Some candles make a room smell nice. Others come with a story behind them.
North Flame Candles definitely falls into the second group.
Run by Paul McPherson, the business was created from a genuine love of Northumberland and everything that makes the area special. Think rugged coastline, historic castles, open countryside, woodland walks and those quiet spots where it feels like the rest of the world has gone somewhere else for a while.
But there is more behind the business than scenery.
After experiencing a stroke, Paul found himself looking at life differently. He wanted something positive and creative to focus on. Making candles slowly became that outlet.
An idea turned into a hobby, the hobby became a passion, and eventually North Flame Candles was born.
Today, Paul creates hand poured candles and reed diffusers in small batches, with many of the fragrances inspired directly by Northumberland.
There are smaller 130g candles, larger 500g candles, seasonal 20cl Autumn and Winter Collections, reed diffusers and even mini diffuser sets for the home or car.
So, if the candle cupboard is looking suspiciously empty, or someone needs a gift that feels a bit more thoughtful than another pair of socks, here are three reasons why North Flame Candles deserves a look.
1. Everything has a real story behind it
One of the nicest things about North Flame Candles is that the business has a clear sense of where it comes from.
The Northumberland Collection sits right at the heart of that.
Instead of simply giving products random names that sound pleasant, Paul has taken inspiration from places and landscapes that mean something to him.
You will find candles and diffusers carrying names such as Bamburgh, Alnwick Bloom, Hadrian’s Ember and Kielder Forest.
Anyone who knows Northumberland will probably recognise some of those names straight away.
And even for someone who has never visited, there is something nice about knowing that the fragrance has been created around a particular place, memory or feeling.
The idea is simple. Bring a little piece of Northumberland into the home.
That could be the memory of walking near Bamburgh Castle, spending an afternoon around Alnwick, exploring Kielder Forest or simply enjoying the peace and space that makes this part of the country so distinctive.
It gives the products a bit of personality.
There is also a much more personal story behind North Flame Candles itself.
Following his stroke, Paul wanted to create something meaningful and positive.
Making candles gave him a new focus. There were fragrances to develop, products to create and a business to gradually build.
That makes buying from North Flame Candles feel different from simply picking a candle off a supermarket shelf.
There is a person behind every product.
And there is something rather lovely about knowing that a small purchase is supporting a business that came from somebody turning a difficult period of life into something creative.
2. The candles and diffusers are made by hand
There is no huge production line hidden behind North Flame Candles.
Every candle and reed diffuser is hand poured in small batches in the North.
Paul takes care of the process from selecting and blending fragrances through to pouring, finishing and preparing each product.
Small batch production means there is room to pay attention to the details.
That matters with candles.
A candle might look like a fairly simple product from the outside, but plenty goes into getting one right. There is the wax, fragrance, wick, pouring process, finish and presentation to think about.
Rushing any of those steps is hardly going to improve the end result.
North Flame Candles takes a more careful approach.
The smaller Northumberland Collection candles use natural soy wax and come in a 130g size. Current fragrances include Alnwick Bloom, Hadrian’s Ember, Kielder Forest and Bamburgh.
There are also larger 500g natural soy wax candles for anyone who wants something a little more substantial.
These come in sleek matte black vessels with matching lids, so they can sit nicely on a shelf, sideboard or coffee table without looking like they have gatecrashed the room.
Fragrances in the larger range include Sandalwood and Vanilla, Forbidden Cherry, Stony Cove, Bamburgh and Northern Spa.
There is even a Mandarin, Mint and Mint option for anyone whose candle preferences lean towards something fresh.
Paul also creates 20cl Autumn and Winter Collections, bringing a seasonal feel to the range.
These candles stand out immediately thanks to their bright coloured labels and are presented in luxurious gift boxes, giving them a particularly polished finish.
They are the sort of candles that look just as good wrapped up for someone else as they do sitting in the home, and the seasonal fragrances make them a lovely option as the evenings get darker and the colder months arrive.
And if lighting a candle every evening is not really your thing, North Flame Candles also makes reed diffusers.
The 100ml range includes familiar Northumberland inspired fragrances such as Hadrian’s Ember, Alnwick Bloom and Bamburgh.
There is also a Car and Home Mini Diffuser Set, which means the fragrance does not have to stay in the living room.
The range gives people a few different ways to bring fragrance into their space, rather than forcing everyone towards the same product.
3. There is something for gifts, homes and little treats
Candles are one of those rare products that can work for quite a few occasions.
They can be a birthday present, a housewarming gift, a thank you, a Christmas present or simply something bought because the living room could do with smelling better on a wet Tuesday evening.
North Flame Candles has options at different sizes and price points, which makes choosing something easier.
The 130g Northumberland candles are currently priced at £11, making them an accessible way to try the collection or pick up a thoughtful small gift.
For something bigger, selected 500g candles are priced at £32.
The 100ml reed diffusers are currently £21.99, while the Car and Home Mini Diffuser Set is £9.99.
The 20cl Autumn and Winter Collections add another strong gifting option too.
Presented in luxurious gift boxes and finished with eye catching bright coloured labels, they already have that special occasion feel before any wrapping paper has even appeared.
That makes them particularly well suited to Christmas, birthdays, thank you gifts or simply treating someone who takes their home fragrance very seriously.
There is also something satisfying about giving a present that looks considered straight from the box, rather than something that needs half a roll of ribbon and a heroic wrapping effort to make it feel special.
That means there is scope to buy a small present without spending a fortune, or go for one of the larger candles if it is for a bigger occasion.
The Northumberland theme can also make the collection particularly meaningful for certain people.
Someone who grew up in the county might appreciate a fragrance connected to home.
A person who visits Northumberland every year could enjoy having something that reminds them of favourite trips.
And for those who simply like supporting independent businesses, the story behind North Flame Candles gives the products an added personal touch.
It is worth remembering that every order supports something Paul has built himself following a major change in his life.
From the first candle poured to the expanding range available today, the business has grown one product at a time.
There is no complicated message behind it.
Paul loves Northumberland. He enjoys creating fragrances. And he has turned those two things into a growing handmade business.
That is a pretty good combination.
North Flame Candles is about home fragrance, but it is also about place, memory and starting again.
Every candle and diffuser is made by hand, the Northumberland Collection has genuine meaning behind it, the seasonal collections bring something different throughout the year, and there are options for different homes, occasions and budgets.
For anyone looking to bring a little bit of the North into their home, or find a gift with a story attached to it, North Flame Candles is well worth discovering.
And if it results in the house smelling better at the same time, nobody is likely to complain.