Custom Orders & Scent Storytelling

FAQ: What is your scent storytelling process? 

A:  I begin with the story and the inspiration. For instance with No. 2 Elle, the scent represented Elle, the inspiration for the brand's, love of flowers and the beach. I had a series of photos and videos on the beach in Southampton with my Mum, who passed exactly a month after Elle. My Mum also loved her garden and flowers. She spent many hours happily there. 

I thought about the scents associated with that memory - the salt air, the ocean water, lingering scents from ocean creatures as well as how to get to that beach - passing large homes with rose bushes. Thus the scent started to take shape. This year, in 2025 with Elle being gone it was also time to address that the rose scent I was using in the formula had been discontinued. Rather than try to chase a close match from another vendor, it was time to match that deep enduring love Elle had of roses that made me stop and take note of them. The scent was created before it's companion scent, No. 24 Gaston, the date night scent. It was now time to evolve the scent and develop in the other direction while keeping a rose accord, and moving it to a red rose blended with the richness of leather for the Gaston scent and labdanum with a touch of oud. 

The companion scent, No. 24 Gaston (the date night scent) came out in time for a charity event and Valentine's Day of 2020, six months later. Gaston was Elle's boyfriend, a very vocal chap who liked to serenade his humans. We often went for walks by the water and there were many sunsets we admired together on either side of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

The perfect Frenchie weather is in Spring and Fall with a slight chill in the air enough so for a light sweater or leather jacket, no real risk overheating, as Frenchies are prone to do. This got me thinking about which scents would be not only romantic and sweet, could stand on their own and be complimentary to Elle's ocean rose musk. 

Envisioning a date at sunset under a blood orange sunset, the couple embracing so you get a whiff of your amour's leather jacket and that is how I arrived at a blood orange and leather scent. The leather is now reflected in the 2025 version of Elle's scent. 

CUSTOM CANDLE PROCESS
I have made memorial, corporate, birthday, wedding and event (store opening) and even sorority custom scents. I also made a scent for a client who loves lavender but does not like lemon verbena or any wooded scents, so I made her four lavender candles with a private label "High Maintenance," a nickname her family would call her and she used the candles to own that. 

I have also made bespoke candles for Pernod Ricard's Royal Salute 25. Each element was custom: 12 oz Blue to match their logo, wooden lids, numbered vessels labels, gold ribbons on the outside that were attached with gold wax seals. The candles were hand delivered despite losing a wheel on the oversized cart en route. I do what I can for my clients to have the excellent experience. Given out to their VIP clientele at the Brandy Library, it was a truly incredible project that I'm very proud to have created.

First we discuss what your needs are - the purpose of the candles, which notes you would like, if there needs to be a deck to present to decision makers, options, elements of the project and timeframe. 

1. Samples: The timeframe depending on the customization. To consider: if you wanted a different color candle jar and lid, there is a minimum of 12 candles due to vendor minimums. If there is an extra element such as rose pedals they have to be dried for a week. If samples are required, allow the process to be a minimum of 4 weeks.
   
   Three 2 ounce samples will be scent for you to test by burning. Candles smell different when burned due to fragrances being different weights. There are three layers of scent - top, heart and base. The top notes burn off first, these are what you would smell as the cold throw if there wasn't a lid on a candle.
   
   If you have feedback and desire another round of samples, that is a charge of $50 and add two more weeks to the timeframe. 
   
   Once you have made. your choice, candles will be made and shipped within 10-12 days with your custom name or message on the labels. All labels, even for private label are legally required to say "Made in NY by Whiskey & Woof." I can play with fonts and colors to minimize it and where it is positioned.
   
   Candles should not be resold without permission. I am happy to discuss wholesale pricing for orders of 24 candles or more. 
   
   
2. One singular candle, no samples: After a discussion, faith to deliver on the best blend of notes we discuss for one candle with a custom label is $85 in the signature black candle holder with lid. Timeframe is 7-10 days before being shipped. 
   
   A single candle with samples add 2-3 weeks to the process. This costs an additional $50 to cover the shipping fees,materials and scent development. 
   
   
   
3. Corporate gifting: A client had me create 40 gift boxes of 10 x 1 ounce scented candles. The idea was to get the employees to sample and burn the candles themselves and then decide which full sized candle they wanted. There was a custom  a gift certificate with unique redeemable codes for a full size candle. 
   
   
4. Private Label: There is also the option of taking an existing Whiskey & Woof candle scent. The miminum order quantity (MOQ) is 24 candles. 

Please note, different size vessels and different colors are optional and add to the timeframe and can alter the pricing. Please email coco@whiskeyandwoof.com for your gifting needs and any other questions you have about bespoke orders. 

Thank you for your support as tariffs challenge us all in the United States. I provide light and scent to keep your spaces a haven for warmth, dreaming, connection to excite and delight you. I had to pivot many times during the lockdowns and Whiskey &Woof will always seek ways to pivot to provide your vision for your custom candles. 

Wishing you good smells only, 
Coco