When Life Turned Upside Down: From a Village in Kent to THE WORLD
It is a long story, so we will keep it as short as we can.
Bella has always loved crafting and DIY. She also has a background in the travel industry, where she began working in 2001.
When Covid 19 began, Bella was put on furlough. With travel paused and energy to spare, she needed a project. Home renovation, gardening, walks and cooking helped, but travel was still on her mind.
When flexi furlough arrived, Bella hoped work would fill the gap, but it did not. Mauricio gifted her a cutting machine and Bella began making cards and gifts for friends, staying busy and creative.
During the summer school holidays, Bella set up a small table in the driveway and put her daughter in charge of sales. People stopped, browsed, and bought.
One summer afternoon, Bella had an idea while looking at an empty bottle of rosé: what if it became something beautiful and useful. The answer was candles. Soon, they were sourcing the tools to cut bottles and use them as containers.
It began with fragrance free candles, but customers always look for scent. That led to testing fragrances and refining the range. By August 2021, candles were being sold from the driveway in Kent, and customers kept coming back.
The Markets Begin
After early success, Bella was invited to a market in Cranbrook, Kent. Despite the nerves, she said yes. With a small table and limited stock, it sold out. Next came Hastings in East Sussex, another sell out.
Over time, Bella began running more stalls and building confidence. By December, there were no candles left to sell. It was still a passion project, but the momentum was real.
After the festive season, Bella faced a decision. Continue and commit, or stop. The market was saturated, so Candle Wise needed a point of difference. After months of work, a website launched in February 2022 and Candle Wise was born.
From Passion to Full Time
In February 2022, Bella attended her first market with refreshed fragrances, branding and displays. The response confirmed this could become more than a hobby.
By summer, Candle Wise partnered with Chapel Down to upcycle bottles into candles, strengthening the sustainability story and creating something genuinely different.
In June, Bella exhibited at the Wealden Times Mid Summer Fair, a milestone moment. Candle Wise attracted new and returning customers and won the Best Stand award.
On Bella’s 40th birthday, she left her full time role to build Candle Wise. With support from family and friends, the brand expanded through stockists, partnerships and markets, including London locations such as Portobello Road.
If you are new here, start with our best sellers, or explore the destination inspired collection and find your next scent.