If you are a fan of luxury scented candles, gorgeous design and beautifully styled interior photography, you might have already come across Nicole Connolly and CLEAN SLATE candles on Instagram.
In fact, this Irish mum of three’s account is a must-follow to anyone who is obsessed with Nordic-style styling, neutral interiors and, of course, aesthetically pleasing, high-quality products.
Connolly, who has three children aged 8, 10 and 12, admits she has always had a love of fragrance, making things and beautiful product design, and a few years back the Dublin mum decided to start making her own little luxury products that would fuse her different passions.
And with that, CLEAN SLATE was born, a range of room scents, soaps and candles, where the pared-back packaging is apothecary-inspired, gender neutral and, as for the candles, totally re-usable, looking equally perfect on your coffee- or bedside table as they do repurposed on the bathroom shelf or even in the office.
We recently sat down with Nicole to chat candles, creativity and our joint Instagram and interior obsession.
How did you first come up with the idea of starting your own business?
I have always had a love for fragrance, gorgeous products, design and creativity, as well as have a total obsession with candles. Products already on the market here in Ireland just didn’t tick all of the boxes for me, so I began experimenting at home in my kitchen.
I love trying new things and learning something, so after a lot of trial and error, but thoroughly enjoying the process, I decided to focus on turning a passionate hobby into a business.
How did you get started?
I had a clear vision for what I wanted to create. To me, the look of something is equally as important as the functionality of it. I really wanted the CLEAN SLATE brand to reflect an image that is simple and modern with a gender-neutral aesthetic.
Using soy wax and high-quality ingredients for the candles was of utmost importance and I needed packaging to have a lux feel, be fuss free and minimum in colour. The candle jars can be re-used to hold an assortment of things from cosmetics to pencils to even succulents. The products can sit harmoniously in all manner of home styles, from cool coffee tables to bohemian bedsides.
Thinking carefully about the branding means that the products can be part of a lifestyle, not to be kept for special occasions, but little luxuries for everyday use. When I received great feedback from customers after selling out at a market, it confirmed that I was on the right track and encouraged me to continue on.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere, from looking through coffee table books to a simple walk in the woods, there is always something to spark an idea. For me, scents are created not necessarily intentionally but have come about through experiences, occasions and memories.
For example, the Lavender + Eucalyptus range was inspired by my children who have always loved both oils on their pillows at night to aid sleep and clear their little noses. My mum inspired the Cardamom + Spice as she makes an amazing tea brack. I start each morning with a strong black coffee with a spoon of coconut oil, the smell is amazing and I thought it would make a great candle too.
What are the challenges?
Not having enough time is probably my biggest challenge, as well as trying to get the balance right – and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. I once read somewhere that “Obama has the same number of hours in the day as you do” and although that is true, I’m going to assume he was not also doing things like laundry and taxi service! It’s also really important to me to make sure I am still giving as much time and attention to my family as possible which is one of the reasons I started
It’s also really important to me to make sure I am still giving as much time and attention to my family as possible which is one of the reasons I started this – so that I could work around them. Nobody and nothing is ever perfect, but I think being motivated and passionate about what you do helps to overcome any challenges and view them just another hurdle to get over and learn from.
How do you combine running a business with being a mum?
It can be a tricky sometimes running your own small business with family life. Being organised and having a schedule for the week helps when you are wearing so many hats. During the week my mornings are full speed trying to get as much done as possible before the typical afternoon and evening activities ensue, but I will often start again when the kids are in bed, and put in a few hours at the weekend too.
The reality is that it is sometimes a little chaotic and disjointed, replying to emails while waiting on the kids doing an activity. I do wonder how mums with small businesses coped before the convenience of mobile phones! I’m very lucky in that I have a supportive husband who is happy to help me juggle duties and logistics and I think managing everything would be difficult if we didn’t have that teamwork.
How is business going?
Luckily, C L E A N S L A T E is going from strength to strength. I am so grateful to all of our lovely stockists and of course each and every customer and who buys and loves our products and returns for more. It’s been so heart-warming receiving support and connecting with customers in person and on social media.
We are really excited about expanding further this year, with new scents coming out, an e-commerce website and continuing to connect with other creatives on collaborative opportunities
For more about CLEAN SLATE and to find a list of stockists go to www.cleanslate.ie. For updates on products and a peek behind the scenes be sure to check out Nicole’s Instagram account (nicole_clean.slate)
