You will have noticed a few Tiger and Co candles creeping in to the collection recently. Since finding Tiger and Co a few months ago I have wanted to add all the scents! I may still get there yet. Starting with Full Moon for the Box for Mindfulness and quickly followed by Fireside for the brand new Box for Comfort and Kanelbullar for the Christmas Gift Box. I may still add them all yet! Tiger and Co is run by Penelope and apart from her amazing, soy wax candles, I also love her ethos. I'm grateful to Penelope for taking some time to chat about how she started Tiger and Co and her top tips for self-care.
Tell me a little about yourself and why you started Tiger & Co.
Hello! I'm Penelope and I live in the North West with my cavapoo Norman. I founded Tiger & Co. after I left a Biomedical Sciences degree which was no longer giving me joy - I needed a new purpose in my life, and I started playing around with candle making. It brought me so much pleasure to blend fragrances and make something with my hands, so I decided to take the plunge and pop them online. I wasn't entirely convinced anyone would buy them, but they did. Every single sale gave me a little more confidence, which led me to where I am today.
What do you know now that you wish you had known then?
The universe will bring you what you need, when you need it! It can feel so frustrating at the beginning, as you learn the ropes and make mistakes, and growth always seems to be happening too slowly. But I firmly believe that opportunities come to you when you're ready, and you can't rush the universe. It's still something I'm grappling with, but I think every day I get a little better at taking life as it comes!
What is your favourite product to make and why?
Our first ever scent, Kanelbullar. The mixture of vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom oil is so magical, and the studio always smells like freshly baked cinnamon buns afterwards.
What’s been the biggest moment in your business and how did you celebrate?
My biggest milestone so far was investing in an industrial wax melter, which can hold a whopping 30 litres of molten soy wax. We nicknamed her Margo, and she's my pride and joy! We celebrated the same way we celebrate every little milestone - with vegan brownies from my favourite bakery, Cake or Death.
Can you share your top self-care tip with us?
I'm a huge advocate of boring self-care; my favourite thing to do is give my bedroom a deep clean, including putting on fresh bedsheets and emptying my laundry basket. Having a space that's ready for me to switch off completely at the end of the day feels like true self-care to me. It doesn't hurt to light a candle or two, either.
Thanks so much Penelope for taking the time to share your tips! You can find Full Moon in The Box for Mindfulness, Kanelbullar in the Christmas Gift Box and Fireside in the Box for Comfort. Full Moon is also available in Build Your Own Box.