Meet Steph Southby, the girl behind the quirky-whimsical boutique fragrance brand creating pure soy wax candles in Geelong.
Hey Steph, thanks for chatting to us, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?
I’m very well, thank you, though getting very busy with orders for Christmas! Loads of gorgeous candles going out for gifts already.
Describe your brand in three words.
Eclectic – fun – uplifting.
What do you think sets yourself apart from other candle businesses?
I love merging watercolour illustration and gold foil into my packaging for something different, and have fairly different scents to what is typically on the market at the moment.
Butcher Baker Candle Co uses six carefully mixed fragrances. Can you tell us a bit about these, how do you go about creating them, and do you have a personal favourite?
I’m very particular about getting a scent to exactly what I had in mind, so spend quite a while sampling each one before it gets released. With the core range, I’ve covered a scent for all tastes, from a warm maple vanilla, to sweet and punchy pomegranate, and a subtle bergamot with a sandalwood base.
My favourite scent….? Oh, that’s tough! From the core range probably ‘Om’ – a blend of white lotus, patchouli and vanilla. But right now I’m loving ‘Acacia’, the limited summer release – golden wattle, lemon myrtle and eucalyptus. It smells like you’re walking through a lush rainforest with its dewy freshness!
Is there an ideal time we should be burning our candles, and what are the benefits of purchasing soy candles?
Burn time is dependent on the size of candle, but a general guide is two to four hours. The benefits of purchasing soy candles are that you’re not going to be breathing in any chemicals from a synthetic based wax like paraffin, and it’s made from a very sustainably grown plant-based substance so no animal product is used either. It’s kinder to the environment and your health at the same time.
We notice you sell accessories online such as wick trimmers. What is the appropriate care for soy candles that people should be doing to maintain the quality and longevity of their candles?
Trimming the wick of your candle is so important. If you don’t trim the carbon ball at the tip off before each burn, the flame will be disproportionate and smoky, which causes it to burn unevenly.
Also, allow the wax to melt all the way to the sides of the container the first time you burn it, however long this takes. Doing this will give you maximum fragrance throw, and an even burn whilst preventing the dreaded tunneling of wax around the sides of the container.
Any future plans or changes coming up in the new year?
There will be a new pure essential oil range with three scents released in Autumn, and an update in vessels throughout the year as well.
To view the range check out www.butcherbakercandleco.com or visit @butcherbakercandleco on Instagram.