Discovering Dragon Smoke Candles

We are surrounded by stories.

In a world which often seems to be burdened with negativity, the media should be a place of empowerment that celebrates incredible journeys and gives a voice to the people behind them.

When I launched my website, I set myself a mission to discover the inspirational stories behind the businesses we pass everyday in Norwich and Norfolk.

I have always been a curious person (some may say nosy!), which means I am always looking for the next café, business, artist or musician to talk to.

We are lucky to be surrounded by a thriving scene of local independent businesses across Norfolk and I hope my articles can shine a light on the dreams behind their journeys.

Last year, I discovered Dragon Smoke Candles when I visited their pop-up stall at Wroxham Barns and began speaking to Helen, the Owner of the business. Her love, passion and enthusiasm for her business were evident as she began to tell me a little about her journey. It's moments like this that remind me why I started my website.

I recently caught up with Helen again to discover the journey of Dragon Smoke Candles, the inspiration behind her gorgeous products and her plans for the future!

When did Dragon Smoke Candles begin (and what was the inspiration behind this)?

We started Dragon Smoke in 2023 after my husband watched a video on candle making and thought I'd enjoy it.

I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and needed something that was less stressful than my profession at the time.

What products do you sell?

We sell candles, wax melts, room sprays, laser-etched tiles, wooden crafts and 3D prints; we're always trying to think of other crafts to add to our company.

Is there a story behind the name of your business?

I've had a passion for dragons for as long as I can remember and my husband suggested Dragon Smoke so it was candle orientated (he also designed our logo!).

Do any of your past experiences/ jobs help you run Dragon Smoke Candles?

I have always loved crafts and I was (and still am!) a bookkeeper for the last 35 years; my husband is an engineer and has lots of machines to help with our love of crafts!

Where do you look for inspiration for new products?

I have a couple of preferred suppliers for obtaining the scents for our products.

When I'm looking for new scents, I buy samples to try and I have a handful of friends and family members to try them out on. They give me their reviews before I settle on them.

What is your favourite aspect of running a business?

My favourite part of the business is making the products.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist and this comes in handy as everything for making the candles, melts and sprays have to be measured/weighed correctly along with correct temperatures.

I really am in my element when I'm in my craft room making the candles and melts and then the room sprays whilst they're cooling.

My husband designs and prints all our labels which helps us have more flexibility and readily available when required.

What do you enjoy most about attending markets and events across Norfolk?

I really enjoy attending markets and fairs, it's great to sell my products and to meet a variety of customers.

What was the biggest challenge you faced when setting up the business (and how did you overcome this)?

The biggest challenge was actually learning the craft of candle making.

It's not an easy craft as there are so many variables to consider e.g. what wax to use (we opted for a coconut blend wax), which containers to use, which wicks work with the wax and containers, which scent works well, what percentage of scent to use and so many others!

Candle making is a science and there are so many things to think of and it took me about a year to find the materials and supplies that worked for me.

The other challenge was finding and complying with the safety aspects. We found it very difficult to find out exactly what compliance we had to adhere to for the UK and we still haven't found anyone we could actually speak to!

All research had to be online but no-one (who sets the compliance) to ask questions to!

What do you love most about the creative community across Norfolk?

I love mixing with other crafters - we all share an affinity for handmade items and feel so pleased we're all trying to make a comeback after many had gone out of business a few years ago.

It's great to visit different fairs and markets (although I do have some favourites!).

What skill do you want to learn this year that will help boost your business?

The main skill I need to learn this year to help boost our business is how to use social media!

I'm a bit old school and social media is still a relatively new thing to me...

I also need to learn how to promote our website which is another new territory for me!

What plans do you have for 2026?

In 2026, we plan to attend new fairs and markets and try new ones in areas we haven't been before. This is exciting for us to get our company name out there and we hope to gain some more customers and followers.

To keep up to date with the incredible work of Dragon Smoke Candles, you can head over to their Instagram (@dragonsmoke.candles)!