It’s a long story, and we will try to cut it as short as possible...

Bella is the most energetic person and has always loved crafting and DIY (since her childhood). Her background is in the travel industry, where she started working in 2001.

OK, we are jumping a few years here; otherwise, this will be a book, not a blog.

When Covid-19 started, Bella was put on furlough. With so much energy, she needed to do something... Kitchen renovation, gardening, walks, cooking—but it wasn’t enough. Travel was always on her mind.

When things started to calm down and flexi-furlough was introduced, Bella thought she could spend her energy and brain at work. But even this wasn’t enough. After pestering her husband, he gifted her a cutting machine. Bella began making cards and presents for friends, keeping herself occupied (much to her husband’s relief).

During the summer school holidays, Bella set up a table in her driveway and put her daughter in charge of selling her creations. People stopped by and bought them!

One summer day, while drinking a bottle of rosé in the garden, Bella had an idea: "What can I do with this bottle?" The answer was candles. Soon, they were sourcing tools to cut bottles and use them as containers.

It all began with a fragrance-free candle, but when people want candles, they sniff them. This led to sourcing fragrances until they were happy with the choices. By August 2021, candles were for sale in the driveway, and people bought them.

The Markets Begin

After some success, Bella was invited to join a market in Cranbrook, Kent. Despite the stress, she said yes. With a small table and limited stock, the market was a success and the candles sold out. Next came Hastings in East Sussex—another sell-out event.

Eventually, Bella took on the responsibility of running her own stall at a market, and she smashed it! Time passed, more markets were attended, and by December, there were no candles left to sell. This was only a passion project, so Bella decided to enjoy the remaining markets of the year.

After the festive period, Bella faced a decision: continue as a business or give up? The market was saturated, so they needed to stand out. After hard work and launching a website in February 2022, Candle Wise was born.

From Passion to Full-Time

In February 2022, Bella attended her first market with new fragrances, branding, and displays—another success. By summer, Candle Wise partnered with Chapel Down to upcycle their bottles into candles, reinforcing their ethos of sustainability.

In June, Bella participated in the Wealden Times Mid-Summer Fair, which became a milestone event. Not only did they attract new and returning customers, but they also won the BEST STAND award.

On Bella’s 40th birthday, her dream came true: she left her full-time job to pursue her passion for candles. With support from family and friends, Candle Wise expanded to stockists, partnerships, and even London markets like Portobello Road. From a little village in Kent to the world, Candle Wise candles now travel globally.