ChilliWinter is made up of couple Kathy Chillistone and Dave Winter who are based in the salty air and sandy shores of the Isle of Wight. Working from their home in Cowes, whilst also fulfilling key worker and community roles, the pair have worked tirelessly to establish a footing in the home fragrance market.

One of the four brand-new lines they have introduced is their contemporary Italian-inspired Al Fresco Collection. Housed in a variety of Sasse and Belle concrete planters and dolomite terracotta pots, they offer a broad choice of fragrances and wick types for customers to choose a style and scent that works for their home interior or outdoor space, style and mood, suiting any occasion.

Speaking of her inspiration behind the creation of this line during 2020, Kathy said,
 
“During the first lock down, most of us were able to enjoy our outdoors spaces such as parks, gardens and patios, and thankfully the unusually good weather really helped many of us cope with the imposed restrictions and the fear that uncertainty generated. We found ourselves propagating and sharing seedlings with neighbours, planting new borders, and cutting back hedges, and projects that had been put off for years somehow didn’t seem daunting anymore. The combination of fresh air and sunshine and our innate desire to keep occupied meant that our green spaces quickly became our creative (and mindful) focus.
 
As everything in the world outside fell quickly out of control, many of us gained the not-so-welcome strain of home independence. How we would live and work alone or together was at first a struggle, and over time, we discovered how to go at things at a pace that was fully within our control, (well, sort of). So with confinement, came a more Mediterranean way of living, and our indoor and outdoor spaces merged and blended more seamlessly than before.

No rushing for the early train, and jamming the car with school packed lunches, and musical instruments and missing PE kits. No leaving work to get stuck in traffic, and be tutted at by the yoga instructor for being 10 minutes late. Working from home, schooling from home, exercising from home, shopping from home, zoom quizzes from home - it has forced a new way of living, and being.

Enjoying a candle in our home and outdoor spaces is all part of our desire to slow down, chill out and immerse in all-things-hygge. Using the glow and flickering light and gentle aroma of a fragranced candle is a sure way to help achieve a more 'zen' and 'in-the-moment' ambience, and settle any residual tension, and lift our mood. We offer a selection of styles including:

  • Honeybees

  • Gold Diamond

  • Gold Dipped

  • Black Dipped

  • Octagonal

  • Tapered Terracotta

  • Large Terracotta

Seldom used, ribbon wicks can withstand quite a good breeze, so whilst a traditional wick or woodwick would easily be blown out as we continue our soirees into the evening outdoors, offering our customers ribbon wicks in vessels that would suit the style, materials and textures of their surroundings has been a key part of our thinking behind the ‘pick and mix’ Al Fresco Collection. Customers can also choose their fragrance - so each is made to order. We do offer other wick choices, but the ribbon wicks have been hugely popular since we launched in the summer and continuing during the Autumn - and still thriving now into the festive season.

Having a vessel that can be repurposed is definitely a key USP for our customers, something we strive for across our entire brand. Just as important as accessible pricing, with the Al Fresco Collection range being RRP £14 - £23.50, which for handmade manufacturing and exceptional quality, represents excellent value.

To respond to the demand for this style, we are currently working on new Al Fresco vessel designs and testing our own handmade planters. All being well, these will be added to our Collection in March 2021, with new textures, styles and striking Pantone 2021 hues - our plans are on track.  It is very exciting times for us as a start-up; being able to differentiate our offerings in such a saturated market, and share the great pride we take in our handmade creations with our stockists and customers, is hugely fulfilling.”

ChilliWinter will be delighted to hear from UK businesses who are interested in stocking the Al Fresco Collection from Easter 2021 onwards.