Driven to create natural, affordable and original candles, Jo Leguen De Lacroix started Clement & Claude. Working from her dining room table, the business soon grew and her candles are now stocked in shops across London and the UK and Jo recently moved to her workshop in South West London.
As Clement & Claude has prospered, Jo has remained true to the original values of the business. Each candle is still hand-poured and made from 100% soy wax.
“I use soy wax, a soft, clean, renewable wax that is extracted straight from the bean and melted over a low heat. I then add an unbleached cotton wick (or three!) and blend the eco-friendly wax with fine fragrance oils. Our suppliers are family farms in the US which have been running for multiple generations, ensuring we support sustainable agriculture."
Soy wax is made simply by using the oil from a soy bean. The oil is then purified and goes through a process called hydrogenation which changes it from liquid oil to a solid. To finish, the finest botanical oils are added, producing a soft, clean, pure wax without the horrible black smoke emissions, which you get from paraffin candles.
Most importantly, the wax is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable - consistently being produced without damaging the ecosystem.
Here are a few tips to get the most out of your candle:
* Ensure you trim those wicks before re-lighting (just simply pull the ends off or snip them off with scissors).
* Once lit you should always let the burnpool reach right to the edges to ensure an even burn, otherwise the wax may cave in the middle.
* DO NOT leave your candle burning unattended, especially if there is not much wax left.
* Make sure to blow the candle out when the wax has reached the bottom, otherwise the jars get too hot!
Words & photos: Jo Leguen De Lacroix
(Apologies, these products are no longer available)
