MONTPELIER, Vt. (PRWEB) December 06, 2020
New company WANDERNESS (http://wanderness.co) announces the launch of their travel-themed scented candles, an idea sparked by Covid travel restrictions. The candles are inspired by global destinations, with fragrances like Thai mango and coconut, Australian eucalyptus, or the lavender fields of southern France. According to the company's website, WANDERNESS was started to remind people of the joy of travel and brighten up the home they’re currently stuck in, while generating funds for people hit hard by the lack of tourism.
Founder Amanda Reid, a returned Peace Corps volunteer, says she created the brand in order to give back. “I love travel, and I miss it, but that’s nothing to complain about in a pandemic. I wanted to find a way to help people who have lost the opportunity to support their families given the drop in tourism dollars.”
Making an Impact
For many people around the world, work in the service and tourism sector is an opportunity to provide for their families. With the coronavirus pandemic, they are at high risk of both infection and extreme poverty. According to an August 2020 U.N. report, the downturn in tourism puts “over 100 million direct tourism jobs at risk, many of them in micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) which employ a high share of women and young people. Informal workers are the most vulnerable.”
WANDERNESS founder Reid believes that it’s crucial for individuals and businesses to take care of each other during the pandemic and economic downturn. “In a lot of places where there are limited job opportunities, tourism may be the only source of income” says Reid. “If you think about the best trips you’ve taken, it’s the local people who made it amazing, from tour guides, to hotel and restaurant workers, to handicraft artisans. They’re in a tough spot and we want to help.” Reid says the company will initially donate to UNICEF, which is securing vaccinations for families living in poverty worldwide. WANDERNESS also plans to support non-profits in developing countries that rely on tourism. They’ll focus on organizations that provide economic support and training, particularly for women.
The candle brand is part of a growing trend of companies like Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and Allbirds that incorporate social good and sustainability into their DNA. A 2018 Forbes article, “The Rise Of The Social Enterprise: A New Paradigm For Business,” reported that 77% of companies surveyed said citizenship and social impact were critical or important. And Business Insider reported that millennials ranked Nike their #1 favorite brand following the athletic brand’s advertising featuring Colin Kaepernick and his efforts to bring attention to racial injustice in the U.S.
Made in New England, Easy on the Planet
With a focus on social impact, WANDERNESS doesn’t just give back, it tries to have a positive effect with how its candles are made. The woman-owned company sources candles from small businesses that are at least two of the following: woman-owned, black-owned, a social enterprise (designed to do good), or local. For Reid, the local piece is meaningful in two ways. She says, “It’s important to support our regional small businesses during the pandemic. And it also cuts down on our carbon footprint. Our candles are made in the USA, in the northeast, and don’t have to travel far to get to us here in Vermont.”
Sustainability is another major issue for eco-conscious consumers. According to WANDERNESS, the brand avoids single-use plastics, favoring recyclable materials like cardboard and recycled paper packaging, and reusable glass containers with metal lids for their candles. National Geographic reported last month that the U.S. is the biggest producer of plastic waste, and that an alarming amount likely ends up in the ocean.
Reducing Stress at Home
Scented candles may also help reduce anxiety through aromatherapy. Fragrances like lavender, citrus, jasmine, and sage have been shown to have a calming or relaxing effect, according to Psychology Today. Scent is also a shortcut to nostalgia, reminding people of a place they’ve enjoyed, which is why the travel-loving Reid decided on candles in the first place. According to the WANDERNESS founder, “I wanted to create a product that would let people enjoy the parts of travel still accessible during a travel lockdown: the dreaming, and the reminiscing. With scent being an immediate shortcut to emotion and memory, I decided on candles.”
About WANDERNESS™
WANDERNESS™ reminds people of the joy of travel and brightens homes with scented candles inspired by the world’s most amazing destinations. WANDERNESS™ is a woman-owned company based in Vermont, and donates 10% of profits to charity. The brand launched in 2020 with fifteen scents, including Australia (Tingly Eucalyptus & Spiffy Mint), Cape Town (Ocean Waves & Wild Orchid), Provence (Charming French Lavender), Bali (Bamboo & Coconut), Barbados (Grapefruit & Mint), and a holiday candle: Copenhagen Christmas (Freshly Cut Fir Tree).
For more information and media images:
Visit https://www.wanderness.co/pages/press
Or contact Amanda Reid, hello@wanderness.co, 802.552.0572
Further reading:
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_covid-19_tourism_august_2020.pdf
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2018/04/03/the-rise-of-the-social-enterprise-a-new-paradigm-for-business/?sh=6eab6aec71f0
https://www.businessinsider.com/top-100-millennial-brands-2018-9
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2020/10/us-plastic-pollution/#close
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201604/six-aromatherapy-essential-oils-stress-relief-and-sleep
https://wanderness.co/collections/all
https://wanderness.co/pages/about
https://www.wanderness.co
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