CocoLuxe is a Leicestershire-based luxury hand-poured candle company with a selection of home and body products, including diffusers, founded by Coco.
Who or what inspires you and your products?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with fragrances and scents, from the little perfume oil roll-ons I got for Christmas as a child to the countless little bottles of perfumes I would beg my mum for from the Avon catalogue. I burned many, many different types of incense and then when I was old enough (and trusted not to burn my parent’s house down) I got my first set of scented tea lights! I fell in love and my journey from candle lover to chandler began.
How did you start your business?
I created CocoLuxe in 2023 after deciding to turn my passion for scents into a career.
I wanted to create a luxury brand with sustainability at the forefront without ever compromising on scent or quality and of course, being fabulous to look at was a given!
How did you choose the name of your business?
The name for my company was inspired by my nickname Coco and my love of all things luxury.
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
Scent is such a huge part of our memories and environment that I use when creating new scents for candles and home products. I love being able to capture a specific feeling or moment with a scent that resonates with people in different ways and creating a story with different notes that appear as you burn a candle.
What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a small business owner?
The biggest challenge as a small business owner is getting products seen online by consumers in such a competitive market but doing big shows like Country Living or pop up shops in John Lewis helps massively by getting my brand seen by lots of consumers.
What is your hero product or one that means the most to you and why?
My Hero product is my signature scent Coco by Midnight which across all three product types is my best seller followed by my Rock salt and driftwood hand and body duo.
Coco by Midnight was inspired by a perfume my grandma used to buy me when i was a teenager and the memories it evokes.
What does a typical working day look like?
I make all my products in my workshop and quickly out growing my kitchen and house.
A typical day for me as a candle maker begins (after coffee) with checking my emails and online orders, my fulfillment company’s dashboard for stock levels, and starting any ongoing burn tests. I then head to the workshop, get my wax melt pot on, and get to work restocking any products and working on new fragrances and ideas.
What tip (or tips) would you give anyone looking to start a small creative business?
My top tip for starting a new business is to just do it – I wish I had made the leap years ago, its certainly not easy and there is a lot to learn but if you are passionate about something I think that resonates with people who buy a product not just because it’s good but because they align with you and if you get it right your brand.
Shop CocoLuxe at the Country Living Christmas Market this November for a thoughtful gift, or to treat yourself!