I’ve been obsessed with candles for as long as I can remember. There’s just something about the glow of a flame and the comfort it brings. When I became a mother, I found myself burning candles constantly, it was my way of creating calm in the chaos. At the same time, I was trying to figure out how to earn money for my little family.
That’s when I started working for a small candle company in the East Neuk, picking and packing orders. They brought in candles from all over the world—strange, wonderful shapes, fragrances, and wax types I had never seen before. I knew then: I had to make candles myself.
I began at home in the kitchen of my little council flat, with my daughter Emily by my side (and it’s after her that I named the company). Those early days were messy, experimental, and filled with love.
Life wasn’t always easy. Along the way, I struggled with my mental health, moved homes, and welcomed two more beautiful children. But my candle dream never left me.
I became fascinated with the history of candle-making, spending hours watching old videos of how candles were made in the 1800s—hand-dipped tallow candles that burned in cottages and churches. I started experimenting with pillar candles and quickly fell in love with how much longer they lasted than scented jars. I also noticed they were the candles most often found in weddings and churches, timeless and meaningful.
At first, I poured them one by one using moulds, but I couldn’t keep up with demand. Then, one day, while searching online, I stumbled across something incredible: a pillar mould table with 40 moulds for sale.
The listing led me all the way to a beautiful little village in Yorkshire, where I met Henny, a kind and softly spoken woman with a broad Yorkshire accent. She welcomed me into her studio and, as she showed me her space, I knew immediately – this was the life I dreamed of.
Henny was ready to pass on her equipment, and I was ready to carry the torch. That moment felt like everything had come full circle.
And that’s where we are today – still handcrafting candles with care, carrying forward tradition, and sharing a little light from our family to yours.