Brisbane-based candle brand Nocturna launched to market recently with a collection of eco-friendly candles with a gothic edge.
Each candle in the Nocturna range has a theme that can be seen in both the packaging and the scent, founder and self-taught candle maker Samantha Penberthy explains. Current themes include Salem, inspired by the town in Massachusetts with a history of association with witches, and Nyctophiliac, which is a love of darkness or night.
Penberthy spent 12 months creating the brand and developing a product range that combines her passion for ecofriendly, cruelty free products with her fascination with the dark side.
“Nocturna brings a very unique point of difference to the current candle market in respect to style and packaging in particular,” she says. “[The] dark aesthetic certainly makes a bold statement with a mystic charm and our unique product packaging allows the consumer an immersive experience like no other.
“I’ve always been creatively inspired by the notion of darkness; on a sensory level within nature and in an emotional sense within the human psyche, and I have explored this theme through photography since I was young. I’m now reinterpreting those ideas into a tangible product which I’m finding so fulfilling.”
When creating the candles, all of which are hand poured, Penberthy first determines the theme and imagines what type of scent would help evoke it in the customer’s mind. She then experiments with cruelty free fragrance oils to create a subtle, delicate scent that uses ecofriendly, renewable and sustainable wax free of additives.
With the aim of making each candle theme an experience, Penberthy has developed product packaging that encourages customers to enter the story. “As our ‘illuminate your subconscious’ ethos explains, Nocturna’s philosophy is very much about awakening landscapes in your subconscious mind and evoking your sixth sense,” she explains.
“The unique glass candle box allows the buyer to immerse themselves in the world of Nocturna before even lighting the candle…I wanted the packaging to be very special and memorable. Nocturna is a sensory journey, and I believe our unique packaging helps convey that.”
Since launching Nocturna has been well received on social media, and Penberthy says seeing her products in customers’ homes is a highlight. “It’s such a wonderful feeling knowing this idea of mine translates through to people and they can connect to it,” she says.
As a young brand, Penberthy is eager to expand into more bricks and mortar stores across Australia and abroad in the next 12 months, and also has a few limited edition candles and collaborations in the works.
“I’m on the hunt for stores where Nocturna will be a great fit. It’s so important that we are in select stores to give customers the chance to see the range in person.”
By Ruth Cooper
