Beautiful fragrance helps to evoke memories of festive seasons that were meaningful to us, as well as creating the perfect atmosphere for Christmases yet to come. Something that Home County Co. specialises in…

Behind every great retail business is a compelling, often emotional story, and the one that inspired couple Hannah and Oliver Goundry to launch their luxury candle and fragrance company is no exception.

Hannah and Oli grew up in neighbouring counties and then moved to live together in Hertfordshire, but it was their experiences of where they’d been raised as well as travels across the UK that led them to establish the Home County Co. 

A quote from their website best describes the journey, both geographical and business-wise, they’ve been on since then: “The fabric of our lives is woven from the threads of our experiences – the places we’ve been, the people we’ve met and the things we’ve seen and done.”

The couples’ hand-poured, vegan-friendly, soy wax candles – produced in small batches and using ingredients from British suppliers – will be taking centre-stage at Harrogate Christmas & Gift for the first time this year, and because many of the scents are inspired by different counties there really will be something for everyone at the show. 

“We’re very excited to be exhibiting at Christmas & Gift for the first time. We can’t wait to showcase our best-selling Winter Collection, as well as our perfectly giftable County Collection and brand-new English Heritage licensed collection to a brand new group of retailers”

“The Home County Co. manufacture luxury soy candles, reed diffusers and bath and body collections named after, and inspired by, the UK’s most beautiful counties,” Hannah explains. “From Cornwall’s coast to the Scottish Highlands, delight your customers and allow them to rekindle the memory of home or of holidays on our beautiful British Isles with the County Collection.

“We’re very excited to be exhibiting at Christmas & Gift for the first time. We can’t wait to showcase our best-selling Winter Collection, as well as our perfectly giftable County Collection and brand-new English Heritage licensed collection to a brand new group of retailers. We’re also looking forward to reconnecting with our existing stockists in beautiful Harrogate.”

There’s no doubt that candles are perennially popular at Christmas, but why does Hannah think that fine fragrance has become so intertwined with the season?

“Christmas is all about spending time indoors with our loved ones, and making our homes cosy and comfortable,” Hannah explains. “Candles not only give off that warm, cosy feeling, but the fragrances evoke special memories and that’s why we often find our customers come back to us for their favourite festive fragrance time and time again.

“They also make the perfect gift, and the added personal touch that our candles are named after and inspired by a loved one’s home county makes them irresistible to customers on the hunt for thoughtful presents.

“We’ll be inviting buyers at Harrogate to warm up with three best-selling festive fragrances, inspired by a quintessentially British Christmas – The Spices, The Mulled Wine and The Pines.

“Plus, brand new to market and available for the first time at Christmas and Gift, discover the officially licensed English Heritage home fragrance collection, inspired by English Heritage’s work conserving England’s coast, meadows, orchards and woodlands. 

“I think the Harrogate show continues to grow in popularity because everybody loves Christmas. Following a successful festive season I think retailers are hopeful for the year ahead and open to trying new things and connecting with new brands – as well as reordering what worked so well for them in the season just gone.”

Also sure to be popular at the Home County Co. stand is the brand’s Spices candle which perfectly blends cinnamon and ginger scents and tops the best-seller list each and every year.

“It really is Christmas in a candle,” Hannah says. “Our customers will continue to shop mindfully in 2025 and so our plan is to continue to offer them something special at a really great price point that is manufactured here in the UK with the planet in mind.”

For more information visit: www.homecountyco.com