For most of us, an interest or hobby is something we do for leisure, and while we may be quite good at it, turning it into a business? Well, that’s another story. But for Vianney Hunter, a passion for candles, scent and design saw her do just that. Inspired by the grittiness of her neighbourhood, Newtown, Hunter began making candles in her own backyard. The operation was simple to begin with, and in many ways hasn’t strayed from its original ethos; smells and sights that sparked memories and were derived from the natural world formed the basis of Hunter Candles’ olfactory offerings.  

 It didn't take long for their honest and considered approach to amass fans. Soon, Hunter vacated her garage and moved the business to a light-filled space on Newtown's King Street, where she could be surrounded by the buzz and energy that inspired her brand in the first place. "I find these streets contagious," Hunter says. "They have this crazy energy, full of life and lust. Yet everything still feels so simple here, and everyone feels so connected."

A considered approach is inherent to the Hunter Candles DNA, something evidenced in the way she develops each candle. Drawing inspiration from the people and places that colour her environment, Hunter Candles are crafted consciously using natural ingredients, biodegradable and pesticide-free soy wax and pure cotton wicks. Though it has evolved beyond Hunter hand-pouring each candle solo, the care taken in the creation of every product remains. And still, each candle is poured by hand, if not by Hunter one by her passionate candle makers. It's a touch that's testament to a commitment to quality, and part of what led the brand to opening its first CBD store in the Strand Arcade.

The move to the Strand was natural: both the Arcade and Hunter Candles have a passion for craftsmanship and bespoke products at its core, and given how much inspiration Hunter draws from the world around her, there are few places in Sydney’s CBD that could be more creatively stimulating than the historic space. The brand’s Strand Arcade-inspired candle, scented with notes of wooden elevators, sticky almonds and spilled whiskey, is the perfect example of worlds colliding, and perhaps the most delightful way to bring a little of the Strand Arcade into your own home.  

SHOP NOW: The Strand Candle, $59 from Hunter Candles, Ground Floor