We sat down with Nic, long standing member of the DV team, founder of Pure Cariad and qualified aromatherapist to discuss her stunning line of natural candles – all with to die for scents!
Where did Pure Cariad start?
Having practiced as an aromatherapy massage therapist for 20 years I was ready to move on from the physical aspects of my work but did miss the healing value of Aromatherapy and the joy of creating wellness blends.
Why candles?
I started making my own candles as I wanted to incorporate more natural ingredients and use aromatherapy too. I was also tired of burning candles with little or no aroma once burnt for a few hours and/or that didn’t burn well. It went from there really and Pure Cariad was established in 2018.
What are the benefits of using aromatherapy in our homes?
Aromatherapy is such an easy way to incorporate a sense of wellness into daily life and the power of our sense of smell is hugely under valued.
Using it in the home enables you to create a restful space in bedrooms and gives a fresh uplift to bathrooms and work spaces. Citrus oils work particularly well at cutting through cooking smells in the kitchen and dining spaces. A calm aroma in your living space will help to create that relaxed environment for taking time out from busy schedules.
Being taken back to a fond memory with just our sense of smell is so enriching to our wellbeing or creating a memory where the aroma will boost that memory for years to come is very powerful.
Where does your inspiration come from when creating your candles?
My inspiration always comes from the nature around me, along with the healing benefits of particular Essential Oils that I know will benefit your well-being and create amazing aromas when blended. I use 20ml of Essential Oils in my candles to ensure the aroma lasts from beginning to end. With that comes real healing properties from the oils used, enhancing the wellbeing of those using them.
Your secret to success?
As a small independent, I feel the secret to the success of Pure Cariad is its authenticity. From small batch blending and creating, to sustainably sourcing ingredients, labelling and packaging. As a small independent our customer service is key and I try to offer added value whenever possible such as advice on suitable aromas if the customer has a specific purpose for it or someone particular they are gifting.
Has there been a favourite project so far?
I recently created a bespoke blend to raise funds for My Sisters House – a local charity supporting women with the tools to prevent or remove themselves from domestic abuse. My brief was to create a sense of safety and security, as the women who use their services often don’t experience this in the home.
I especially enjoy working on bespoke weddings or events. Creating the aroma and setting the scene can be the icing on the cake for an event with favours or corporate gifting enabling guests to take home that aroma as a prompt to the memories of the day.
Tell us about your time at Design Vintage!
I’ve worked with Lisa for about 8 years now in a variety of different roles. I started Pure Cariad alongside working at Design Vintage which has been hugely beneficial and enabled me to grow my business whilst still feeling part of a team. Running a sole business can be quite isolating so I feel incredibly lucky to have such a great team to work with at Design Vintage too.
Do you have a favourite piece?
I love the Design Vintage brand and have a fair few pieces in my home so choosing a favourite was always going to be a tall order! If I had to pick it would be the Hungarian Vintage Furniture range. I have one of the Haberdashery Units which I love love love. It brings me so much joy.
I think the beautiful collection of linen cushions and handmade rustic tableware are a firm favourite too, although ask me again next week and I could easily come up with another list!!!
Lastly, what can we expect to see from Pure Cariad going forward?
I’m really looking forward to launching some new aromas in the next few months. The process is long – getting the blend perfected and marketable and then transferring it to a good candle burn before producing all the safety data. It is so worth it though when I get the reaction from the aroma I was hoping for.
The future looks rosy for Pure Cariad with room sprays and new aromas coming to the brand, as well as bespoke projects for holiday lets, wellness spaces, weddings and events.
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