If you had told me a few years ago that I'd be building a home fragrance brand, I probably would've looked at you and said, "Are you sure? Me?"
Because honestly, I never saw that coming.
Casa da Luz wasn't originally supposed to be a candle brand at all. It started as a completely different idea. I was working on launching a sunglasses brand because I'd always loved sunglasses. I have far too many pairs, and I thought it was something I genuinely enjoyed enough to build a business around.
But looking back now, I don't think I was ever chasing sunglasses. I was chasing the feeling of creating something.
I've always wanted to build a brand. Something that people would genuinely love having in their lives. Something beautiful, well made and accessible. Growing up, I didn't have much disposable income. There were so many brands and products I admired, but most of them felt completely out of reach. I remember thinking that one day, if I ever created something of my own, I wanted it to feel premium without feeling unattainable. I wanted people to own something they were proud of without feeling like they had to spend hundreds of pounds to experience good design or quality.
At the time, sunglasses felt like the answer.
They weren't.
The funny thing is, if you'd asked the people closest to me what I've always been obsessed with, I don't think any of them would've said sunglasses. They would've said home.
Ever since I was little, I've been fascinated by the idea of having a place of my own. I used to tell my mum and my sisters that one day I'd have my own house, my own fridge and my own cooker. Those were always the two things I'd mention, and they still laugh about it today. It sounds so ordinary, but to me those things represented independence, comfort and creating a life that felt like mine.
I'm the oldest of three sisters, so I shared a bedroom for most of my childhood. I didn't have a room that was completely my own until I was around twenty years old. When I finally did, I poured so much love into that little space. I painted furniture, rearranged everything constantly and even spray-painted my bedroom bin because I wanted it to match the rest of the room. Looking back, that's probably slightly ridiculous, but I loved creating spaces that felt calm, cosy and beautiful. It was never because it was fashionable. It was never because social media told me to, i've just always loved the feeling that a home can give you.
When my partner and I moved into our first home together, that feeling became even stronger. We were renting, and we still are, but I didn't care that it wasn't our forever home. I wanted it to feel like home anyway. I wanted to come back after a long day and genuinely enjoy being there. I wanted our evenings to feel warm, calm and intentional, even if all we were doing was cooking dinner or watching television together.
Candles naturally became part of that routine. I'd light one while we cooked, while we watched a film or while I was tidying the house. At first, I didn't think much of it. It was just something I enjoyed. But over time, I realised it wasn't really the candle itself that I loved. It was what it represented.
Lighting a candle became a little signal to slow down. It made ordinary evenings feel special. It reminded me that home doesn't have to be perfect to feel beautiful.
Without even realising it, I found myself thinking more about that feeling than I was thinking about sunglasses. That's when I knew I had to let the original idea go.
It was difficult because I'd already invested so much time into it, but deep down I knew I wasn't excited by sunglasses anymore. I was excited by the feeling I experienced every evening when I came home, lit a candle and felt the day soften around me.
That feeling became Casa da Luz.
The name means House of Light, but to me it's always meant much more than that. It's about creating a home that feels warm, comforting and lived in. It's about finding beauty in ordinary days instead of waiting for a special occasion.
From the very beginning, I also knew I didn't want to create something that would simply be thrown away once it had been enjoyed. That's why our refillable candle system became such an important part of the brand. I loved the idea that the vessel could become part of someone's home while the fragrance changed with the seasons, their mood or a new chapter in life.
More than anything, though, I hope Casa da Luz becomes part of people's everyday lives. Not because it's a candle but because it reminds them to pause, to romanticise a Tuesday evening, to enjoy their home exactly as it is today, whether it's rented, owned, tiny, spacious or somewhere in between.
Because I've realised that feeling at home has never been about the house itself, it's always been about how you choose to live inside it.
Our candles are made with a plant based rapeseed and coconut wax blend, then carefully poured, tested and packed by hand in London.
Casa da Luz is still at the very beginning of its story, but no matter how much it grows, I hope I never lose sight of the reason I started it.
To create home fragrance that feels beautiful, personal and connected to everyday life. Luxury isn't always about having more. Sometimes, it's simply about having something that encourages you to slow down, take a breath and appreciate where you are.
Welcome to Casa da Luz, born for a pause amidst the chaos of everyday life.
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