Casa Saffron began, appropriately enough, with a dog.

Saffron (Saffy to her friends, of which there are many) is the inspiration behind the name, the unofficial head of hospitality and, arguably, the most important member of the business. A consummate hostess, she has spent years welcoming an ever-changing assortment of canine friends, cousins and houseguests. Our home was forever full of dogs, and somewhere along the way, the idea of Casa Saffron was born. After all, if you're going to run a house that frequently resembles a boutique hotel for dogs, you might as well give it a name. The candles came later.

Years back, in London, I picked up a scented candle, raised an eyebrow and thought, I can do better than this. A relevant and yet dangerous thought, as it turned out.

I set about creating my own candles, determined from the outset to use 100% soy wax, with no paraffin or blended waxes. How difficult could it possibly be?

Very.

What I hadn't appreciated was that pure soy wax has a personality all of its own, and not always an agreeable one. Frosting, sinkholes, temperamental surfaces, recalcitrant wicks, tunnelling, you name it, I've encountered it. There were countless experiments, some spectacular failures, and more hours spent investigating wax temperatures and wick performance mixed with tears than I care to admit. I even experimented with colours before conceding that dyed soy wax and I were unlikely ever to see eye-to-eye.

But I persevered and somewhere between the experiments, the exasperation and the occasional triumph, I became rather good at it.

Today, Casa Saffron is based in Rye, East Sussex, where I hand-pour my candles, develop fragrances, experiment with new ideas, create bespoke commissions for businesses, special occasions and people who appreciate something a little different. And every so often I also throw open the doors to my home when I run open studios during which I showcase the latest creations and chat about candles and Rye and dogs to whoever steps in. 

I'm Steph, by the way. Founder, creative director, master chandler, and the person responsible for everything from product development to packaging design, from leaflets to the very site you are reading. Saffy remains in charge of hospitality, although her contribution to production is largely supervisory.

And because I have always believed that fragrance should be evocative, comforting and downright mouth-watering, gourmand scents remain at the heart of what I do.

As for that below-par candle I picked up in London? I was right. I could do better. I just had absolutely no idea how much infuriatingly hard work it would take.