What made you choose to become an artisan?
When my career as an actress became frustrating, and writing started feeling a bit too “mental”, I felt the need to do something with my hands. I was pregnant when I started, and candle making felt like a soothing, meditative activity.
What started this craze for scented candles?
In America and in Scandinavia it has been going on for years, in Italy it exploded with the covid lockdown. While excessive fragrance in the house is just unnatural, a delicately scented candle can add new emotional levels to the domestic experience.
© Marta Mondelli
How do you customise a scented candle?
It is a very intimate process: I ask my clients what fragrances inspire them, when do they enjoy having lit candles, specific memories from childhood. Smell really taps into our emotions, working with this neglected sense has truly enriched my life.
What is little known about your work?
Candle making may seem like a really standard procedure but I actually experiment a lot. I am always working on new ways to make my products even more sustainable, I experiment with prints, with packaging and collaborate with artists for special collections.