20/03/2026
I nearly called my business… KAN-DL.
At the start, it felt perfect. I was only making candles, and I quite liked the quirky, phonetic twist — even if it took people a second to realise what it meant.
Then I showed my products to two lovely friends who own gift shops and their first question was:
“Where are your reed diffusers?”
I hadn’t even learned how to make them yet.
So off I went to train and while I was at it, I learned to create room mists, soaps, lotions… everything. Suddenly, the business had grown into something much bigger than candles and the name no longer fit.
But by then, all the artwork had already been done… and I was completely stuck (again).
That’s when my husband suggested ÉLAN.
He said it reflected my energy and the passion I’d poured into building the brand (excuse the pun ✨). I checked and it wasn’t taken so I quickly secured the trademark across the UK and Europe.
And that’s how ÉLAN Home Fragrances was born ten years ago. 😊
Sometimes the right name doesn’t come first… it grows with you.
womeninbusiness essexbusiness candlemaker behindthebrand elanhomefragrances
