Nestled on the serene shores of Loch Lomond, Ocoee House has quickly become a haven for candle enthusiasts and lovers of artisanal home fragrances. Known for its exquisite, hand-poured candles that evoke both comfort and elegance, the store blends a passion for craftsmanship with a keen sense of style.
We had the opportunity to sit down with the director of Ocoee House, Jamie Twigg, who offered a rare glimpse into the inspiration behind the brand, the meticulous process that goes into each candle, and the vision for bringing a touch of warmth and luxury to homes across Scotland and beyond.
What was the spark behind creating Ocoee House back in 2020, and why was it important for you to focus on simple, functional and sustainable design?
The origin story of Ocoee House starts like many other origin stories before it. Torn and at a crossroads, and approaching 30 years old, company founder and director Jamie Twigg had to make some difficult decisions; go it alone or continuing under someone else’s dream. Betting the house (metaphorically speaking) to create and forge his own path, after a decade’s worth of experience in the creative industry in Scotland before it. The thought was to bring simple, vibrant and exciting scented candles to a tired and mediocre market, often plagued with novelty offerings, in a sea of stale rose & patchouli scents. Scotland has deep ties to great design: Mackintosh & Kinloch Anderson to name a few. Wanting to establish ourselves as an affordable luxury Scottish brand, we’ve steered clear of many traditional Scottish tropes.
The criteria outlined in our beginning was simple: create high quality, simple and value for money items, thoughtfully produced in the most sustainable and attainable way possible. In creating our candle collection we have meticulously drawn on these core principles. From the responsibly farmed organic European soy wax we source, to the recycled paper used in our packaging, we’ve also not included any plastics across our candle range. It is fundamental in our eyes to keep our impact as minimally as possible. I’m really happy we’ve managed to achieve that.
In the 5 years since, we have amassed a large and enthusiastic following. From Tokyo to Brussels, from Edinburgh to Toronto, there is a chance you might come across a Wild Forest sitting atop a mantlepiece. We’ve gone from strength to strength, growing our small enterprise from the days in the garage, to the juggernaut it has become today. You might think we could sit back and relax, but our work is never complete. From establishing ourselves initially as a scented candle brand where we’ve made our name, it doesn’t stop there.
Launched in 2024, our Fine Art Print Store, in collaboration with our incredibly talented partner Nicole Lovell, is the natural progression of our studio to offer beautifully constructed Giclée art prints. Beautifully presented on Hahnemüle FineArt Pearl paper, a museum quality archival paper with an incredible matte finish. These are a lovely edition to the home with people who have a keen eye for interior design. 2025 marks a noticeable shift to cloth and textile, with our newly released Comfort Collection, Luxury Heated Blanket - the heavyweight sherpa fleece is a classy choice for home comfort and lifestyle. *Product details and spec on our website*
We were extremely privileged to have a family holiday home in Florida for many years, with the relaxed and family atmosphere in the city of Ocoee in Orange County not too far from the house. Many found memories were made there over our time, a home away from home and when deciding on a company name, we wanted to pay homage to that lovely place, and whilst we are a deeply Scottish rooted business, the name is a nod to cherished memories of years passed.
Loch Lomond is such a special part of Scotland — how has the landscape and atmosphere of your surroundings influenced your work?
Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas are naturally beautiful, and it’s such a privilege to call home. In our 20s we were Glasgow natives living in the West End of the city, just 25 miles away from our studio. We’ve since relocated not too far, and still have the benefits of the countryside of Loch Lomond and the city when needed. Gorgeous walks through Balloch Country Park, to forest walks in nearby Gartocharn. Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House is a stones throw away in Helensburgh. There’s a real community spirit surrounding Loch Lomond and the neighbouring towns - a very pleasant day out in the sun, you’re bound to catch an interesting tale or two from the locals. Be aware - some do bite.
Every candle is lovingly poured by hand in your studio — can you walk us through what that process looks like?
When creating a new addition to our collection of scented candles, our first thought is that it can’t be boring, or stale. There are many others in this space who have their niche’s dialled in, and we try to differentiate our offering, so developing news scents can be tricky. It takes at least 6 months of R&D to really settle on our final piece. Our latest addition is our Scottish Lavender, and while on the face of it, it can be looked as a fairly typical scent, but we’ve given it a twist with pairing it with a cedarwood fragrance, keeping in line with our Scottish heritage. Our Winter Alpine scent is our much loved Christmas style piece, and whilst there have been many imitations over the years, ours still stands as a firm favourite, and surprisingly a big seller all year round.
When our workshop swings into top gear, it can be quite exciting - our pouring and manufacturing process takes two days for a batch of candles, and there’s no better feeling seeing your creations come to life, going off to places far to bring happiness to others people’s home. We get many lovely messages of our items making people happy and overjoyed, and that’s what drives us forward each day. Without that, there’s no point in continuing in our eyes.
Your fine art print store with Nicole Lovell and your new Comfort Collection blanket are beautiful extensions of the brand — how do you decide when something feels like the “right” addition to Ocoee House?
As a business owner, you would like to believe the decisions you make are the correct ones at any given time. You like to think you’ve got that savvy instinct when it comes to product and sales, but sometimes this isn’t the case. We originally started with two, now failed products, one was for the office space and the other in garden decor. At the time you get all encompassed with the idea, and the fantasy of what this product line could be, and it’s tough to call when the time has come to pull the plug on a project, but we’ve learned to fail hard, and fail fast.
The pivot which has to be realised at a certain point is crucial for long term survivability in business, and of course you can take note of what was great about a particular aspect of an idea, but remember the ‘why’ when it didn’t take off. Maybe our brand wasn’t established enough for those items, and maybe if we re-introduced them now with where we are currently they could work, but we’ve driven further on up the road and have more valuable and exciting things to offer which resonate with us as a brand, much more.
Product research and the idea of what could be, come from very primal places of who we are. There has to be a reason and a value proposition if we are to offer anything at Ocoee House, which is why we have such a small catalogue of items. We want to do things slowly, and properly, and really master them before moving to the next. Too many people get caught up with ‘newness’ and the next thing, the churn of products without giving proper focus to the things you’ve created currently. It’s hard to reign things in, and not get swept away - we’ve seen many people fall into this trap. One thing at a time, as beautifully done as possible.
I’ve been disappointed too many times ordering desert at restaurants. They always seem to be an afterthought on a menu which is why I rarely order them. Lemon possets, cheesecakes, apple tarte tatin - they are always just a 6/10 for me. The truth is I love some deserts, and if I find one I’ll go all in. The best sticky toffee pudding can outshine a beef wellington any day of the week. When the vibe’s right, we double down, and that’s what we do with all of our products.
From the carefully curated scents to the elegant design of each candle, Ocoee House offers more than just home fragrance—it’s an experience, a moment of calm captured in wax and wick. Whether you’re seeking the perfect gift or a touch of luxury for your own space, their creations invite you to slow down and savor life’s little pleasures. To explore their full range and learn more about the story behind Ocoee House, visit their website at www.ocoeehouse.com.