Walking through the large roller doors at Red Hill Candle Co is a delight for the senses. You may find yourself transported by dreamy hints of frangipani, rainforest, or Japanese honeysuckle, or seduced by the sultry notes of woodsmoke, tobacco and sandalwood. They’re just a few of the forty seasonal scents on rotation, which are thoughtfully blended to create a range of soy wax candles, melts, diffusers and room sprays.
Owner Ebony Flett has a background in tourism and events and happily shares her favourite local wineries, breweries and beaches to visit whilst on The Ninch. With so much to see, do and taste on the Peninsula – Ebony wanted to expand on the sensory experience and create a product dedicated to the alluring and transportive powers of scent and smell.
Ebony started the business back in 2016, hand-pouring candles in her spare room in Dromana. It took months to develop a signature range of fragrances, carefully melting wax on the kitchen stove and trialling different blends before heading to the local markets. The folk at Merricks General Store spotted Ebony on social medial and encouraged her to stock her candles amongst the artisan products that line the shelves of their pantry store. Since then, Ebony has moved from the spare room to a custom-built factory in Dromana’s Industrial Estate and now supplies over fifty stockists across Australia.
Opening in December 2020, the purpose-built facility includes a retail space, DIY Flower Bar, Scent Library, and The Scent Lab – a creative space designed to host joyful and immersive experiences. Ebony and her friendly team offer a range of workshops, including a 90-minute introduction to candle making. Guests are greeted with a glass of Foxey’s sparkling on arrival, before sitting down to blend and pour their own fragranced candles to take home and enjoy.
Red Hill Candle Co invited The Ninch team to come in and take part in one of their guided workshops, encouraging the team to each create a candle that captures part of the local lifestyle. Armed with a handy scent wheel, Sophie chose notes of salted caramel, chai latte and woodsmoke, conjuring up the cosy feeling of tucking into a wintery dessert in front of the fireplace. Bodie chose an earthy mix of Australiana and tobacco, with hints of grounding eucalyptus and fresh lemon myrtle.
If you’re short on time and can’t quite squeeze in a workshop, the light and bright retail space is packed with ready-made gift ideas, or you can build your own hamper for someone special. Choose a handmade vessel and fill it with dried blooms, or pick up some goodies from local makers including Olie & Olieve, Dindi Naturals and Paird Artisan Jewellery.
It’s been a huge year of growth for Red Hill Candle Co, but Ebony still has big plans for the future. Next up is a café and dessert bar, offering locally roasted coffee, delicious morsels and decadent cake tasting paddles. Despite the rapid growth, Ebony remains true to her roots and her purpose: to spark joy through beautiful products and to bring people together through fun and memorable experience.
