The other day I was wandering through Mosman in Sydney and stumbled across these amazing looking candles by Voyager Candles. The double walled glass captured my attention first but they also smell delightful! Anyone that knows me also knows about my candle addiction, it’s no secret! I thought I’d ask Kerrie the owner and creator of Voyager Candles a few questions about her gorgeous candles and how she started the business. After I read Kerrie’s replies I realised just how passionate she is about candles and making sure her candles were the best they could be, it’s a true labour of love.

When and why did you start Voyager Candles?

The idea for Voyager Candles came about 18 months ago, from my inventor husband and myself throwing ideas around, trying to create a business that somehow involved combining my passions for travel and fragrance, as well as doing something that was in line with my ethical values. I started to make candles myself so that I would know exactly what the process involved – it is definitely an art form! I now have a wonderful local candle manufacturer.

What is your career background?

For the past 25 years, I have worked as a model in the fashion industry. I was very fortunate to travel the world and experience different ways of life at a young age. These years inspired an ever-evolving search to find and appreciate the beauty existing in this world.

Describe a typical day at Voyager Candles.

My day usually starts with a brainstorming session over a coffee with my husband. After replying to emails, contacting my suppliers and retailers, researching potential stockists, and sometimes spending a little too much time on fragrance and design blogs, I can be found at our kitchen table getting the candles ready to sell. I am a perfectionist at heart, so this can be a somewhat lengthy process!

The Voyager Candle glass is very unique, could you explain a bit more about the design?

I was captivated by the idea of a ‘floating’ candle in a double walled glass, which, to my knowledge, has not been done before. The inside of the glass is straight for the candle to burn evenly, the outside is curved, giving the vessel an elegant aesthetic. The thermal aspect of the vessel means that the transfer of heat is very different to a single walled glass, so it was very challenging to find a blend of ethical waxes that worked, but we found the answer. I love that my customers can re-use their Voyager glass as a coffee or wine glass, or even as a vase, knowing that my candles have another life in people’s homes. True recycling.

If you had to pick one, what would be your favourite scent?

I really do love all five of my candles, each fragrance takes me somewhere different, but I am particularly drawn to my Augusto candle at the moment, purely because I would much rather be in Capri right now, and not in wintery Melbourne.

What are some good tips for candle lovers to get the best out of their candle?

Trimming the wick of your candle to 0.5cm before every burn is essential to avoid the candle ‘smoking’ and burning down too quickly. It is worth investing in a wick trimmer. Ensure that the wax melts to the edge of the vessel every time you burn your candle: wax has a ‘memory’ and if the candle is extinguished before it reaches the edge, you will find that the wax tunnels, never burning out to the edge again.  Burn your candle for between 1-3 hours each time to maximise the fragrance ‘throw’. Wipe any wax ‘film’ left on the glass with a paper towel to keep your candle looking beautiful.

How do you decide on a new scent?

I start by conjuring a place I have known, somewhere that holds a special meaning for me. Then I will choose a particular garden in that place. The name of the garden, which is to become the name of the candle, is very important. I collect my own memories, photos, research on the garden, anything to give me a sensory picture of that place…. I then write down words or phrases – objects, olfactory memories, plants, spices, experiences, cultural idiosyncrasies…This is when the perfumers become involved. They take my words and create stunning, complex perfumes out of them. Samples are then sent to me and I choose the ones that resonate with me the most. It’s my favourite part of the whole business!

Pop on over to Voyager Candles to learn more about the scents available.

Emma x