Finding just the right candle is hard. Not only are there more scents on the market than sense, but greenwashing in the candle industry is most certainly aflame. You have ingredient lists that are beyond translation. “Vegan” labels slapped onto the sides of plastic packaging. And countless kinds of waxes to try to understand. It’s a real mess out there.
As a committed candle consumer herself, Sarah Bell knows this plight all too well. In fact, she was so determined to find the very best clean candles that in 2013 she started to make her own. “I’ve always had a keen interest in fragrance and how different scents can alter your mood. So I bought a candle making kit online, but the fragrance that came with it was disappointing.”
And that seems to be the problem. You have hoards of unsustainable paraffin-puffing candles that give you the fragrance hit you’re after. Or you have natural numbers that fall short when it comes to scent.
Finding a balance of both sides, Sarah set up Evermore. “At the time, there wasn’t any natural wax candle brands on the UK market. So I made it my goal to research and develop cleaner candles and it soon became a healthy obsession.”
Today you can find the luxury aromas of Evermore in over 50 stores around the world. Beyond its production of candles, soaps and incense, the East London brand also now provide a bespoke service for unique scented merchandising.
Here, enki looks back on the last ten years of growth for Evermore with its founder Sarah Bell…
What does your production process look like?
“Busy! We make all of our candles in our East London studio. We now have a team of candle makers and one giant wax melter. The team are responsible for the quality control of all of our packing, whilst mixing fragrances and pouring the wax. They can make up to 500 candles in one day, however, we’ve completely ran out of space now and we’re taking on a much bigger production space this summer.”
What do you use to make your wax?
“Our wax utilises soy and rapeseed. Pros are that they are both from completely natural sources, so they don’t rely on fossil fuels as per paraffin candles, and they also burn really clean with a strong scent throw. Cons are that our soy comes from the US, which I would prefer not to do.”
“We did try just rapeseed wax, which grows in the UK & EU, but we experienced a lot of fragrance sweating. Working with natural waxes can be a little tricker as they’re softer, which means more testing is needed with certain fragrances to make sure they don’t sweat in warm temperatures.”
What scents do you love?
“I love base heavy fragrances with deep, enveloping notes. I partially love our Smoke candle, it has so many layers to it from orange blossom and pine needle to nutmeg, patchouli and birch tar. It’s one of our bestsellers for good reason.”
Do you have any tips for taking care of candles?
“Always trim the wick in between each burn and make sure no debris has fallen into the candle. It’s best to keep them dust-free to get the most out of them. And make sure you keep them away from draughty spaces when alight so they don’t burn too quickly.”
“Invest in a good candle snuffer as it eliminates the amount of post-burn smoke in the room, so you can make the most of the beautiful fragrance in your space.”
The scent market is pretty crowded, particularly when it comes to candles. What should consumers be looking for?
“So crowded, but the good thing is that many of the new, young brands are working with natural waxes. My advice is to avoid paraffin wax candles, sometimes called mineral wax candles. Paraffin is a by-product of the fossil fuel industry, which we all know needs more regulation. Also look for fragrances that are phthalate-free to avoid toxins and avoid candles that are cello-wrapped – there’s no need for excess packaging.”
What would you like to see change in the industry?
“The rules and regulations are complicated, especially when selling into the EU. I think there are probably a lot of young candle brands on the market that are, unknowingly, not adhering to the labelling rules. A body that regulates candles in the UK would be ideal in order to guide brands in the right direction.”
Can you tell us more about Evermore Editions?
“We opened the doors to our candle studio with the introduction of Evermore Editions and our private label service. As fragrance designers and product manufactures, we now offer an end-to-end service for clients searching for unique scented merchandise.”
What are you currently working on?
“We’re working on the launch of our new porcelain diffuser sets and refills. We also have a few exciting collaborations in the pipeline. They’ll be some new gift sets on offer this Christmas, and we’re also in the R&D phase of looking into scented Christmas decorations.”
Peruse Evermore’s full collection by clicking here.
If it’s more maker interviews you’re after, find them here.
