Crafting purpose.
Established in 2017, Bordan is a range of hand-crafted candles and home fragrances created by Daniela Mancini. We are shameless in our love for Bordan; the studio and our homes constantly have candles burning. Trust us, they smell just as delicious as they look.
I always love how you talk about scents transporting you to another place or realm. Which scent evokes the most treasured memory for you?
Oh it would be hard to just name one! I’ll say Palo Santo as it evokes a real calming and clearing energy to me personally. It brings me back to some really self-centring experiences I had tucked away in the European hills with a Shaman who is now a life mentor of mine.
The spirituality side also aligns perfectly with running a purpose-driven business.
I have been approached by companies wanting to mass produce the product for me, however that’s not a goal of mine. The vision and authenticity of the brand is, and always will be the vegan, hand-poured, small-batch approach. It’s very personal and the only way I can ensure the consistency and quality our customers have grown to know and love. It also allows me to blend creativity with simplicity in a way that I really enjoy.
Like ourselves, I know you value care and craftsmanship. How is this expressed throughout the brand and products?
Everything is hand-made, hand-poured and blended by our small yet talented teams. The glass for our vessels is hand-blown using such an amazing technique so that no two vessels are the same. This care then extends into collaborating with the incredible team Seesaw to bring the brand vison to life.
Well, you know we really enjoyed working with you on the rebrand.
Seesaw really helped articulate a more sophisticated, high-end, modern approach. In such a crowded sector, we wanted to give our products the chance they deserved in the market. This meant that the external brand needed to align with the quality and luxury of what’s inside.
You have recently partnered with perfumers in the South of France to expand the range. Tell us about this journey. Which is your favourite from the new range?
This was an incredible experience which will now be a lifelong partnership. Working with such incredible French perfumers allowed us to launch our first creation – Black Plum. We have such a beautiful, exciting range of scents in development.
Working with such high-end artisans has allowed us to focus on fragrances with very few ingredients, allowing us to stay true to our less-is-more approach. The range will consist of seasonal scents that only use raw materials, which means working with Mother Nature and her cycles. Stay tuned for more beautiful bougies parfumées (French for scented candles!) launching soon.
Talk to me about small business.
In short, having a product-based business that you produce yourself is extremely rewarding but is also an emotional roller coaster. You have to be prepared to sacrifice, and you have to absolutely love what you do or you won’t survive.
Your business is built around crafting moments of pleasure. How do you strike the balance between work and relaxation?
I haven’t mastered that balance, however, I firmly believe wellness is your biggest asset so finding this balance is the goal. Weekends are my downtime and I try to make a conscious effort to be present for myself, my friends family and friends. I always like to get away somewhere by the ocean for a mental reset.
What’s next for Bordan?
We have just launched the updated brand, so are excited for this next chapter and the doors we hope it will open. We are currently developing a very special range with the team in France which will result in a new style of product. Of course it goes without saying that we are excited to work with the Seesaw team to bring the new range to life!
Okay lastly, let’s fast-forward five years. What would you be the most proud of?
I would be so proud to see Bordan living on the same shelf as the largest global perfume brands. Success to me is continuously moving towards my goal, maintaining enthusiasm and continuing to love what I do every single day.
Thank you so much Dani, so very excited to see your new range come to life. But please never stop making the Aloeswood candle, it’s my favourite. Peppery, spicy and smoky. It’s delicious.
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You can purchase Bordan candles via their website and follow Bordan via their Instagram.
