In the 3rd of our Creative Personalities series and Mother’s Day special we meet Jo and Beverley the lovely duo behind Clement & Claude. Simple yet original, their candles are a little bit different and a little bit special. Each and every candle is made with 100% soy wax and most importantly, the wax is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable - consistently being produced without damaging the ecosystem. They use the most natural ingredients to ensure that there are no nasties in the burn, and they smell oh so good!
Their candles are hand blended and poured in the idyllic West Cornish countryside.
To share their unique story and in celebration of Mother’s Day we asked Jo and Beverley about how they started, how their mums and being parents themselves inspires what they do.
Beverly and Jo it’s lovely to meet you both.
Please tell us about where and how Clement & Claude begin?
Clement and Claude began in a kitchen in Wimbledon! We couldn’t find anything out there that we loved at an affordable price.
How did you get the idea for your business?
There was a complete gap in the market for handmade, natural and importantly affordable candles so Clement and Claude was born.
What makes Clement and Claude different?
Jo – we want affordable, truly layered scents available to everyone. We are developing our range all the time, striving for the most naturally scented goods, we reuse packaging where possible, and encourage re-purposing of our vessels.
Beverley – Clement and Claude is a small business run by friends. The candles are poured in Little Pengelly Cornwall (very beautiful!) using the most gorgeous scents and the whole process protects and supports sustainability.
What's the best part about owning your own business?
Jo – We are both Mums and that means we are busy! We are often on the hands free whilst doing the school run. Having a business that we care so much about makes the work easy, but the school holidays are sometimes a bit tricky!
Beverley – Running our own business means we have flexibility which is key when you have young children. As Jo mentioned it can be tough sometimes but the benefit of working with friends means you support each other through those hectic times!
What are your favourite products from your collection?
Jo – My favourite scent is our winter scent – Mister Winter! It really does epitomise Christmas which is my favourite time of year. We are launching some exciting new products this year so I’m sure there will be some new favourites.
Beverley – My favourite scent is Oriental Lily (my eldest daughter happens to be called Lily too!!). The scent is so refreshing and relaxing and really smells like a vase of the freshest flowers. It’s truly wonderful!
What product or pieces would you recommend for all the Mums (or those who are like mums) this Mother’s Day?
Jo – I think Oriental Lily is a lovely choice for Mums. It is a floral scent but with its base notes of cedarwood and ginger it has a lovely woody depth to it – my Mum loves it!
Beverley – I think Hello Spring would be perfect for Mother,s Day. The blend of bergamot, lemon and jasmine is so fresh and uplifting, a perfect gift for a lucky mum! And the feeling that hopefully spring is just around the corner….
Being Mothers yourselves how would you spend your perfect Mother's Day?
Jo – A lie in would be top of the list, and then just a lovely family roast (that I’m not cooking!).
Beverley – With my girls, preferably down at Little Pengelly in Cornwall pouring our delicious candles!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who?
Jo – My mum always said to me ‘If you can’t say something kind don’t say anything at all’ which I think is something we should all do, always!
Beverley – My daddy always says ‘never give up’ and I hold that with me every day. If you work hard and truly believe, then I think you can achieve anything.
Would you like to share where else can people find your beautiful candles?
J & B - We are very lucky to be in some lovely boutiques across the country, and we are adding stockists all the time. Anyone not near one of our stockists can always use our online store. We often have discount codes on our Instagram account!
What’s next for Clement and Claude?
J & B – We have diffusers launching soon – they will be in our current scents. We also have an exciting new project coming this year….keep your eye on our social media for more info soon!
Jo - Style Insider
