In this week’s Come Fly with Me, Catriona Rowntree asks Michelle Tindale from True North Candle Collective about the inspiration behind her popular candles and her favourite travel destinations.
It doesn’t take much to turn a glum hotel room into a glamorous hangout. I remember once staying in a virtual cupboard once in a hotel in New York. Great location, hole of a hotel. But you know what? I went to the corner store and bought a bunch of roses for $10, stuck them in glass, popped my beloved pashmina across the bed and invested in one treasured candle bought in the gift shop of a local gallery. Boy did that place shine…and smell yummy. So, yes, any opportunity to invest in a candle, I say go for it. Add to that a dollop of de ja vu scent from a beloved location and you are sending me to the NEXT LEVEL! Michelle Tindale clearly shares this love…
What is your favourite travel destination and why?
My favourite travel destination would have to be Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. After living here for the past 6 years it has carved a very special place in my heart. The famous Noosa National Park, stunning sun drenched beaches, vast lakes, the ever changing river mouth and the lush hinterland makes Noosa a very unique and wonderful place to live.
My absolute all-time favourite thing to do in Noosa is head out by boat to one of the many sandbars at the Noosa Spit. Days on the sandbar vary, some days it’s just us and the kids and we spend time collecting shells, chasing solider crabs, fishing, snorkelling or flying a kite. Other days it’s catching up with friends, enjoying a glass of bubbles and a BBQ and playing beach cricket. No matter what time of the year it is, life on the sandbar is good and I will always treasure the special memories that have been made there.
So yes hands down Noosa has my heart!
Why True North?
True North is your orienting point, your fixed point in this spinning world, it is derived from your most deeply held beliefs, values and the principles you lead by. True North is your internal compass, unique to you, representing who you are at your deepest level.
Inspired by sailors and ships traversing the stormy seas on their way home from a long journey, TRUE NORTH CANDLE COLLECTIVE takes guidance from the four directions of the compass – NORTH, SOUTH, EAST and WEST giving the ability to point you in the right direction and keep you on your guided course. This is reflected in our 4 signature scents:
- NORTH – Coconut & Lemongrass
- EAST – OH So French!
- SOUTH – Citronella & Zesty Lime
- WEST – Tropical Sunset
TRUE NORTH CANDLES are individually hand poured in small batches using only the finest quality ingredients, we use 100% plant based eco soy bean wax and cotton braided lead free wicks.
Our candles are slow burning which allows for a gradual scent release making them the perfect gift or take home treasure. TRUE NORTH CANDLES are vegan,eco-friendly, bio-degradable and renewable. Our vessels can be recycled, reused or repurposed, they have been carefully chosen so our candles always look beautiful, even when half way through burning. The raw timber lid will also keep the delicious smell of your candle fresh for longer.
Why have you chosen the locations for your candles?
In general people are very patriotic to where they live and holiday and so in the beginning I chose the destinations that were close to my heart, Richmond in Victoria was one of them as this was where my husband and I bought our first home and had our first child. It holds so many special memories from spending time with friends, to watching the Mighty Hawks at the MCG we had the time of our life living in inner city Melbourne. When I’m craving that city vibe I light my Richmond candle and it transports me back to a place that is special to me.
Another favourite candle is Sorrento. Our family has a holiday house there and so we would head down most weekends to spend time with family, exploring the back beaches and spending many lazy days on the foreshore. Winters were my favourite, we would light a roaring fire in the living room and play scrabble. Every time I light my Sorrento candle I feel connected to those special memories.
With so many fabulous locations I often get requests for special places that have a special meaning to someone. It could be a favourite holiday destination, a wedding, a home or just a place that someone has on their bucket list! It is very rewarding to be able to connect people to places through the ritual of lighting a candle. It soothes the soul and calms your space.
At TRUE NORTH CANDLE COLLECTIVE we believe a candle is the perfect gift to transport you back to a place you hold close to your heart.
