Hug, a limited edition double-wick candle made in collaboration with Midwest-based MOCO Fragrances, smells like a warm embrace at the end of a long day.
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The Hug Candle is Here!
We couldn’t be more proud to introduce our first Yellow Brick Home product, Hug, a limited edition double-wick candle in collaboration with MOCO Fragrances, a woman-owned business based in Indianapolis. It’s no secret that we’re passionate about home fragrance, as a quick ‘candle’ search in the menu bar will bring up dozens of past posts where we’ve shared our favorites over the years. Are we picky with scent? Yes. Do we think it’s because scent adds to the full story of a home? Also yes!
From the beginning, the Red House has been one of our biggest inspirations when it came to creating this candle. We’ve often talk about how we want a room to feel before kicking off any renovation, and the Red House has been one of our most fun and rewarding projects to date. To us, it feels grounded and welcoming. It’s warm and relaxed, offering comfort and a place to unwind. It became clear as we kicked off this collaboration with MOCO that we want this candle to feel like the Red House! It was created from the idea that your home should feel like a warm embrace at the end of a long day. It’s the feeling of gathering, memory making, and nights in.
What Does It Smell Like?
Over the years, Scott and I have honed in on the scents that feel (there’s that word again!) the most like our home. And by gravitating towards the same grounding notes offered by our favorite fragrance brands, we like to think that our home has a signature scent; a knowing welcome for friends and family. With all that in mind, we created Hug to embody the feeling of home. So, what does it smell like?!
Woody notes of oakmoss and mahagony are balanced with smooth and creamy shea and brightened with fresh citrus, a blend that is meant to be enjoyed year-round.
Hug is crafted from 100% domestically-grown soy wax and pthalate-free paraben-free fragrance oils. It features double cotton-core wicks in a sturdy amber jar with gold lid, burning evenly to the very end. And may we take a moment for the package design? It has the Millenial in me wanting to say: This is a very good box! You’ll have to hold it in your hands to see.
Long-Distance Collaboration
Hug was a candle a year in the making. I first met Morgan, owner and founder of MOCO Fragrances, at a pop up shopping event in Indianapolis several years ago. I purchased several of her candles, all with a unique twist on what you may normally expect from a candle! So imagine our surprise when a year(ish) ago, Morgan reached out about working together on the scent for Yellow Brick Home. It was the easiest yes!
For most of the year, fragrance samples were shipped from MOCO’s home base in Indianapolis, to ours in Chicago. We burned the samples solo and together, acting as mixologists crafting the perfect cocktail.
We shared digital notes and feedback after every package arrived on our doorstep, and we wouldn’t stop until we hit the perfect blend that will have everyone asking, Why does your home smell so good?
A Peek Behind the Package Design
As we got closer to the final scent, we began working on the package design. We used the fonts and colors from our rebranded website (which launched in January 2024), but we couldn’t quite land on The One. And then I realized… it was the name. The name of the candle wasn’t cohesive with our brand nor the home fragrance we were trying to product! (Anyone want to take a guess at what the original name was?!) And then, as is typical of most creative endeavors, the name came to me in the middle of the night; I jotted it down and emailed her immediately the next morning.
After that point, the design flowed much more freely. Morgan is a talented graphic designer, and having designed her own candle packaging for years made the process pretty seamless. A few tweaks and confirmations had us all feeling great about the overall design, and then everything was sent off to the printer. Hug was born!
Meanwhile, Morgan began teasing sneak peeks in her Stories, and it took all my willpower not to spoil the surprise by sharing it right away:
As for the smaller label on the jar, I know I personally don’t love a big label and often remove labels when I can. By keeping the label minimal, I hope to have relieved anyone else like me of that headache, as you can simply turn the jar around. I always got your back, friend!
We’ve been sharing our favorite candles by season for years, so this is a true PINCH US moment to be sharing our very own blend.
A Tribute to Our Pets
By purchasing this limited edition candle, you’re also supporting our partner MOCO Fragrances, a small business with a Give Back model we believe in. (See the causes that Morgan supports right here.) And as a tribute to the pets that make our house a home, a portion of every sale is donated to non-profit pet rescues. I think Jack and Chunk would have liked knowing this, our sweet angels.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now, get your Hug before they sell out!
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Congratulations!! Excitedly putting in my order!!
Thanks Brenda!
Ordered one immediately! I love candles.
We hope you love it as much as we do!