selection of candles including a full size Coffee, Cardomon and Woodsmoke which smells incredible.  What I loved was the fact that the big candle was gift-wrapped which reminded me of when you buy treats whilst on holiday.  Everything is always meticulously wrapped making everything feel incredibly special. My other favourite was probably the Hawthorn Musk and Eucalyptus.  Even JB liked the scent of these candles as they are definitely not the usual fragrances wafting round the HWO house!

You can get your own candle by visiting the Candleman website!

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