A Wicklow Collaboration Project - The Spud x Bread & Weather Candle

Creating a custom candle oil blend to ignite the spirit of Ireland

The Project

In August of last year I was asked by Rob Walsh if I would be interested in creating a custom candle oil blend for Spud, his new luxury Irish travel company.

Immediately upon meeting Rob I was inspired by his genuine enthusiasm and energy for his work. I felt our two brands aligned really well and was delighted to embark on creating a co-branded custom candle.

Together, we’ve crafted a bespoke candle that captures the warmth and depth of Ireland. This collaboration between Spud and Bread & Weather perfectly reflects this ethos of Spud - Uncovering the real Ireland, celebrating local craftsmanship and the creativity that makes Ireland truly unique.

The Brief

The Spud x Bread & Weather candles would be given to Spud’s clients to bring a little piece of Ireland into their home—a reminder of Irish stories, traditions, and the moments that linger long after the flame has faded.

Spud grew out of Rob’s passion to showcase the best that Ireland has to offer.  The aim of a Spud experience is to dig deep—like the roots of a spud—into the heart of Ireland's traditions, unearthing the authentic and often hidden aspects of Irish life and history. Just as the humble potato has been a staple of Irish nourishment for centuries, Spud sees it as a symbol of the sustenance that Irish culture provides the soul.

Each time someone lights their Spud x Bread & Weather candle they would be reminded of Ireland’s stunning landscapes, rich history, and unforgettable experiences.

The Process

Choosing the oils

Creating a custom oil blend for a brief is quite different to how I create oil blends for my own Bread & Weather candles.

Because I work exclusively with essential oils instead of synthetic perfumes, my process is usually led by the oils. This means I start with the oil I would like to highlight, and experiment with blends until I find the perfect supporting cast for the star.

With a custom blend created for a brief, the description comes first and I go to the studio searching for combinations of oils that will line up with what I already have in mind to create.

Based on the brief as well as my own inspirations drawn from Ireland I experimented blending with two different themes in mind.

The first was an outdoor, summertime idea drawing inspiration from the Irish landscape. This blend used oils of flowers and herbs as well as a couple of different spice notes to evoke a wild, green, natural landsccape and ecosystem.

The second was an indoor, winter inspired blend leaning more towards the warmth and depth of Irish traditions and storytelling. This blend was created with warm woody oils, citrus notes and a subtle spice element inspired by castle, country houses, fireplaces and cosy bars.

Testing the blends

The process of creating an essential oil blend for a candle is quite slow and cannot be rushed.

It is impossible to tell by blending essential oils together in a beaker if they will make a good candle. Each idea has to be carefully weighed, noted and made into a candle. This candle then sets overnight before being lit.

When they are ready, I light each tester candle for at least 3 hours in my home (away from the cacophony of aromas in the studio). Only when the candle is lighting can you really tell what you’ve got. During each test burning I come and go from the house and ideally try to trick myself into forgetting there is a tester burning so that my nose will smell it as ‘new’.

I make notes of how each test blend smells while it’s lighting and adjust the quantities and oils accordingly for the next tester.

The End Result

After a few rounds of testers, Rob and I decided to focus our attention on perfecting the ‘Winter/Indoor’ theme oil blend.

This robust and warm, and uplifting blend is a perfect representation of Spud’s branding and ethos. Warm woody oils with citrus and spice notes blend perfectly together to fill your home with natural aroma and transport you to the cosy, magical Ireland of your dreams.

As with all Bread & Weather candles, the Spud x Bread & Weather candle is hand made here in Wicklow from 100% natural ingredients and contains no petroleum or synthetic elements.

The Spud x Bread & Weather candle is not available for general sale - to smell it you will need to book one of Spud’s spectacular Irish experiences