Circadian Candle Collection
The Circadian rhythm is the 24-hour cycle of light and darkness that drives how all living beings function. We have constant artificial light now - so much of it that our days and nights blur together.
My goal was to design a candle collection that would help people be more present throughout the day, and bring a sense of ritual to daily rhythms.
This was inspired by my own tendency to light a candle before I put away my phone, take a deep breath, and dive into focused work. The candle flame has always represented calm but steady progress for me.
CLIENT | Self-directed project
ROLE | 100% of every step! Pouring candles. Writing copy. And my favorite part, the brand and packaging design.
SCOPE | Naming, brand identity, packaging, and illustration for a set of three hand-poured, essential oil-based candles (plus special gift packaging elements!)
Getting out of my own way! I kept getting stuck on little details, but in the end I decided that done was better than perfect.
The custom die wrap on the candles had two functions: communicate product details, and keep dust off the top of the wax in storage.
The candle wrap artwork to stand out in decor settings and give an indication of the fragrance.
To top it all off, I created a matchbox - including these awesome colorful matches I found on Etsy.
A gentle wake up of lavender, grapefruit & tangerine
An energizing fusion of lime, bergamot & sweet birch
A warm and spicy wind-down with benzoin, clove & black pepper
Through this project, I explored product development and got back to my entrepreneurial roots. The final work is a simple but beautiful packaging set, with just enough extra detail to make it special.
LESSON LEARNED | If you've always wanted to try something (like creating a line of scented candles), make a plan and do it! You have nothing to lose.
