Rising proudly on Te Waipounamu, the Southern Alps run the length of the island, forming the great divide between our East and West coasts - boasting towering peaks, pristine glaciers and awe-inspiring landscapes that leave us forever inspired...
When travelling from the East coast to the West, the change in landscape is profound. Leaving the flat, dry plains of Canterbury and climbing sharply into the mountains, before emerging into the rugged, untouched beauty of the West - you would be forgiven for thinking you were in another country entirely, rather than a short 3hr drive away.
Drawing inspiration from our founder Tessa's home province, we set out to immerse our senses in the magic of this region with our latest Limited Edition fragrance - West Coast.
The Coast's Best Kept Secret
These classically French confections originate from Bordeaux and are notoriously difficult to do well, with super time-consuming preparation, the need of specialty copper moulds and plenty of trial and error to perfect the recipe and process. In short - there’s a lot of fuss involved for something that is easily devoured in just 2 bites!
The perfect canelé requires a crisp exterior, nicely caramelised with good crunch - while the centre must be tender and pillowy, with a honeycomb-like structure.
Flavours need to be perfectly balanced. Canelé are gently sweet and custardy with a hint of rum, finished with notes of slight bitterness of the caramelised sugar in the crust.
Originally from Reims, France, Corentin Esquenet is the face behind Butter - pastry chef and maker of arguably the best canelé you’ll find in New Zealand.
Butter came about after Corentin discovered a gap in the market for ‘something to celebrate with that wasn’t cake’.
Corentin’s menu includes a collection of tarts and petit fours, with a focus on showcasing the season’s flavours and ingredients. Order can be placed online, or if you’re up early enough - you can pop down to his kitchen window from 10.30am on a Saturday morning and treat yourself to something sweet (including his famous canelé).
In collaboration with Butter, we’ve captured the essence of the traditional French pastry, canelé - with our new Limited Edition candle. Perfectly balanced with flavours of creamy baked custard, vanilla bean and spiced rum, caramelised sugar and just a touch of golden honeycomb.
]]>The day of the photoshoot is easily one of the most exciting (next to launch day - of course), and on this occasion we were fortunate enough to have the use of an incredible residence, stunning new electric car, and beautiful handbags to help showcase our new Car Diffusers.
9.00am
After giving Lola her morning pats, Tessa is out the door and off to Archibalds to collect the stunning new luxury Audi E-tron. An absolute dream to drive, we loved the smooth acceleration, panoramic glass sunroof and buttery-soft valcona leather upholstery.
Meanwhile, Ashleigh swings past Bakermans to collect the other key pieces for the shoot - coffee and almond croissants to fuel the day.
9.30am
Tessa and Ashleigh arrive at their location for the day. A beautiful Fendalton residence, complete with Porte Cochere - the perfect place to park the Audi E-tron. Admiring the elegant property, the coffee and croissants were quickly devoured while reviewing the shoot-list and admiring the gorgeous collection of handbags, on loan to us from Purse Strings.
10.00am
Our super talented photographer, Petra arrives. After some more collective adoration over the location, car and handbags, Tessa changes into modelling-mode, we position the Audi in the Porte Cochere and get down to business.
Petra worked her magic behind the camera, while Tessa modelled - slipping in and out of the drivers seat no less than around 100 times. Ashleigh assisted with holding the diffuser for the perfect soft light, and took some iPhone footage for our social channels.
12.00pm
That's a wrap! We huddle around Petra's iPad and marvel over the collection of incredible images Petra captured. We discuss going thirds on a luxury home of our own, and chat some more before tidying up and sadly returning the Audi E-tron back to the team at Archibalds.
Sleek and sophisticated, our reusable Car Diffusers offer a stylishly sustainable way to take your favourite fragrance with you - wherever the road may lead.
Designed to enhance every journey, the diffuser clips easily onto your car’s air vent - with one simple twist controlling the intensity of the fragrance, releasing a subtle scent with the airflow through your car. No headaches or overpowering fragrances here!
]]>Our Charity of Choice initiative started the day Nevé was born through a belief that philanthropy can start small and scale, and a passion to support the incredible natural surroundings that inspired the brand for years to come.
We also like to help support others who share our ethos, which is why we have chosen to support Trees That Count - a conservation charity set up to bring together businesses, community, and everyday Kiwis, with the vision of helping to plant millions of native trees across the country.
We originally planned to change charities annually (with previous charities including Kākāpō Recovery and Sustainable Coastlines), but have been supporting Trees That Count for around 18 months now. We love seeing who our trees get matched to and who’s planting them on our behalf (we always select to plant in Canterbury).
Trees That Count are doing great things. In just 7 short years they’ve supported over 1000 planting projects across New Zealand, with over 42 MILLION native trees planted. Over the next 50 years, these native trees have the potential to remove between 7M tonnes to 9.7M tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!
Planting native trees is one of the most powerful ways to combat climate change, protect our beautiful landscapes, waterways and forests for future generations - and we’d like to thank you for your help.
In 2022 Nevé donated $1 from every sale to Trees That Count, and with your support - resulted in 66 native trees being planted!
So thank you once again. We couldn’t have done it without you.
With so many worthwhile charities that support a cleaner and greener New Zealand, we’d love your help to decide who we could support next, so comment with ideas below!
If you’re interested in finding out more about how you can support Trees That Count, please visit https://grow.treesthatcount.co.nz/
]]>We’d love to learn more about how the idea of a partnership with Nevé came to fruition. How did it come about?
The partnership happened really organically, with our Marketing Manager stumbling across Nevé candles at a dinner party. She was really impressed by what she saw, and it just so happened that we were also in need of a candle for our gift store! She pitched it to us and after a few conversations between the team, we decided to approach Nevé.
“Over 90% of our gift store products are New Zealand made, and it’s really important for us to keep things as local as possible” says Leese. “The Bayleys Canterbury team are also just a stone’s throw away from the Nevé HQ, so the added convenience of having a local brand so close by was the icing on the cake”.
What started out as a need to find a signature fragrance which the Bayleys Canterbury team could gift to their clients, has developed into an amazing partnership - with the team also using their own personalised signature Nevé candles and room sprays at their open homes to create the right ambience.
Brand consistency and offering a sense of exclusivity for their clients is a huge focus for the Bayleys team and there are many perks to having your own signature fragrance.
“Candles can be left with the owner and room sprays allow us to take them on-the-go when we go to open homes or visit clients.” Leah de Friez mentions.
But it’s just not their clients who get to enjoy the luxury of a Nevé candle; the wider Bayleys Canterbury offices also now revel in the Nevé x Bayleys signature fragrance. “I manage many different offices in Christchurch and this signature scent is the first thing you’ll notice when you walk through the doors” says Leah.
How does home fragrance contribute to the overall experience during an open home, and what should one look for when choosing one to go for?
Leah says “It's essential to the first impression of any home. Fragrance always reminds you of something, and conjures up memories (both good and bad) - which can make or break a potential home-buyer’s experience.
When selecting a fragrance, you should opt for something neutral and non-offensive. Having time to prepare is also important. You should have a good lead in time prior to the open home to harness the effects of home fragrance. There’s no point burning a candle two minutes before it’s meant to start! Thankfully we always have one of our Nevé Room Sprays on hand for when we’re a little short on time.”
Are there particular fragrances you should avoid when preparing for an open home, and what is the best way to incorporate scent when presenting the home?
“Selling a house can be stressful, so creating an oasis of calm is essential. Scent is just as important as how a property is presented and is a big part of the overall feel. Even when we present vacant homes, we love to include a scent otherwise it doesn’t quite feel like a ‘home’.
It’s best to avoid anything too heady or sweet” Leah notes. “Any fragrances should be fresh and widely appealing”.
While one fragrance may be loved by one, it may have the opposite effect on another.
“If you have a big space, it is worth investing in more than one candle or room spray as it offers consistency across the entire home. You don’t want to walk into one room and be overwhelmed by a scent, then walk into another room and there’s no scent at all. The fragrance should be noticeable, but subtle. Along with candles we’d always suggest you also get flowers. Not just because they look pretty but again, it ties in with the scent and sophistication”.
Have you got any personal fragrance tips or tricks to share with us?
“As a self-confessed candle addict, I have them everywhere! I’m also guilty of buying a fragrance I love over and over again - but my advice would be to alternate between scents”. Leah says. “Find two or three scents that you like and alternate between them, so you’ll still enjoy the candle and be able to smell it - as sometimes once you get used to a scent you no longer notice it.
Avoid reading the fragrance notes on the label! Being open to exploring new scents means you might find a new favourite that you didn't expect. By using different fragrances you have the power to change a mood, calm or invigorate, and create memories”.
And finally - what are some of your best key styling tips to consider when getting ready for an open home?
“You always want to start with a blank canvas and fresh eyes”. shares Leah. “Clear away any clutter, and remove all items from any surfaces - be that bench tops, shelves, or the mantlepiece. It can sometimes take a few attempts to get it right, so why not pour yourself a glass of wine and get creative!
Using a combination of lamps, vases, and sculptural art alongside floral arrangements, candles, coffee table books, trays and smaller interesting decorative items create interest with varying height, weight and texture.
Grouping the items in a cohesive way can sometimes be a little tricky - think about using items that talk to each other through texture and shape. Smaller items can be made more impactful by placing them on stacked books or trays.
Less is usually more when it comes to styling a room. Have fun experimenting to create a new and exciting vibe”.
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From dreaming up new campaigns, to being the friendly face at our market stalls, Tessa's passion and commitment to crafting truly luxurious home fragrance products for you to enjoy is second to none.
Juggling both a day job and a business means finding a moment to relax is few and far between, however as a self-confessed foodie and wine enthusiast - Tessa loves entertaining on the weekends, spoiling her pooch Lola or drawing inspiration from other high-quality beauty, fashion and home brands, all with a glass of pinot in hand and candle burning nearby (thankfully for her she's got a pretty good supply on hand to fuel her addiction).
“Luxury doesn't have to be expensive, the simple act of slowing down, lighting a candle and just pausing for a moment can be some of the best self care for busy lives”
From the early morning starts preparing and pouring hundreds of candles, to the winding drives from the West Coast to deliver our candles here in Christchurch and everything in between, we can't thank her enough.
Living on a lifestyle property deep in stunning native bushland provides Vicki with an au naturel backdrop of zen - the perfect setting for her meticulous candle making ways. Her keen eye for ensuring all measurements and temperatures are absolutely perfect is evident in the quality and finish of each product.
Mother and soon-to-be-grandmother, Vicki is the glue that holds the family together. Her passion for health and wellbeing sees her spending her weekends nose deep in books, in the kitchen or growing her own organic crops in the garden.
Ashleigh is our resident Jack of all trades, taking care of everything from social media and marketing to customer service, order dispatch and design. Ashleigh collaborates with Tessa across everything Nevé to ensure our brand ethos shines through in everything we do - creating a seamless customer experience from start to finish.
When Ashleigh isn’t behind the desk in our beautiful showroom, you’ll find her in search of Christchurch's best almond croissant (send any tips her way), or exploring the stunning South Island's best camping spots.
Wood Wicks
Our candles are crafted using FSC Certified wood wicks sourced from sustainable timber mills in the USA which means that the wood we use is produced using only the highest standards in ethical and earth-friendly milling. As a 100% natural product, each wood wick is unique, meaning you can have a darker wood wick in one candle and a more ‘grainy’ wood wick in your next candle. Here are some benefits to using wood wicks:
Wood wicks vs cotton wicks
Wood wicks allow our candles to emit a soft crackling sound when burning for a heightened feeling of ambience and luxury
Performance
Optimal performance and visual aesthetics is achieved thanks to their wide flame
Melt pool
Wood wicks achieve a fast melt pool formation due to (for obvious reasons) it being wood and allows for quick and excellent fragrance dispersion and maximum burn time resulting in a cleaner and greener burn - win!
Maintenance
Wood wicks are very low maintenance and don’t require expensive tools to keep them trim and proper. To get the most out of your candle, check out our guide here
Soy Wax
Traditionally, candles were made with paraffin wax, an end-product of petroleum, which contains up to 11 carcinogenic compounds. No thanks! We wanted our candles to be better for the environment, the home, the family and even better performing, so we use premium 100% natural soy wax that is specifically formulated for candles. Derived from soybean oil, it is vegan friendly, contains no additives and no paraffin (something you have to look out for with some ‘soy’ candle products on the market). Here are some of the benefits:
Longer Burning
A lower melting point means it burns up to 50% longer than paraffin wax candles.
Non-Toxic
Soy wax is clean burning and releases no known carcinogens when it is burnt.
Better Fragrance
The lower melting temperature creates a healthier ‘wax pool’ around the wick, allowing the fragrance oils to more easily evaporate and release more aroma.
Quick Clean
Easy to get out of fabrics when accidents occur – simply clean with warm water
Clean Burning
Soy burns clean which means minimal soot is released.
Packaging
Right from the get go, our mission was to source and use packaging products that could easily be recycled once they no longer served a purpose. Aside from when we need to offer an extra layer of protection to some products (specifically for international orders), approximately 90% of the packaging we use is paper-based. Here are some of the amazing recyclable packaging options we use:
Nevé Candle Boxes
All of our signature boxes (including the candle holder and the safety insert) are recyclable meaning once you’ve unboxed your candle and are away lighting, you can break down the packaging and place in your recycling bin
Tissue Paper
We’re big fans of the tissue paper we use to wrap our candles in and we’re even bigger fans of the brand who supplies it and the many features the tissues have: 100% FSC Certified, soy based inks, acid free paper and compostable - need we say more?
EcoWeave
EcoWeave is our best friend here at Nevé and is what we use to ensure your candle is secure when we send it out the door. A paper-based alternative to bubble wrap which is a combination of die-cut kraft paper and tissue interleaf
Void Fill
Think paper, but thicker! This does exactly what the name says and allows us to fill any gaps when we place your candle in the courier box to prevent the risk of your box being damaged during transit
Biodegradable Packing Peanuts aka Pop Starch
Made from cornstarch, our packing peanuts have a similar purpose to our void fill except these bad boys can be disposed of by dissolving them in warm water. If you’ve got a compost at home, you can even place them in there and they will break down. These are most commonly used when shipping out our candle refills to minimise the risk of damage.
Refill Initiative
Introducing refills to our collection has always been part of the plan since day dot. While the concept of refillable products is not new, offering consumers a more environmentally-responsible home fragrance alternative, is a cleaner and greener step in the right direction and we’re thrilled to be at the stage where we can. All of our candle refills come unboxed to minimise the excess packaging waste and are wrapped in our signature tissue paper to keep things simple. Less packing = less waste.
With aims to expand our refill range into our Room Sprays soon, we can’t wait to be able to offer more refillable options across our entire range - stay tuned!
Charity of Choice
It’s important to us to support local charities that really make a difference here in New Zealand, so throughout the year we raise awareness for different charities and the fantastic work they do by donating $1 from every online order placed through neve.co.nz.
Right now we’re proud to support Trees That Count, an incredible charity that plants native trees throughout New Zealand.
]]>Hands up if you’ve ever looked at your empty candle jar and felt a pinch of guilt and sadness because 1. You can’t continue enjoying that incredible fragrance that snagged endless compliments from your friends and 2. You just don’t know what the heck you’re supposed to do with the glass jar?
Now, before you go moving that glass jar to the depths of the rubbish bin or hiding it in your cupboard to never be seen again (guilty), or you’re about to spend up large on a brand new candle, we have got the perfect solution for our loyal and eco-conscious candle lovers out there.
Introducing our Candle Refills! After numerous setbacks, long evenings and a ton of expletives, we are thrilled to be launching these little beauties. An absolute godsend, not only do they come in our signature range of fragrances - which we know you love - they are easy on the wallet, are oh so sustainable plus they feature our unique wood wicks and 100% natural soy wax. It’s a slice of Nevé sans the glass jar, win!
You may be wondering, how on earth do I go about refilling my candle? Well it’s as easy as cleaning out your jar, popping the refill in and voila! For a more in-depth look, please read our detailed overview of how to safely clean and refill your glass jar or check out our FAQ section.
Our Candle Refills are also now available in a Refill Subscription so you can enjoy regular guilt-free burning delivered to your door without the hassle.
Limited quantities available during this early launch phase so get in quick.
We hope you love them as much as we do! Shop now.
]]>Tessa is our Founder, the brains behind Nevé, the one who took Nevé from a concept, nurtured it, then pressed go and took it to where it is today.
From humble beginnings in a flat in beautiful Queenstown, Tessa saw a gap in the candle market and wanted to create a product that was truly luxurious and could be enjoyed by a range of people while keeping sustainability and ethically-sourced materials at the forefront.
Vicki is our production master whose kitchen is decked out with all the candle making equipment you can possibly imagine (think massive melting pots, tons of fragrance oils and boxes of our FSC certified wood wicks) and with the help of her sidekick Jim the cat, Vicki hand-pours over 100 glass jars with your favourite fragrances from her home in Hokitika.
Three years on, countless roadies to and from the West Coast and thousands of candles later, Nevé has moved out of Tessa’s overflowing spare bedroom in Queenstown to a beautiful commercial space in Christchurch that we have so lovingly dubbed the Nevé HQ.
Tessa’s go-to fragrance? “It’s got to be our Kowhai Blossom + Lime. It's versatile and suits any room of the house, great for cutting through strong cooking/kitchen smells with the citrus elements. It's not too sweet or floral (I'm not a lover of typical 'girly' fragrances), it's like nothing else out there and I bloody love Kowhai blooms!"
Shop Tessa's fragrance of choice here.
Vicki’s go-to fragrance? “Hands down it has to be Pomegranate + Mango. It's fun and fruity, reminds me of the long summer days and works a treat for masking any animal odours from my many pets around the house. The spray is also perfect for spritzing in communal areas such as the bathroom and lounge."
Shop Vicki's fragrance of choice here.
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