March/April 2018
Supporting your industry for 28 years Month: March/April 2017 Issue: 4
Volume: 28
DESIGN
PRIVATE LABEL CANDLES& DIFFUSERS
DEVELOPMENT
020 8595 8878 stoneglowcandles.co.uk ownbrand@stoneglowcandles.co.uk
PRODUCTION Stoneglow Own Brand Advert 240x315_3.indd 1
28/02/2018 11:12
Contents March/April 2018
Cover story 12
Village Candle Prestige American brand, Village Candle, is making headlines in the UK
Home Fragrance Supplement
as the company continues to build its brand in the important European
P12
market and bring its superior fragrance experience to market. We catch up with them to learn more.
Special Interviews 10
Talking trends with The Perfume Society We spoke to Suzy Nightingale, senior writer with the The Perfume Society, to discover what’s happening in the world of home fragrance.
Gifts Today team
22
With a 29-year career in plant display under her belt, artisan Julie Dodsworth
Editor
knows a thing or two about in-store
Sally Norton sally@lemapublishing.co.uk
display. Here she shares some tricks of
Advertisement Manager Mark Horsnell markh@lemapublishing.co.uk
the trade.
P26
26 Meet the designer
Layout/Design
There’s so much more to home
Rick Vickers rickv@lemapublishing.co.uk
fragrance than the scent. We meet
Group Editor
a designer who works on ensuring
Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk
that the scent and the design of the
Group Advertisement Manager
product are completely in synch.
Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk
Publisher
Fragrance talk
Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk
Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk
Managing Director
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7
Editor’s letter
9
Home fragrance We take an overview of this buoyant
Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk
sector.
Lema Publishing Ltd
PUBLISHING
Focus On
1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930
Product, research and expert comment
14
Candles & wax melts
20 Reed diffusers
A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation
28 Pot pourri & more
Independently audited ABC circulation of 7,093 July 2015 to June 2016
Setting the scene
30 Bath & body
P22
NEW
NEW WINTER COLLECTION
available to
order now
HOLI DAY
Sparkle
Message from the Editor www.gifts-today.co.uk Instagram: @giftstodaysally products and I can confirm it smells absolutely delicious – everyone who’s visited my home has commented on it – result! Read more about the company on page 12. As well as an overview of the best companies, ranges and products out there, I’ve also talked to some fascinating people in the process of putting this supplement together. I talked home fragrance trends with Suzy Nightingale from the Perfume Society – did you know it’s younger consumers who are leading the way when it comes to buying
“
And it’s not just candles consumers are falling for, it’s reed diffusers, sprays, wax melts and more.
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elcome to Gifts Today’s annual Home Fragrance supplement. It wasn’t so long ago that, when we talked about fragrance, we meant personal fragrance. However, as the industry has caught onto the fact that anyone who likes perfume or aftershave is also likely to buy home fragrance, the sector has boomed. And it’s not just candles consumers are falling for, it’s reed diffusers, sprays, wax melts and more. I suppose the brilliant thing about a home fragrance product is that you’re as likely to buy it for yourself as you are to buy it as a gift for someone else. A candle is one of those ‘lipstick luxury’ products that act as a great pick-me-up or impulse buy; and a particular fragranced oil in a reed diffuser, for instance, can become a regular purchase if it becomes your home’s ‘signature scent’. They’re available at all price points, too. I know I’ve made impulse purchases when the price is right, and I’ve also splashed out some serious cash when buying special presents for loved ones.
fragrance accessories? Read more on page 10. Of course, the design of a product is as important as the scent it provides. With this in mind, I spoke to Sumitta Spencer-Townson, the designer behind Ashleigh & Burwood’s fabulous new Wild Things
That’s the thing about home fragrances – there’s something for everyone and every occasion. Something that really struck me when I visited some of the home fragrance companies at the recent Spring Fair was the passion of the people behind the ranges. One story that really resonated with me was that of Village Candle, our cover story. I had the pleasure of meeting founder Sally Aldrich, along with VP Dana Schwartz. Founded in Maine USA, the company celebrated their 25th anniversary on the Tuesday of Spring Fair and had produced a special anniversary candle to celebrate. I was lucky enough to receive one of these lovely
The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.
range. I’ve been really impressed with this fabulous range – the design, the scent, the burn, they’re all great. Ashleigh & Burwood are a great family company who really seem to know how to nurture in-house talent - and it shows. You can read more on page 26. I also asked my friend Julie Dodsworth to share some styling tips. As well as being a highly creative artisan, she has also run a highly successful plant display business for nearly 30 years. As I chatted to her at Spring Fair on her stand, I was really struck how the florist in her came to the fore - she was constantly tweaking, sorting, rearranging product. Just a quick tidy up from her and the products immediately looked more attractive. It was then I asked her to share some of her simple, yet highly effective advice. You can read it on page 22. So, that’s all from me for the moment. I suggest you light a candle, pour a glass of something delicious and enjoy the read. Sally
Gifts Today April 18.pdf 1 06/03/2018 13:00:50
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Pic courtesy of John Lewis
Home Fragrance
Fall in love with home fragrance From candles to diffusers, wax melts to pot pourri, there are some good reasons to stock up on home fragrance. New products every season
The chance to buy into a big brand
‘I certainly think candles have fragrance seasons,’ says Karen Greig, owner of Destined for Home gift shop in Edinburgh. Dougal Philip from New Hopetoun Gardens, Broxburn, agrees: ‘Offering a display with changing seasonal fragrances will remain our offering in 2018.’
According to a report from Verdict Retail (verdictretail.com), consumers buy into high-end home fragrance as a way of owning a piece of that brand, or to treat themselves to an affordable luxury at times when money is tight.
Gender neutral gifts Candle fragrances are increasingly personality-led rather than gender-led, moving away from what is typically considered feminine or masculine. As consumers become more adventurous with fragrances they buy, they’re more inclined to explore some of the more unusual scents like leather, fireside and exotic spice.
They’re already an established buy More than a quarter of UK households regularly buy scented candles already, according to research company Kantar, which means there’s never been a better time to boost your offering. Opting for a core range in store, plus some seasonal updates, is a great way to build a good offering.
Statement vessels are big news ‘When it comes to home fragrance, there’s a move away from vessels that are simply clear glass – statement vessels are definitely coming through,’ says Sara Allbright, buyer for the John Lewis Candle Shop. ‘We’re doing some ceramic ones, painted glass, vessels that are a design statement in themselves.’
Big spenders According to Euromonitor, consumers in the UK are amongst the biggest spenders on beauty and personal care in Western Europe. A home fragrance product is a quick pick-me-up and also makes a great impulse buy or speedy gift option.
Home fragrance makes a style statement According to master perfumer Roja Dove, scenting space is an extension of one’s individuality. ‘It’s a way of marking out your territory and really owning your surroundings,’ he says. ‘It’s as essential as the signature scent you wear on your skin, since people have to be invited into your home to experience it.’ When consumers find a signature home scent they love, they come back to buy more again and again. gifts today 9
The Perfume Society
We caught up with Suzy Nightingale, senior writer with the The Perfume Society, to discover what’s happening in the world of home fragrance.
Talking trends with the Perfume Society Suzy, at The Perfume Society you usually focus on personal fragrance – do you think home fragrance is growing in popularity? It is. In fact, we have just published an issue dedicated to home fragrance, as there are so many brands out there to cover now, and home fragrance is something perfume lovers really like surrounding themselves with.
What trends have you noticed in home fragrance? A trend the whole industry has noticed is that younger people are on the lookout for home fragrance accessories that fit in with their lifestyle and look cool. Niche perfumes have led the way
The Perfume Society
Much more than just a website, The Perfume Society is also a subscription organisation for perfume-lovers. It offers events (including ‘meet the nose’ events), courses, sampling opportunities, and a regular downloadable magazine, The Scented Letter. Through its longstanding contacts in the world of perfume – perfumers, bottle designers, brand creators, the fashion designers who have their names on some of the world’s bestselling scents – The Perfume Society has its finger on the fragranced pulse-point.
perfumesociety.org 10 gifts today
with their stripped-back, streamlined and gender-neutral packaging - and home fragrance has definitely followed suit.
‘Home fragrance is something perfume lovers really like surrounding themselves with’ What scents are popular? Vetiver and woody unisex scents are popular, along with more exotic blends, but we think floral will be the way forward for 2018 and beyond. Flowers are making a comeback, be it bohemian meadows and wild flowers or more grown-up and sophisticated blends of rose, jasmine, tuberose and ylang ylang. Fig is ever popular, but we seem to have moved away from the traditional coconut sweetness towards a milky, green, underripe fig in candles and diffusers.
How can we encourage consumers to experiment with new products? Layering is a huge trend in home fragrance as well as fine fragrance –
changing your candles and diffusers to match your mood and having a whole wardrobe of scents to turn to for all occasions, not just ‘special’ ones. Targeting specific needs – uplifting, calming, sensual and so on – is key, and emphasising how they can be used to create a bespoke scented space, just for you.
We hear incense is growing in popularity…? Yes, burning incense is another trend, with refined blends that are miles away from hippies’ bedrooms and more influenced by traditional Japanese incense ceremonies and a take on Middle Eastern oudhs.
How can retailers best choose the right home fragrance products for their customers? The key is to access their entire lifestyle – what other products are their consumers buying, and what are they looking for to unify their style across the brands they choose? We find people’s fragrance personality types are true across personal fragrance and home fragrance products; people want harmony and a home that smells like their home, something unique and identifiable.
We all know that the unexpected happens daily... toast burns, drains block, pets bring the outdoors in and always at the most inconvenient of moments – like when you are expecting guests, when you are tight on time or when you just have to be somewhere else – fast! heylandandwhittle.co.uk
01293 525825
sales@heylandandwhittle.co.uk
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Profile - Village Candle
From our Village to yours... Prestige American brand, Village Candle, is making headlines in the UK as the company continues to build its brand in the important European market and bring its superior fragrance experience to life
What’s the story?
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f you haven’t experienced Village Candle for yourself, there’s no better time to try. The company has just turned 25, celebrating its silver anniversary on the Tuesday of Spring Fair. With a major focus on the UK market, it’s worth getting to know what makes this company different. Known for their handcrafted fragrance and candlemaking experience, the team at Village Candle pride themselves on building strong partnerships with their retail customers and offering a differentiated product in today’s marketplace.
Village Candle has spent the past 25 years researching and using ingredients from around the world and blending them with elements from home – that you can only find in the company’s beautiful birthplace of Maine. It all started with candles – their passion quickly turned into a mastery of candle making with uncompromising quality, innovation and artistry as their foundation. In addition to unsurpassed quality and craftsmanship, their art-form is fragrance, offering long-lasting and true-to-life fragrances. Village Candle is known for bringing to life the fragrance experiences that enrich their consumers’ lives. It’s about what’s inside that matters for this brand. The company is often referred to as a ‘best kept secret’ by consumers who give the brand a try and return to buy more. Focused on brand building and bringing superior fragrance experiences to the market, this year is set to be an exciting time for the company as they use their expertise in fragrance to bring new home fragrance products to market under the name Village Fragrance Company.
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Candle with Care
• Each Village candle is crafted with the highest quality paraffin food grade wax for a clean and safe burn. They include pure essential oils, which means they release a natural, true-to-life, long lasting fragrance. • Village Candle is known for their unique Dual-Wick technology, offering a cleaner burn and superior fragrance throw. The two-wicks offer a slow burn and an even wax pool. • All cotton wicks are hand-trimmed and customised for each and every candle. This care means that Village candles burn consistently and, depending on size, can last up to 170 hours. • Village Candle’s approach is to give a quality to their customer – as if each candle is made just for them. Strict testing is done to ensure all components (wick, wax, fragrance and color) work together to produce a premium candle product.
• Rain Blossom
‘We wanted to unveil both a fresh new look and fragrance range to
• French Macaroon
surprise and delight our retail trade partners and valued consumers’
The 2018 Fragrance Collection In addition to what everyone knows and loves as our everyday and best-selling Traditions collection, Village sought out to bring something new to its retail partners as an additional product sale for special occasions and as a wonderful gift. After its debut at Spring Fair, the orders are strong and the collection has been well-received. Village Candle’s range has grown to invite and include fragrance lovers from all over the world and they are committed to creating experiences that are joyful, memorable and inspire daily. They have lots planned for 2018 and beyond. ‘The phrase Be Bold & Be Beautiful was our inspiration this season, as this new collection blends our commitment to mixing exciting new fragrance for the end consumers,’ says Dana Schwartz, Vice President of eCommerce and Brand. ‘Our crafting and blending process is thoughtful and comprehensive as we debut a more sophisticated fragrance range. ‘We wanted to unveil both a fresh new look and fragrance range to surprise and delight our retail trade partners and valued consumers.’
Spring Fragrance Highlights
The new launches are a perfect way to add scent and style to your home fragrance offering.
Rain Blossom As spring slips into summer the air takes on a sensuous new quality. The scent of jasmine rises and fills the imagination with its heady addictive scent. Prized by the most passionate of flower lovers,
jasmine is blended with powdery notes and fresh musk to evoke a sheer and truly irresistible floral. Radiant and romantic – like a budding dream or a blossoming romance.
Arctic Spring In springtime, the sun begins its annual ascent in the northernmost points, creating a crisp, beautiful and brilliant world. To capture the magic of this still life and the promise of a new day, Village Candle have blended lavender, a classic harbinger of spring, with the earthiness of sage and the lightness of sea salt. Fresh and aromatic to create and attract light in all its forms.
the pleasures of surprising flavors. Village Candle set out to recreate this perfect mingling of elegance and whimsy with French Macaroon. With a nod to traditional French ingredients they’ve whipped up an addictive fragrance sprinkled with notes of vanilla, cream and coconut. They’ve also added a hint of musk to serve up a deeper richness, and an even more decadent experience for the senses.
Rhubarb Lemonade Sunny. Bright. Effortless. Like a perfect summer day, this scent embodies the pleasure and pop of a cool lemonade while picnicking. A sun-shimmered medley of juicy lemon, strawberries and rhubarb makes you feel instantly happy and refreshed.
French Macaroon There are no limits to the delights of a Parisian pastry shop. The pop art confections in every hue, the irresistible possibilities for texture and taste, and
Get in touch! Please contact us today at enquiry@villagecandle.com or visit our website to learn more about the brand at villagecandle.com.
gifts today 13
Home Fragrance: Candles
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f there’s one product that makes a great gift for everyone, it’s the candle! Perhaps it’s because we’re experiencing such uncertain, turbulent times that the simple act of lighting a scented candle is so popular. It’s certainly an item that sits well in every gift shop, garden centre and department store. Mintel’s Air Care UK 2017 report suggests that candles and wax melts have seen the most prominent increases in the home fragrance sector - and both have seen a boost in visibility from a plethora of product launches and prominent advertising spend. The researchers also discovered that the most common trigger of candle usage is the desire to set an overall atmosphere, highlighting the ability of candles to go beyond simple function. It turns out that a third of users light candles to get into the spirit of the season, highlighting the importance of seasonal limited edition launches, which continues to be a main driver within the candle segment. Time to take a look at what’s on offer…
Festive Wonderland Heart & Home
With gift giving an integral part of the festive season, this collection offers variety with a choice of stylish formats and designs. The two key fragrances – Gingerbread House and Home for Christmas – include beautiful gift boxes and pretty accessories. Also check out the brand new three-wick centerpiece Ellipse candle – stunning!
heartandhome.com
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Wild Things! Ashleigh & Burwood
These quirky vessels create a décor statement long after their initial use – use them as dressing table storage, plant pots or a desk tidy. As well as reed diffusers that can be refilled again and again, wax refills are set to join the collection later in the year.
ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk
Mellow Cello Xystos
The company introduced its own brand Cello Birch Bark at Spring Fair, mainly unscented statement pieces. There are also four fragranced candles in metal containers.
xystostrade.co.uk
Marmalade of London_FPA_GF100.indd 1
24/02/2017 10:16
Home Fragrance: Candles
5
minutes with… Stoneglow
Perry Simmons, director
Home fragrance trends in 2017? Gender-neutral, unisex fragrances for the home; sophisticated aromas built around herbal, earthy woody notes such as vetiver, amber and cypress. Check out our Night Flower collection. What will 2018 smell like? Strong and powerful, with a feminine touch. The #metoo movement is driving this, with women taking a stand with empowerment through empathy. How can retailers boost their home fragrance offering? le Capture them of peop d e g a t n with amazing use Perce ho had displays! last tioned w
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the ques andles in c d e t n sce hs. 12 mont intel /M
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Source: L
Bespoke scents Heaven Scent
Emerging from winter, luxury Natural Candles made by Heaven Scent will fragrance a home throughout the year, not just at Christmas. Heaven Scent has over 80 different seasonal fragrances to choose from. At this time of year, their customers go for the light floral and citrusy smelling candles. Heaven Scent’s most popular are Wild Flowers, Buttercup and Bluebell - they all have an uplifting light fragrance, evoking the smells of spring in the home. With eco-friendly plant wax and the high quality perfume oils, the burn is clean and produces very little soot. Heaven Scent has also many different vessels to choose from, allowing shops to easily change their look and appeal to their customers.
Call: 01225 868788 Email: contact@heavenscent.co.uk
Home Solutions Heyland & Whittle
We all know that the unexpected happens daily... toast burns, drains block, pets bring the outdoors in and always at the most inconvenient of moments – like when you are expecting guests, when you are tight on time or when you just have to be somewhere else fast! With clever foresight, Heyland & Whittle have created and launched a new range of Home Solution Fragrances to help manage everyday aroma challenges in the home. There are six new fragrances in this collection, five of these with odour neutralisers, to help eliminate unwanted smells in the home. Choose from: Pongone, The Chef’s Friend, Whiff Away, Anti-Tabac, Fresh Linen and Sleep Easy.
heylandandwhittle.co.uk
Spa Moments Price’s
Relax and unwind with this soothing, tranquil fragrance featuring base notes of vanilla and white musk, a heart of lavender and top notes of chamomile. Delicate and gentle, Price’s Spa Moments fragrance has been designed to aid relaxation and create an uplifting and therapeutic environment. A perfect treat at the end of a long day! Spa Moments by Price’s is part of the brand new Fragrance Collection, launching in stores from April. With an initial 14 fragrances made with the highest quality waxes and oils, the collection brings together the most popular products in one bright and impactful range. RRPs from £3.99 through to £17.99 and no minimum orders, allows the retailer to shape the range perfectly according to their business.
prices-candles.co.uk
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Exciting fragrance collection for the UK’s favourite glassware supplier.
New fragrances for Spring 2018
Handcrafted in England The Country Candle Co
The Country Candle Company are a small family run business full of lovely people hand pouring candles, wax melts and diffusers in Corsham, Wiltshire. Sourcing their materials from British suppliers wherever possible, and keeping their manufacturing in-house couldn’t be more important. Producing premium quality home fragrance paired with their passion for supporting other local business and their valued retailers makes their products even more charming. Celebrating their most successful Spring Fair exhibition to date, they are currently working away on lots of new exciting designs and fragrances to release throughout 2018 and 2019. The Country Candle Company now offer own branding and bespoke services. Creating your own branded candles and diffusers just got that bit easier. Apply your branding to a wide selection of products and fragrances or have their inhouse designers create the artwork for you. On top of this, you can also supply your own containers to be made into candles.
thecountrycandlecompany.com
www.dandjglassware.co.uk Tel: 01953 450280
HandCrafted in Wiltshire
www.thecountrycandlecompany.com sales@thecountrycandlecompany.cOM 01249 478 660
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Home Fragrance: Candles
5
minutes with… Price’s Patent Candles
Laurence Whiting, national sales manager Home fragrance trends in 2017? Perhaps reflected by the overall feeling in the country, and after several years of pastel shades and softer florals, 2017 saw the resurgence of much bolder, brighter colours and more daring scents. What will 2018 smell like? It’ll smell great! We’ve introduced some bold new fragrances with ingredients like lime, basil, grapefruit and peppermint. We’re already getting great reviews from customers. Trends? With two royal weddings, there will surely be an emphasis on Best of British. Price’s have a deep connection with the Royal family and the UK can be the perfect offer for this. How can retailers boost their home fragrance offering? Buy quality! It’s not all about strength of fragrance – candles should have an even burn, no sooting and an emphasis on realism of the fragrance rather than strength.
Simple Things Yankee Candle
Time to slow down and enjoy each day as it comes with this new collection for spring 2018. A beautifully curated mix of elegant, floral and fruity scents that capture life’s simple pleasures, the range boasts four contemporary seasonal fragrances to encourage consumers to relish life’s little luxuries. • Sweet Nothings – blending notes of cyclamen, lotus blossom and vanilla. • Sun Drenched Apricot Rose – a full bloom scent of ripe apricot and soft petals. • A Calm and Quiet Place – gentle jasmine, patchouli and warm amber musk. • Rainbow Cookie – an edible, fruity fragrance with citrus and peach and sweet vanilla.
yankeecandle.co.uk
Fabulous fragrance Marmalade of London
Lovingly hand-poured in Britain with soy wax, cotton wicks and a very high (up to) 10% fragrance dose. These things are important because they create candles with a beautiful even burn and the fragrance throw is as strong when you first light the candle as it is at the bottom. The soy wax and cotton wicks don’t give off any nasty fumes. These factors combined with contemporary packaging is why consumers repeatedly purchase these products for themselves and give them as gifts to their family and friends. Candles are available in glass votives, travel tins, medium tins and luxury frosted glasses with silver snuff lids. Fragrances include Bergamot & Soft rose, Tuscan Lime & Basil, and Seville orange and Clementine.
marmaladeoflondon.com
Sold!
An incredible 86% of Brits say the smell of a house can be the difference between putting in an offer on a property or not. In a survey of 1015 house buyers, people named the top 5 scents they’d like to smell when viewing a home. 1. Fresh baking bread 4. Fresh flowers 2. Fresh coffee 5. An open fire 3. Clean laundry The great news is, there are home fragrance products offering all of these scents.
Source: appliancesdirect.co.uk 18 gifts today
Made in Cornwall St Eval
Nestled on an eco-farm in North Cornwall, St Eval Candle Company have been making beautiful, high quality candles by hand, using traditional methods, for over 20 years. Their much-loved fragrances are unique and inspired by nature, bringing beauty and luxury to the home with herbal favourites such as Bay and Rosemary and Bergamot and Nettle. Plus, the wonderful Sea Salt fragrance which is reminiscent of walks on the beach and a fresh ocean breeze. New for spring this year are pretty, mini Tuscan pots and mini glazed pots in fresh, uplifting scents perfect for indoor or outdoor enjoyment.
stevalcandlecompany.co.uk
It’s a classic Classic Candle Company
The company concentrates on what it does best - offering second to none customer service and delivering what the customer wants. They have expanded their bespoke own branding range with low minimum order levels. UK hand-finished, 10 different products can be produced with your own design, image or logo. Whether you are in a tourist destination, store or charity, they will use a local scene, logo or landmark to create your own range of products and create extra sales. With over 120 Fragrances in their 12 Hour MiniLight, there is something for every customer. There is a choice of 50 fragrances in a range of Jars, Wax Melts and Reed Diffusers. Customer demand has seen the product range extended to offer the popular Two Wick Large Jar along with the three existing sizes giving customers a price point to fit every pocket. All of these can be branded with your own design. Resell own branded and personalised candles for weddings, schools, corporate, charity, events, parties, tourism, celebrations, bespoke designs and company logos. Agents wanted for parts of the UK and Ireland.
Contact: michelle@classiccandle.com for more information or call on 01473 736011 ClassicCandle.com
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FRQWDFW#KHDYHQVFHQW FR XN ZZZ KHDYHQVFHQW FR XN ,QVWDJUDP FRP KHDYHQVFHQWQDWXUDOFDQGOHV gifts today 19
Home Fragrance: Reed Diffusers
The need for reeds Reed diffusers are getting popular. In fact, according to 2017 Mintel survey, 26% of respondents questioned had used reed diffusers in the past 12 months. ‘We see strong trade in reed diffusers, because our customers tend to be quite practical,’ says Sara Allbright, buyer for gifts and Candle Shop, John Lewis.
5
minutes with… Sandy Bay
Sandy Burns
Fragrance trends in 2017? Fragrances that are deep and sexy – our Gentleman’s Club range was a bestseller. What will 2018 smell like? Unisex blends, with spotlight notes of oudh and violet are here to stay! Also, after the woody scents of cinnamon and orange that are popular in the run up to Christmas, fresh fragrances that blow away the cobwebs are popular. Our Retreat Collection fits the bill perfectly. Advice to retailers? Carry a collection that appeals to men and women, looks stylish and then merchandise them beautifully in store.
On trend
D & J Glassware D & J Glassware have launched three gorgeous new fragrances in their hugely popular Scent Diffuser collection, bringing the total to 12. Visitors to the company’s Spring Fair stand commented that ‘Rose Garden’ was exactly like smelling a real rose! The other scents: Secret Garden and Mountain Meadow were instant hits, with strong sales taken at the show. All fragrances are sourced in Britain and are of the highest quality and competitively priced. The glass globes are individually mouth blown: no two are identical and each one is a work of art in its own right. Unlike plain glass bottles, these diffusers make a decorative statement in any room. The sets are attractively gift-boxed and make an eye-catching display in store. Re-fill oils and reeds are also available to ensure your customers keep coming back for more.
dandjglassware.co.uk
Top 3 Reed Diffuser tips
1. Place in a busy part of the home – movement around the reed diffuser will help disperse the scent. 2. Place a coaster underneath to prevent drops of oil damaging surfaces. 3. Flip the reeds every few days - or just a couple of them if you want to make the product last longer.
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Get fresh
Personalised Memento Company Launching later in 2018 from PMC is their newest collection of personalised reed diffusers. Offering a delightful fresh scent, these reed diffusers will be available in a range of designs, covering all occasions throughout the year, including weddings, anniversaries and new home. PMC are constantly developing and expanding their range of personalised gifts, and their reed diffusers are one of many brand new products that will be launched in 2018. Sign up for a trade account on their website, where you can view all of PMC’s newest products in one place.
personalisedmemento.co.uk
Did you know?
Reed diffusers were invented by interior designer Alessandro Agrati in 1990. He was working on some rattan furniture and, soaking the reeds to make them pliable, he added a few drops of perfume to make the process smell nicer. Hey presto, the idea for the reed diffuser was born!
Jelly Belly
Rayburn Trading Check out the Jelly Belly licensed range from Rayburn. Guaranteed to trigger nostalgia for fans of the confectionery brand.
rayburntrading.com
Head Home Sandy Bay
The classic styling and colours of Sandy Bay’s Home Collection Diffusers offer a product that will sit beautifully in any setting. The attractive taupe packaging is enhanced with the elegant Sandy Bay Branding which is also featured on the exquisite glassware. The range offers seven gorgeous fragrances chosen for their individuality and impact such as Persian Rose which takes Classic rose but gives it a modern, exotic twist with the addition of Oudh, Raspberry and Praline. New for spring 2018 is Saffron Amber, a luxurious opulent fragrance, opening with the richness of exotic saffron and tart blackcurrant. Delicate floral notes of powdery iris, heady jasmine and pure rose create a beautiful floral heart, leading to a sumptuous, warm base of woody patchouli, liquid amber and a touch of creamy vanilla.
sandybaylondon.com
Handmade in Cornwall On their eco-farm in North Cornwall, St Eval Candle Company have been making beautiful candles using traditional methods for over 25 years. Each candle is made with a personal touch and their unique fragrances are inspired by the natural surroundings.
St Eval Candle Company, Engollan, St Eval, Cornwall, PL27 7UL 01841 540850 | info@stevalcandlecompany.co.uk
www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk gifts today 21
In-store display
Setting the scene
With a 29-year career in plant display under her belt, artisan Julie Dodsworth knows a thing or two about in-store display. Here she shares some tricks of the trade.
D
odsworths are an independent, artisan, family-run national display company providing a plant display service to businesses throughout the UK. Even after many years in business, Julie still loves nothing better than getting stuck in, ensuring products are always displayed to their best advantage. ‘It always seems to cause Beth - my daughter, partner and all-time best buddy - great amusement that when she asks what would I like for my birthday, I reply that I’d love an extra turn at doing her shop window,’ says Julie. ‘I really do love display, putting colours, themes together and generally…well, playing in Beth’s lovely high street shop window.’
Colour ‘Back in the day I was an apprentice trained florist. It sounds pretty old school, but the same solid basics never go out of date. An easy starting point is to choose the colour of your display. I gather products of the same shade, tints and hues and add in only white or natural elements. A window of, say, our Lavender Garden collections could include deeper aubergine colours through to delicate lilacs.’
Props ‘I like to build the displays on painted crates and wooden shelving to give height and interest, grouping the product in suggested ways of combining two or three items that may make up a larger gift. To bring the display to life I love to 22 gifts today
introduce pretty florals and leaves. Investing in a few nice silks or even fresh flowers particularly to show off floral fragrances is always moneyy well spent.’
Get fresh ‘Of course if your fragrances are more citrus or, say, herbal you could add relevant fresh props of herb pots and dried fruit slices. Of course, I’m just the mere artisan and Beth - always the retailer - pulls my creativity back from the stratosphere to the very sensible, sound knowledge of her daily experience.’
Try before you buy ‘Beth always ensures our finished display enables the customers to touch, sniff and sample. They must feel very, very comfortable doing all three. With this in mind,
she always creates an easy easy-to-pick-up to pick up buy area next to our display /promotion, with testers and uneven (looking a little shopped) blocks of product. She always adds additional signage of any offers and USPs the product may have - vegan friendly, and so on.’ Between us we kind of get there! Beth who sees daily shoppers first hand and me lost in my art! I’m already looking forward to my next birthday. Now what theme can I do next…?
Checklist ✓ Keep the colour theme simple. ✓ Create a ‘touching’ area close by. ✓ Add POS information and offers. ✓ Add fresh props /flowers /leaves. ✓ Remember that uneven numbers and holes in the buying area are good. ✓ Be inspired! Look at how the ‘big boys’ do it! You can too!
Do diffuse
Marmalade of London The company’s reed diffusers are available in full size 100ml and a handy smaller 50ml travel size. They are the perfect accompaniment to any room. They are hand made in artisan factories in Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds using highly diffusive grain alcohol and high percentages of beautiful fragrance oils. Packaged in hand wrapped stylish tubes, they are available in a large range of fragrances, including Fresh Linen with its orange blossom, cream roses and musk scent.
marmaladeoflondon.com
Heavenly Heaven Scent
Artisan is a great word conjuring up images of skills from times gone by, being rediscovered and used to create products for consumers who are tired of mass produced items made in large factories abroad. Heaven Scent is very much an artisan company, based in the countryside in Wiltshire. A family business started in 1993, they have a team of highly skilled candle makers, who blend fragrances with their unique blend of plant waxes every day.
heavenscent.co.uk
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Home Fragrance: Reed Diffusers
5
minutes with… Ashleigh & Burwood
Anna Borrett, product development manager
Home fragrance trends in 2017? Alcohol-inspired fragrances, with a prevalence of scents like gin & tonic and prosecco. Our Sparkling Prosecco fragrance in the Scented Home Reed Diffuser was a huge hit – a perfect way to celebrate our 25th anniversary. What will 2018 smell like? UK tastes are getting sweeter, and flavours like spiced pumpkin and chai are on the rise. Fine fragrance-inspired scents are gaining popularity, too. How can retailers boost their home fragrance offering? Encourage customers to have fun with reeds for diffusers – providing coloured reeds and decorative elements to swap into vessels.
Shopping for scents?
The Perfume Society team recommends that when your nose gets ‘tired’ of trying new scents, simply bury it in the crook of your elbow and breathe your own skin to rebalance your sense of smell. Sounds strange, but worth a try!
The gentle touch Sandy Bay
The Gentlemen’s Club Diffuser range offers something completely different and features seven fine fragrance blends. They have been designed for men, but the ladies love them too – try The Charmer, City Boy and The Boss. New for spring 2018 is Oudh Enigma, a stunning fragrance opening with a divine blend of Indian sandalwood and Vietnamese agarwood which is enlivened by the passion of Italian bergamot, musk, frankincense and exotic attar oudh. The range features stylish black and gold packaging with Sandy Bay’s signature diamond branding design on all boxes as well as the stunning glassware.
Landon Tyler Joe Davies
Joe Davies are delighted to announce they are now proud distributors of Landon Tyler, the gorgeous home fragrance brand of candles, diffusers and gift sets. The Landon Tyler brand is affordable, unique and features attractive frosted glass bottles and elegant packaging. All Landon Tyler products have been exclusively developed using the finest ingredients and contain particularly high percentages of scented oils to ensure rich long lasting scent throughout their long burn time. Joe Davies will distribute Landon Tyler to independent retailers throughout the UK using their trademark ‘Little & Often’ ordering system with a minimum order of just £100 and free delivery.
joedavies.co.uk
sandybaylondon.com
Going dotty
The Country Candle Co The company’s Polka Dot range has been extended. Soft and beautiful, this XXL addition adds feminine touches of cashmere, silk and goose down with delicate fragrances. They have also added a super-sized glass to all the fragrances across the existing Polka Dot favourites.
thecountrycandlecompany.com 24 gifts today
Head to the country
Heart of the Country
It’s all about the fragrance... Melt
With a passion for hot wax and fine fragrance, melt have been creating candles of exceptional quality since 1999. Fragrance is known for turning your mood and creating the right ambience in your surroundings – and melt’s preferred choice is always elegant, sophisticated, a tad refined, confident and slightly sexy – or as some splendid newspaper of note said ‘Recherché’. They specialise in producing hand-made, fine fragrance candles of fabulous quality and it is their willingness to step out of the conventional fragrance arena, in order to seek out more unusual perfume combinations for which they are now known. They have worked hard to source raw materials locally and over 93% of ingredients and packaging comes from Lancashire companies - with the balance being from the UK. All of their candles are hand poured and can take up to 36 hours to produce – and working with molten waxes ensures the candle is fragranced throughout. Melt’s range has now grown to include 33 unique fine fragrances. Each range consists of six candle sizes. Three pillar and three container candles with burns times from 22 hours up to 160 hours.
Scented Sachets will fragrance a room for up to four months. A safe and efficient way to fragrance your home, no flame, no liquid, no danger, just fine fragrance all packaged up into a beautifully packaged envelope. Heart of the Country is proud to offer over 100 different fragrances across three brands, Greenleaf, Bridgewater Candle Company and Willowbrook Fresh Scents. Scented Sachets are earth friendly, made from recycled paper, containing essential oils and 100% biodegradable. In 2017 Heart of the Country sold over two million scented sachets.
Sweet smell of success Sales of Bridgewater Candle Company’s iconic fragrance Sweet Grace continue to grow exponentially in the UK and globally. A fragrance that combines passionate fruits with sparkling tea and classic patchouli combined with a beautiful packaging utilising a warm grey colour palate and angel wings design. Sweet Grace is available in 8oz jar candles, 18oz jar candles, large sachet, boxed votive candle, wax bar, fragrance oil, reed diffuser and room spray with bath and body products coming later in 2018.
HeartoftheCountryLtd.co.uk
themeltco.com
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Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd T 01359 250720 www.manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk gifts today 25
Home Fragrance
Meet the designer
There’s so much more to home fragrance than the scent. We meet a designer who works on ensuring that the scent and the design of the product are completely in sync.
A
s Ashleigh & Burwood launch three wonderfully wild new designs into their successful Wild Things collection, we caught up with Sumitta Spencer-Townson, the designer behind the bright, bold luxury candles and diffusers shares her inspirations.
Was gift-giving a key part of the Wild Things designs? I absolutely love giving gifts, wrapping them up beautifully and then watching
Sumitta, what were the inspirations behind the Wild Things collection? I started seeing trends appearing everywhere playing with the idea of bringing the outdoors into the home and wild, tropical prints popping up in home décor. I wanted to bring the same concept to Wild Things by creating playful nature-inspired images with vibrant colours. What feel did you want to bring to the collection with the artwork? I wanted the images to have an element of boldness, both in the vibrancy of the colours and the designs themselves, that really makes them a statement piece for the home. The tiger staring out from between the leaves on Crouching Tiger for instance has a very striking visual impact. I also wanted there to be a feeling of fun to the collection with quirky designs like the gentleman bunny for Sir Hoppingsworth or the zebra surrounded by beautiful pink peonies on I Zee You Baby. The Crouching Tiger Candle was shortlisted for Gift of the Year 2018. 26 gifts today
Fact File
Name: Sumitta Spencer-Townson Role: Designer Company: Ashleigh & Burwood
people’s reactions as they peel back all those layers. It makes me so excited to see people’s enjoyment as their gift is slowly revealed, and that’s something I wanted to bring to Wild Things. First someone sees the design on the box, then the vibrant vessels topped by the gold lids and finally they lift the lid to smell the beautiful fragrance inside. It’s an amazing, unique gift as well as a luxury you would want for your own home.
‘I absolutely love giving gifts, wrapping them up beautifully and then watching people’s reactions as they peel back all those layers’
Did you know?
For autumn/winter, Ashleigh & Burwood are also going into notebooks and cushions. ‘We thought we’d step out of the box and try a couple of new things. We had some great feedback on the new additions at Spring Fair,’ says Sumitta.
Fresh new scents
St Eval Candle Company The company have brought their popular and unique scents of Bergamot & Nettle and Grapefruit & Lime into their reed diffuser collection. The elegant and natural diffusers look beautiful in any home interior and last for up to three months. By turning the reeds over too, the scent can last longer, or simply top up or change the fragrance oil with one of St Eval’s refill bottles. You’ll find that creating a natural fragrance for each room can also lead to multiple compliments from visitors. Testers available.
Call: 01841 540850 info@stevalcandlecompany.co.uk
Get online
Manor House Home Fragrance The company have launched a Facebook page - Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd - and a Twitter account @ManorHouseHome1 to link their business with their final end customers and clients. They work with many leading retailers to produce private label collections incorporating clients’ thoughts and ideas, fragrances and branding to offer bespoke and unique one-off collections.
manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk
Simply Stylish SIL
With their new Meadow collection, SIL have captured the timeless feel of a long hot English summer. The gentle buzz of bees, lush long grass and lazy afternoons under clear blue skies all come to mind when looking at this range of fantastically floral gifts and accessories. Using a pretty watercolour design of wild flowers in soft shades of pink and blue, Meadow encompasses fragrances, stationery and furnishings. Your first stop should be the 3D-effect wall art – a single look takes you out into the fields! Next come the sets of diffusers and candles, all carrying a delicate floral scent that will fill homes with the unmistakable bouquets of wild flower meadows and country gardens. Then there are pretty cushions in pastel shades, a clock and a range of delightful notebooks with coloured foil page edges, and notepads and wall planners to brighten any kitchen or living room. There’s also a series of sensationally summery gift boxes and bags that will help bring that special summer feeling and ensure you ‘Live life in full bloom’.
silplc.com gifts today 27
Home Fragrance: Sprays & Pot Pourri
5
minutes with… Rayburn Trading Russell Goldman
Home fragrance trends in 2017? While fragrances such as vanilla and linen continued to be popular, we saw a surge in demand for more unusual, quirky scents. Last year we launched our Jelly Belly home fragrance collection which features 45 product lines, including Mini Me candles, mini air freshener gels and wax melts proving to be the bestsellers so far. What will 2018 smell like? Following comprehensive market research, we created 11 fragrances for the collection, including Strawberry Shortcake, Tutti-Frutti and Toasted Marshmallow. I think we’ll see continued growth of nostalgia-led products. Wax melts are as popular as ever as they’re a cost-effective way to introduce a new fragrance without committing to a larger candle. How can retailers boost their home fragrance offering? Understand your core customer demographic and what their preferences are.
Be beautiful Manor House
Another year and Manor House launches new products. Manor House launched its 10th anniversary catalogue last year - consisting of 21 beautiful fragrance collections. They all include the trademark pot pourris, scented botanical candles, room diffusers & sprays, bath bombs, drawer liners and sachets along with their newly-launched collection of luxury hand washes, of which 2018 sees the addition of luxury moisturising lotions. They have also launched a superb collection of handmade and rolled Indian Incense, of which a portion of the money raised goes to alleviating poverty. They are also once again this year stocking the superb and highly sought-after scented pine cones in beautiful red and gold voile bags - these sold so well last year, they are already taking orders for these. All products are produced by hand in their Suffolk workrooms, using mainly British packaging and fragrances. They use the finest botanicals from around the world, packaging, fabrics, hand woven silks from Suffolk silk mills and ribbons mainly from British companies, thus creating a true Handmade in Great Britain Home Fragrance Collection. They work with many leading companies on bespoke private label collections and can tailor a collection to your requirements using a client’s own fragrances, labelling and ribbons.
manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk
Message in a bottle Wax Lyrical
Wish someone luck with Wax Lyrical’s innovative GiftScents collections, designed to create a gift that is truly #Scentwithlove. Inspired by the traditional gift card concept, their GiftScents collection enables you to choose the occasion, fill in the ‘To’ and ‘From’ sections with a personalised message, and gift an expertly blended, 100% fragranced Wax Lyrical reed diffuser in a specially designed gift box…guaranteed to make anyone’s day. Each one comes with a 50ml reed diffuser, featuring a fresh fruity fragrance, with hints of peach and vanilla, expertly blended to celebrate any occasion.
waxlyricaltrade.com
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Ashleigh & Burwood Wild Things
After a hugely successful launch last season with six colourful, collectable designs by designer Sumitta Spencer-Townson, Ashleigh & Burwood’s luxury Wild Things collection introduces three new unique designs for spring/summer 18. Bright, bold and bursting with vibrant colour, the three new designs feature exotic koi, graceful zebra and playful toucans on ceramic vessels topped with elegant gold lids. • Don’t Be Koi: A rich tapestry of heady jasmine, lush narcissus and sensuous lily envelops the air, woven with sparkling citrus notes of lemon and orange and dusted with musk. • I Zee You, Baby: Through a veil of blushing, rosy petals, a well-travelled zebra displays her signature stripes. • Toucan Play That Game: A flock of bright-beaked toucans rise from lush fruit trees, filling the air with the rich, refreshing scent of sun kissed mango, juicy guava and tangy mandarin.
ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk
French style Mathilde Créations
Specialists in home fragrance and decoration for 30 years, the French company Mathilde Créations owns three different brands: Mathilde M., Orval Créations and Artempo. The Mathilde Créations Group presented their spring and summer collections 2018 at Spring Fair NEC Birmingham. Mathilde M: The refinement of French art de vivre. It draws inspiration from the 18th century and enhances the interiors with poetic home fragrances and unique decorative items. Artempo: Resolutely contemporary, it takes floral decoration to the next level and reinvents home fragrance. The joy of a flourishing and fragrant home all year round.
Mathilde-m.com
The UK’s first Jelly Belly room fragrance collection available now. Including candles, reed diffusers and wax melts in sweet scents.
Rayburn Trading Telephone: +44 (0) 161 214 1300 www.rayburntrading.com enquiries@rayburntrading.com gifts today 29
Home Fragrance: Bath & Body
3 trends in shower & bathing 1.
In 2016, bath and shower in the UK experienced a 2% increase in current value terms.
2.
Consumers demand products with natural ingredients and which provide a luxurious wellness bathing and showering experience at home.
3.
Packaging is key. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the aesthetic and appearance of the product in the bathroom.
Source: Bath and Shower in the UK 2017, Euromonitor
Did you know?
It takes around seven years to qualify as a perfumer. After this your role is to create fragrances to meet a brief or in line with trends and fashions. Source: IFRA UK, International Fragrance Association
Pop a cork!
Mad Beauty Now you can enjoy Happy Hour without having a drink thanks to the Mad Beauty range - cleverlydesigned products that leave you feeling fresh and clean.
madbeauty.com
Be beautiful Xystos
It wasn’t so long ago that Xystos was known only as the thriving supplier of some of America’s best-known candles. But as the result of a conscious move two-and-a-half years ago to become the UK’s number one bath and body distributor, the company is now also the ‘go to’ provider of some of the country’s leading personal care products. Having subsequently added the distribution of the Woods of Windsor, Baylis & Harding and Di Palomo brands to that of The Naked Bee, it would be difficult to deny that the company has achieved its ambition to become the leading provider of personal care products. Director Tom Sykes says: ‘Our one-stop shop enables buyers to source high quality fragranced bath and body products, all of which are beautifully packaged, which is so important when it comes to gifting. Equally important is that we have something to suit every pocket.’
xystostrade.co.uk
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JOE DAVIES, NEW DISTRIBUTORS OF LANDON TYLER
Perfect for the independent retailer Carriage paid orders of just £100 FREE next day delivery Limited stocks available Award winning customer service
AFFORDABLE
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An affordable, unique brand of home fragrances featuring candles, diffusers and gifts for every season. Exclusively GHYHORSHG XVLQJ WKH ‫ۋ‬QHVW ingredients with attractive frosted glass bottles and elegant packaging.
Progressive Gifts Greats Awards 2017
15 times winners
BEST SERVICE TO THE INDEPENDENT RETAILER
To place your order please contact our sales staff on: Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk f: joedaviesgiftware /DQGRQ 7\OHU *LIW 7RGD\ IUDJUDQFH VXSSOLPHQW 0DUFK $SULO LVVXH Y LQGG
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NEW
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A musky, rich and fruity addition to our best-selling FIRED EARTH collection, with notes of pink pepper and frankincense leading to a fruity heart of plum, patchouli and lily on a base of amber and musks.
Order today on www.waxlyricaltrade.com or call 01229 461 166