Creating ILLUME Fragrances

(Reposted from Illume's Burn Room blog)

Fragrance is often described as a unique language used to communicate a story and evoke emotions.  That's where the scents we create begin: with the stories they tell.  Each candle has a unique personality and our fragrance experts - or "noses" - are trained to develop that story by combining raw scents to create a complete fragrance.

Gen and Greta (our noses here at ILLUME) start with visual inspiration to develop the personality and fragrance story, putting together a mood board for each fragrance.  Once the story is created visually, a fragrance wheel is used to determine the scent's category.  The wheel consists of different scent families and helps us create well-rounded collections that offer fragrances from a wide range of scent categories.

We often look to fragrance trends as a guide when developing new scents.  Similar to a fashion expert following trends on the runway, knowing which fragrance trends are on the horizon is important when creating new products.  Current trends include:

• Super fruits and globally-inspired spices like turmeric and saffron
• Cuban-inspired scents like tobacco, leather and exotic fruit
• Gender-neutral/genderless scents

Each fragrance we create consists of raw materials that make up top, middle and base notes.  For example, the raw materials that create our Blackberry Absinthe fragrance are:

These raw materials are carefully considered and putting them together successfully is a combination of expertise, as well as trial and error.  Our experts know how each element smells individually and if those elements can come together to create an interesting, beautiful scent that reinforces the story.  Perfecting this comes with practice and there are often multiple rounds of revisions to ensure the scent is exactly how it should be.  The end result is always worth it!

Lollia - new for 2017

This was originally posted January 4, 2017 at my old blog.

Dream is the newest addition to the Lollia collection

The Margot Elena product collections are an exciting addition to my package for the new year.  I'll post about each one separately, but today's focus is Lollia.

Lollia is an elegant library of fragrance stories with romantic names like Wish (the top seller), Dream (pictured above), Breathe, Relax, At Last and others.  Each collection consists of classic, beautifully designed boudoir luxuries made from superior formulations in the USA. 

Hand cremes in Wish, Breathe & At Last

Lollia is known for its iconic look that is decadently luxurious while feeling sweetly familiar with signature mix-and-match patterns and fresh-picked color palettes.  The packaging attracts attention, and the quality of the product has created proven customer loyalty that brings you high repeat business.

In each collection you will an eau de parfum, a shea butter handcreme (pictured above), perfumed shower gel, bubbling bath and a beautiful fragranced luminary candle.

Make sure you are stocked for Valentine's Day gift giving and then beef up your inventory more as we approach Mother's Day.

Illume - new for 2017

This was originally posted January 2, 2017 at my old blog.

Sweet Hibiscus - one of Illume's new fragrances for 2017

First things first - I'm your new sales rep for Illume starting in 2017.  I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier, but professional courtesy still means something.

Having said that, Illume is rolling out its collection-based business concept for the new year.  There are now five distinct collections - each with its own buy-in.  The company has also worked hard to create a new shipping infrastructure to improve on-time delivery.

Sweet Hibiscus (pictured above) is a new scent for 2017.  It joins 9 existing fragrances in the Essentials collection - Illume's core group.

Coconut Milk Mango is a best-selling fragrance in Go Be Lovely

Go Be Lovely is the other collection continuing into 2017.  Both the fragrances and packaging are unapologetically flirty and feminine, and there are 2 new fragrances - Sugared Blossom and Golden Honeysuckle.  Also new is a demi hand cream as a companion to the best-selling demi rollerball perfume.

New collections include Brim & Bright with fresh, vibrant patterns paired with best-selling fragrances - including fragranced citronella candles! 

Narrative is another new collection that includes both home fragrance and body care items.  It's a premium collection with sophisticated packaging that incorporates some best-selling fragrances as well as 2 brand new ones - Copper Rose and Magnolia Blossom.

Grey Lavender candles from the new Collectiv collection

Collectiv is a new collection that includes home fragrance, body care - and new home care products!  It has 4 new fresh and simple fragrances with Scandinavian-inspired packaging.  There are 2 candle options pictured above, both in Grey Lavender.

Candles and body care remain strong categories for independent retailers, and I know you're always looking for something new and fresh to offer your customers.  Illume is a veteran player in the business, and you don't stick around this long unless you know what you're doing!

What's so special about Vance Kitira candles?

This was originally posted on August 25, 2014 at my old blog.

It's been almost 20 years since Vance Kitira,  inspired by nature, created a new candle with a texture and look reminiscent of tree bark and launched his signature Timber candle series.  You and I (as retailer and sales rep) have watched this business grow over the years, and we often forget the unique qualities that made us embrace these candles in the first place.

Timber candles are the original hand-poured distressed texture candle.  Initially it was produced in only 3 colors: Brown Sugar, Moss and Wine.  Even though they are now available in 25 colors, those three original offerings still rank among Vance Kitira's best sellers!

How They Are Made

All Timber candles are hand-poured in Vance's native Thailand in a facility owned by his family.  His ownership allows him complete creative control as well as quality control.  In fact, he spends about half his time at the factory ensuring excellence on both fronts.

Vance's fully refined paraffin wax has been hydro treated to remove impurities and color.  The result is a wax that is clear as water, odor-free, food-grade and smokeless during burning.  Fine dyes from England and 100% cotton wicks from the USA are shipped to Thailand for the production process.

To enhance each candle's shelf appeal (and make sure it doesn't stay on your shelves very long) each pillar and taper candle is banded with a palm leaf ring and a distinctively tied bamboo skin that secures Vance's hangtag and adds value by telling the Timber story.

The result is a beautifully crafted candle presented at a remarkably reasonable and competitive price.

How They Are Used

As appealing as the candles look in your store, they come to life fully when in use.  Their warm glow and unique burn pattern enhance any occasion.  When burned correctly, the wax on the pillars will melt into the candle to create a luminary effect as it burns down.

This brings us to the question you and I both get asked frequently - are Vance's candles dripless?  You can answer "yes" with confidence, but there is one caveat.  The end user needs to keep the burning candle clear of any drafts like those created by air-conditioning/heating vents and ceiling fans.  The moving air will unsettle the hot wax, changing the burn pattern and likely leading to drippage.

Timber candles should never be placed directly on a fabric or furniture surface.  Timber candle wax is saturated with color, and the dye may seep into wood crevices or leave color on fabric or synthetic surfaces.  This differentiates Vance's candles from less-expensive options that simply apply a layer of color over standard colorless wax, resulting in a red candle that is only red on the outside.

All Timber candles are unscented, making them ideal for entertaining or any event involving food service.  The long burn times mean your customer can light the candle once and not worry about it again.

Whether you're cozying up with a warm blanket and a good book, hosting dinner for 12 or planning an event for 250, Vance Kitira candles can create a mood that is tranquil, romantic or festive.

Sizes...including the Timber Pear

Timber candles are available as tapers, pillars and in the popular pear shape.  They are also available in limited colors in a goblet style, votives and an oblong multi-wick brick shape.

Much like the original Timber candles, the Timber Pear candle was introduced in 3 colors - only to take on a life of its own and become Vance's best-selling item for the last 4 years running!  Pear candles are a cost-effective way to get customer feedback on new colors.  You can also use them to add a punch of color (like pink) if you don't want the whole size assortment in that color.

I have seen many successful Timber candle displays, and the most common thread is that retailers group them together in a "I carry Vance Kitira candles" statement.

(Photo from Urban Merchant in Lynchburg, Virginia)

Let me know how I can help you grow your Vance Kitira business and make this holiday selling season a hit.  I'm available to work with you in person (with color samples), via phone, via email, via fax - whatever works best for you.