How One Disappointing Candle Sparked Backburner Candles

                              

It all started one Friday night. I’d had a busy week, poured a glass of wine, lit a candle from a big-name brand, and waited for that warm, relaxing scent to fill the room. For a few minutes, it did… and then it completely disappeared.

I remember thinking, surely it should last longer than this? It wasn’t cheap, and I felt genuinely disappointed. That tiny moment of frustration turned into a spark - maybe the kind of candle I was looking for just didn’t exist yet. Maybe I needed to make it myself. 

                                                    

From Frustration to a Flicker of an Idea

I’ve always loved scent - the way a fragrance can take you back to a memory, a person or a place. For years, I’d dreamed of creating something of my own but between work and everyday life, it always stayed on the sidelines.

Whenever someone asked when I’d finally start my candle business, I’d laugh and say, “It’s on the backburner.” Funny how that ended up being the name of the whole thing.

   

The First Pour

After that disappointing candle, I ordered my first batch of supplies and started experimenting at home in Louth. I had no clue where it would lead, but I was hooked straight away.

One day the cleaner asked if I sold them, then the postman, then friends kept commenting on how amazing my house smelt. That’s when I knew I might be onto something. I spent months testing, refining and learning everything I could about wax, wicks, and fragrance. I was determined to create candles that actually last from the first flicker to the final glow.

  

Doing Things Differently

From day one, I wanted Backburner Candles to feel like a treat - something luxurious but accessible. Every candle is vegan, cruelty-free and hand-poured with care. Each scent is inspired by aftershaves and perfumes  because fragrance is so much more than a smell - it’s emotion and memory rolled into one.

Even the details matter: the wax, the wick glue, the packaging all designed to match the brand’s black and gold aesthetic. Simple, elegant and timeless.

       

The Name That Said It All

When it came to choosing a name, my daughter and I went through loads of ideas. Then it hit me: Backburner Candles. It had literally been on the backburner for years and now it wasn’t.

It’s become a reminder to me and, hopefully, to anyone who lights one: don’t wait to enjoy the little luxuries. Don’t put joy on hold. Take it off the backburner.

                                       

A Little About What I Make

• Vegan and cruelty-free candles – hand-poured in small batches
  - Luxury wax melts – inspired by designer scents, melting into gold glitter
  - Long-lasting fragrance – strong from the first light to the final burn
  
  If you’re new here, explore my full range of candles and luxury wax melts on the collections page.

 

If you would like to learn more about creating meaningful rituals with candles then check our our guide to New Year rituals over resolutions.