Vanilla Woods — Scented Soy Candle

Our best-selling fragrance, Vanilla Woods is vanilla without the bakery sweetness. Bergamot and lavender open fresh and aromatic before patchouli, sandalwood and soft florals give way to vanilla, musk and warm amber. Poured in 100% natural soy wax and presented in an individually patterned glass vessel — no two are exactly the same.

Approx. 60 hours · 100% natural soy wax · Single wick · Each vessel unique

The fragrance

Top
Bergamot · Aromatic Lavender

Heart
Patchouli · Jasmine · Rose · Violet Woods

Base
Vanilla · Sandalwood · Soft Musk · Warm Amber

The story

Vanilla Woods was created for that particular hour in a west-facing room when the light turns amber and everything in it seems to soften.

This is vanilla with the bakery taken out of it.

The opening is fresh rather than sweet — bergamot with lavender behind it, aromatic and clean, and quite different from what the name might lead you to expect.

Underneath, the fragrance becomes mostly wood and earth. Patchouli gives it depth, sandalwood turns creamy against it, and a little rose and jasmine smooth the edges without allowing the fragrance to become overtly floral.

The vanilla arrives later and more slowly — soft and almost powdery, surrounded by musk and warm amber. It doesn't sweeten the woods so much as round them off.

What remains in the room an hour later is warm, low and faintly resinous — the comfort of vanilla without all the sugar.

Where it works

Best for: living rooms, bedrooms and relaxed evening spaces.

Vanilla Woods belongs naturally in rooms with texture and warmth. Timber, linen, stone, wool and other natural materials all sit particularly well alongside its earthy, woody character.

In a living room, it works beautifully on a coffee or side table, where the vessel becomes part of the interior even when the candle isn't burning. On a bedside table, the vanilla, sandalwood and amber become softer and more intimate as the fragrance settles.

Jo's placement: In the corner of a living room with textured throws and natural materials, where the candle becomes the finishing layer rather than the feature.

With eighteen years' experience designing interiors, Joanne considers how a candle looks in a room as much as how it fragrances one. With Vanilla Woods, the patterned glass catches both natural light during the day and candlelight at night, giving the vessel a different character depending on where it is placed.

A vessel that's uniquely yours

This is an important part of Vanilla Woods.

No two vessels are exactly the same. The pattern and markings in the glass vary naturally from one candle to another, so the vessel you receive will have its own individual character.

That means the candle photographed on the website is representative of Vanilla Woods, but yours won't be an exact copy — and that's precisely the point.

It also makes Vanilla Woods a particularly thoughtful gift. You're not giving someone an identical mass-produced decorative object; the vessel they receive is individual to them.

Once the candle is lit, the flame illuminates the variations in the glass and brings the pattern to life. And when approximately sixty hours of fragrance have finished, the vessel remains.

Clean out the remaining wax and reuse it as a small vase, bathroom container, holder for brushes or simply as a decorative object in its own right.

Why Vanilla Woods makes such a good gift

Vanilla Woods has become our best seller for good reason. It appeals to people who love vanilla, but also to people who normally find vanilla fragrances too sweet.

Its woody, earthy base makes it easy to live with, while the individuality of each glass vessel adds something that is increasingly difficult to find in a gift: the feeling that the one you've chosen isn't quite like anybody else's.

For housewarmings, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day or simply as a thank-you, it gives you both fragrance and an object designed to remain in the home after the candle itself is finished.

What customers say

“The scent of vanilla and sandalwood together is divine! The vintage tumbler is beautiful and something I can keep after the candle is finished. I made the purchase at the Paddington Markets and met Joanne, she was absolutely lovely to deal with.”

Skye Davis — on Vanilla Woods

Details

• Size: 400g
• Burn time: approximately 60 hours.
• Dimensions: approximately 10.5 cm high × 9.5 cm diameter
• Wax: 100% natural soy
• Wick: single
• Vessel: individually patterned reusable glass — no two are exactly the same
• Designed and poured by: Joanne Johnson Design

Frequently asked questions

Is Vanilla Woods a sweet vanilla candle?
Not in the traditional sense. Vanilla is an important part of the fragrance, but sandalwood, patchouli, musk and amber give it a woody, earthy character. Bergamot and lavender also make the opening surprisingly fresh.

Does every Vanilla Woods candle look the same?
No. Each glass vessel varies slightly in its pattern and markings, which means no two are exactly alike. The candle you receive will therefore have its own individual appearance.

Will my candle look exactly like the photographs?
The photographs show the overall character of the Vanilla Woods vessel, but natural variations mean your candle won't be identical. These differences are part of the character of the product rather than a flaw.

Is Vanilla Woods suitable as a gift?
Yes. It's our best-selling fragrance, and the individuality of the glass makes each candle particularly suited to gifting. Once the candle has finished, the vessel can also be kept and reused.

Where does Vanilla Woods work best?
Living rooms and bedrooms are particularly well suited to it. The woody, amber base works beautifully alongside timber, stone, linen and other natural materials.

How long does the 400g Vanilla Woods candle burn?
Approximately 60 hours when burned and maintained correctly.

Caring for your candle

The first burn matters most. Let the wax melt all the way to the edge of the glass before you put it out — usually two to four hours. A candle remembers its first burn. Stop it early and it can begin to tunnel.

Trim the wick to 5 mm before every burn. An untrimmed wick can smoke, flicker and mark the glass. A trimmed wick helps the candle burn cleanly and evenly.

Burn for no more than four hours at a time. Longer burns can overheat the wax and affect the fragrance.

Keep it out of a draught. Moving air makes the flame lean, which can cause uneven burning and soot on the glass.

Stop when approximately 10 mm of wax remains. Continuing beyond this point can cause the base of the vessel to become excessively hot.

Then keep the vessel. Once cool, remove the remaining wax and wash the glass with warm soapy water before giving this individual piece another purpose.