How we captured the essence of Goodwood in a candle

17th October 2024

To design scented candles that distil the architectural and botanical splendour of the storied Goodwood Estate, the Duchess of Richmond enlisted the esteemed independent candle chandler Rachel Vosper, to co-create two unique, evocative - and most importantly  - welcoming candles. 

White Flowers (with top notes of Narcissus, Rose, Freesia and Orange) takes its cue from the Spring flora that imbue the estate with their joyful perfume in the first months of the year. While Woodland (with base notes of Cedarwood and Patchouli) offers an earthier scent, its inspiration born from the Cedar trees planted on the estate by the third Duke of Richmond in 1761.

Says Vosper: “It was an honour and a joy to work with the Duchess of Richmond to create two fragrances that encapsulate the olfactory history of the magnificent grounds and parklands of Goodwood.”

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Scent and memory are intricately intertwined, so it follows that distilling the essence of the Goodwood Estate into a scented candle, would be a deeply personal project. Embarking on this olfactory journey of discovery, the Duchess of Richmond enlisted esteemed independent chandler Rachel Vosper to collaborate two unique, evocative - and most importantly of all - welcoming Goodwood candles, with scents rooted in the architecture and the botanical and arboreal splendour of the storied estate.

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The creative co-creation began in Vosper’s Belgravia studio. “It’s so wonderful to work with somebody who really appreciates your craft and has an inherent understanding of fragrance, as well as a deep knowledge of the estate,” says Vosper of collaborating with the Duchess. “We spent hours delving into the fragrance wheel, discussing different connotations”. Distilling a sense of place was important, so Vosper also travelled to Sussex, to immerse herself in the architecture and the horticulture of the estate, deepening her understanding of how the candles might scent the spaces of Goodwood, as well as capturing its particular atmosphere. “The scents needed to be unique and they needed to be inviting,” she says.

To create White Flowers, a visit to Goodwood’s Hound Lodge proved inspirational: “All the beautiful, opulent, floral features within the lodge!” says Vosper. Here, she also took on board the need to design a scent, “that might suit a shooting party, or a wedding party”, as well as working for a smaller domestic environment. She strove for “masculine undertones and a very light, delicate, feminine edge as well”. Both candles share middle notes of Jasmine, while specific to White Flowers is a middle note of Magnolia, a nod to the Magnolia Cup, the Ladies-only race founded in 2011 (part of Goodwood’s commitment to empowering women). “Those beautiful white booms that just dance over the top”, as Vosper puts it, poetically, are what gives White Flowers its fresh energy and froth.  

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Goodwood White Flowers Scented Candle

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Researching the Woodland candle, Vosper immersed herself in the atmosphere of The Kennels - Goodwood’s Clubhouse - a convivial space for socialising and dining. “It felt important to create something that was impactful, but not so much so that it dominated or affected peoples’ palates,” she explains. Fruity ‘gastronomical’ top notes of Peach, Red Fruit and Raisin combine in a scent that go harmoniously with “tea and food, so if flavours do intermingle and intertwine at some points, those notes do not overwhelm,” says Vosper (a welcome solution when hosting).

In fact, Woodland makes the perfect candle for winter entertaining: “It’s about coming in from the outside, especially when the rain’s fallen in autumn and winter months, when you get those really strong woody fragrances; combining with something warm and welcoming inside.”  

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Goodwood Woodland Scented Candle

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A feeling for nature and the artistic heritage of the estate also translates into candles’ packaging. Serene green and white boxes take their design cue from the heraldic pattering of the Richmond family crest, balanced with clean, serif typography. As for the glass vessel? Both the Duchess and Vosper agreed that elegant simplicity was best. Each candle is hand poured into a clear, classic tumbler. “The simplicity of the glass and the packaging is reflective of the Goodwood Estate’s desire for sustainability, in everything they do. Really, less is more,” says Vosper.

What is very precious about the candles, however, is the care taken to distil a deeply-held love and knowledge of the Goodwood Estate into an enchanting olfactory experience that can travel through time and space, wherever you choose to burn it. “It was an honour and a joy to work with the Duchess of Richmond to create two fragrances that encapsulate the olfactory history of the magnificent grounds and parklands of Goodwood,” says Vosper.

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As for a little practical advice on ‘Candle Etiquette’?  Each Goodwood luxury candle is designed to burn for 45 hours, but like all the best things in life, there are rules to help you get the very best out of the experience. “The better you trim your wick, the longer your candle will last,” advises Vosper. “Trim a wick short for a long burn, and leave a long wick for a short burn…

“Do not burn candles for longer than four hours, or less than one,” says Vosper, “But obviously don’t blow one out in the middle of a party,” she adds, with a smile. Well, of course, it all makes perfect scents. 

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