St. Eval - The Perfect Collaboration

“I am excited about this collaboration, and it has been an absolute joy to create. I have been wanting to do a candle for years, but I have always wanted to find a process and partner that aligns with our passion for good business and meaningful storytelling. St. Eval is exactly that. Their passion for their product, their people and their community is everything. To work with them to create the ‘potless’ candle that has a wearable afterlife is very exciting. It is the kind of gift I would love to receive and is the perfect product launch since our reset with our ‘Less is More’ approach to business.” Alice 

The Odyssey Candle | A journey from candle to bracelet and beyond

Why St. Eval.

Everything about St. Eval struck a chord when approaching them earlier this year about doing a collaboration. Aligned in our passion for celebrating art and science, precision in nature, sustainability, and craftsmanship, they are a home-grown family owned and run business that has been built positively, responsibly, slowly, and steadily. We had the pleasure of visiting the offices, factory, farm and surrounding Cornish coastline and countryside, illustrating its values, that have remained firmly in place regardless of its growth.  It is a wholesome example that purpose and profit can, and do, work harmoniously. With this in mind I want to celebrate good business and highlight the effort that St. Eval has put into creating their world.

A Sustainable Approach.

Named after a sixth century bishop (and the hamlet in which the factory and farm sits), St. Eval seems a fitting name for a candle business. With her faith firmly in this Bishop, Sarah, Founder and Creative Director, has been the force behind these candles for 30 years now. Together with Ian (who joined her as a fellow Director after her husband passed away 4 years into the business), she has built a business that genuinely cares about its product, people and place in the world. Keeping it in the family, her son Harry is now at the helm with her and Ian, and collectively with their loyal and passionate team, they continue their drive demonstrating that businesses can be both sustainable, and commercially successful.

Creating an environment that enriches people's lives and treading softly on the earth is the St. Eval vision which began all those years ago. These values remain its beating heart today. Based on a farm in North Cornwall, it is a wonderful haven for wildlife. On the traditional working farm, they cultivate mixed arable fields and nurture livestock, as well as protect the wildlife in the surrounding fields and hedgerows. They have worked closely with the RSPB and Natural England to protect birds whilst nurturing their environment. Late hay cutting offers safe nesting spaces; unharvested spring barley areas provide food and habitats; a network of wildflowers and rough grass attracts insects, encourages arable plants, and allows butterflies to thrive; bee friendly flowers surround the workshops and office, creating a buzz during the summer months.

Nature and innovation go hand in hand to support their considered approach.  In 2011, St. Eval erected the UK's quietest wind turbine and to follow up in 2013 the workshop roof was decked in photo voltaic panels.  In 2015, they installed a bio mass boiler and are able to produce enough energy to power the workshop, including keeping the wax tanks at the perfect temperature for making the candles. Now close to being carbon neutral their ambitions continue. 2021 saw them become the proud and well deserved recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognising their efforts for their sustainable development. They are also a B Corp Certified business which identifies companies that pursue purpose as well as profit.

Beyond the environmental sensibilities of St. Eval, the community is also part of their value system. Giving back is embedded into their culture, and the charity committee is made up of employees from across the business, supporting local charities as well as those further afield. There is an innate will to create a company that people can trust and believe in, and one that people want to work for with loyalty & longevity.

What next?

With their dedicated Environmental Team of St. Eval employees, from all areas of the business, who meet regularly to discuss all things eco, they have aims and objectives to lead the way in environmental and business sustainability to strengthen and reinforce St. Eval’s company values.

Proudly producing their own sustainable energy via wind, solar and biomass, their innovative triple energy solution integrates wind, solar and biomass energy power to heat buildings and the water used on-site, in addition to a ‘water-to-air space heater’ that heats the air in the warehouse.  The latter reduces energy consumption as well as feeding surplus electricity back into the local grid to serve their local community.

In 2022, they proudly transitioned to 100% recyclable packaging throughout their product ranges.

The Candles.

And so to talk of the candles! Which, like the company, bring light into people lives. With Sarah at the helm of the design process the candles are a delicious blend of mineral and vegetable waxes. This mix gives superior performance, stability and reliability, as well as a fabulous scent throw. This unique blend of ‘food grade’ quality wax and fragrance ensures a consistent aroma, superior burn quality and a beautiful appearance.

Inspiration comes from the surrounding environment and the senses are ignited by coast and countryside.

Both St. Eval and Alice Made This are based near the coast of Britain. As a homage to their geography and passion for precision in nature, Samphire and Sage is the fitting scent for The Odyssey Candle’s first drop.

Named after the patron saint of fishermen, Samphire is a salt tolerant succulent that is associated with the sea and coastal marshes. In addition, Sage represents ‘the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience’ which is a lovely thought, and it has a rich history of both medicinal and culinary use.

The Odyssey Candle’s scent of Samphire & Sage is a beautiful gender-neutral blend of coastal herbs. Its scent notes include a soothing combination of bergamot, juniper and fresh grapefruit with herbal notes reminiscent of the coast.

Let this candle evoke your senses and slow you down.  Together with its afterlife as a bracelet it can take you on a journey celebrating craftsmanship, community, considered materials, and slow design.