Bread & Weather is a one-woman studio in the Wicklow countryside, where I (Ella!) design, blend, pour, and pack every product by hand. I make candles, soaps, and aromatherapy diffusers using natural ingredients and essential oils. Everything is made with an eye (and nose) for beauty, enjoyment, and the small rituals that make daily life feel just a little more special.

Every item you find in my online shop is created and made in my little barn studio in Co. Wicklow.

You can read more about it here

Everything I make is rooted in a deep respect for ingredients, and for the small rituals that make daily life feel a little more special. I use essential oils for scent, which means no synthetic fragrances, no hidden ingredients, and no overpowering perfumes - just beautiful, aromatic plant oils with centuries of history behind them.

I often think of my role as simply helping these old, wise ingredients make their way into people’s homes in a way that feels lovely, useful, and cheerful.

Yes, I really do. From the oil blends to the labels, everything is made here in my Wicklow studio by hand, by me. I don’t outsource production or hire elves (yet), which means I get to stay close to every part of the process and make sure it’s just right.

Bread & Weather offers a carefully crafted range of essential oil blends, made from scratch in-house, designed to gently scent your space or your skin without overpowering. I use different blends depending on the product type, to suit each medium's natural rhythm.

There are seven signature blends available in candles, tealights, and diffusers:

• Rosewood Lavender — grounding, soft, and slightly sweet

• Geranium Vetiver — floral, earthy, and gently calming

• Lemongrass Laurel — fresh, green, and uplifting

• Mint Lemongrass — bright, clean, and energising

• Grapefruit Bergamot — citrusy, light, and mood-lifting

• Cinnamon Cedarwood(autumn/winter only) — warm, spicy, and comforting

• Cardamom Spruce(autumn/winter only) — resinous, bright, and gently festive

My soaps, meanwhile, are scented with their own set of six distinct blends to better suit the chemistry of cold-processed soaps:

• Lavender Laurel – A grounding blend of lavender and bay laurel for calm and clarity.

• Lavender Confetti – A joyful lavender blend with a colourful flecks of upcycled soap.

• Rose Geranium – Floral, balancing, and gently exfoliating with homegrown bay leaves.

• Oat & Honey – Comforting and cosy, with finely ground Irish oats and organic honey.

• Tea Tree Thyme – Fresh and herbal, with a clean, clarifying scent.

• Mint Lemongrass –Invigorating, and mood-lifting; a morning shower favourite.

Each scent is hand-mixed in my studio from pure essential oils - no synthetic fragrance - and designed to bring a little breath of fresh air to your day.

Scents are described in full detail on each product page:

🕯 Shop Candles

🫧 Shop Soaps

🌿 And if you're placing an order, don't forget: you can now choose a free sample (soap or tealight) at checkout to help you try something new.

At Bread & Weather, every candle, soap, and diffuser is made with carefully chosen natural materials, selected not only for their performance, but for their poetry.

Scent is at the heart of everything I make. I blend pure essential oils from scratch (no synthetic fragrances here), layering them slowly to evoke a feeling, a memory, or a mood. These are scents with substance - grounding, uplifting, clarifying, calming - depending on the oils used.

My candles are made with soy wax, a clean-burning, plant-based alternative to paraffin, and poured into recyclable amber glass jars. They’re designed to burn slowly and gently scent your space without polluting the air.

Soaps are made the old-fashioned way, using the cold-process method with bee-friendly Irish rapeseed oil, along with ingredients like finely ground Irish oats, organic honey, and homegrown herbs. These bars are nourishing, gentle, and plastic-free - made to support your skin and the land that grows the ingredients.

You can read more here:
🕯 Why Aromatherapy Candles Are Different From Other Candles
🌿 Why Soy Wax is Better Than Parrafin

When it comes to pets, the official line is to use any fragranced product (even natural ones) with care, especially around cats, who can be sensitive to essential oils. I do think this is wise advice, particularly for small or enclosed spaces.

That said, I’ve always found it interesting that the strongest warnings often appear on synthetic fragrance products - the ones with long lists of chemicals and alarming hazard symbols. All my products are scented only with natural essential oils, and in my own experience, animals are pretty intuitive about what suits them. My candle studio is often full of essential oil blends in progress, and both my cat and my dog choose to spend time there, curled up and perfectly relaxed. I trust their instincts.

Still, I recommend good ventilation and common sense, and of course, if you're ever in doubt, do ask your vet for guidance.

All Bread & Weather soaps are made with natural ingredients. No synthetic fragrances, no harsh additives, no strange foaming agents. Many customers with sensitive skin have told me they love using my soaps and that it has even improved their symptoms of skin conditions such as psoriasis. That said, everyone’s skin is different, so if you’re unsure, I always recommend starting with a small patch test.

🫧 You can read more about why my handmade soap is very different to other ‘soaps’ such as shower gels and body washes here

If you're pregnant or have specific health concerns, it's a good idea to check with a healthcare provider before using products with essential oils. I only use gentle, well-researched oils in my blends, nothing too wild, but essential oils are powerful, natural substances, and I respect that they can have different effects on different people. I’ve never been pregnant myself, so I can’t offer any first-hand guidance — but I trust that you know what’s best for your body.

Yes, I can - and I’d love to help. To manage wholesale inventory I usually have more stock in the studio than what's available on the website shop, so please do get in touch if you need more than can be ‘added to cart’.

If I have what you need, I can often fulfil large orders with a relatively short lead time. If not, I can usually make a fresh batch specially for you.

For Christmas gifting, I really appreciate a bit of extra notice - ideally 2–4 weeks - as the studio gets especially busy then.

Gifts are beautifully wrapped in kraft and tissue for joyful unboxing - all thoughtfully done without any plastic. I can include handwritten notes or personalised cards if you’d like to add a special touch. I’m also happy to suggest scent pairings, create gift sets, or work with you on a tailored offering that reflects your values and brand.

Just drop me a line and we’ll come up with something beautiful together.

Yes, I have created custom labels for weddings, parties, and corporate events in the past.

Any custom labels must be pre-arranged before you place your order. I can’t guarantee customisation for orders that include a note after checkout unless previously confirmed. If you have something in mind, just get in touch first and I’ll do my best to make it happen!

Not at the moment. I have created bespoke essential oil blends for other brands in the past, and it’s a process I really enjoy. It’s slow, thoughtful, and collaborative, and it is always a pleasure to work with like minded brands. That said, it takes a lot of time and creative energy which I don’t currently have to spare, so I’m not currently taking on custom blending commissions for now.

I currently ship to Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the USA.

Shipping within the Republic of Ireland is free on orders over €60.
For the UK and EU, it’s free over €120.
Orders to the USA have a flat rate of €50.

I wish I could offer a lower rate for US customers, but as a tiny business I don’t get access to the discounted rates that big companies do. That said, I pack everything securely and beautifully, and I’m always so grateful when someone chooses to have my work travel all that way that I usually pop in an extra treat or two with your order.

Yes, absolutely. If you're nearby, you can select ‘Pick up at studio’ at checkout. It’s a lovely way to skip postage and say hello (even if just at the gate!).

You’ll get an email when your order is ready. I don’t keep fixed opening hours, but I’m usually here. Just reply to let me know when you’d like to collect, and I’ll make sure to be around or suggest an alternative time. If you prefer a contactless option, I’m happy to leave your parcel in a safe spot at the gate for you to collect at your convenience.

Orders ship same day if placed before 12pm (Monday–Friday), and are usually delivered within 1–3 working days within Ireland. You’ll get an email with tracking info as soon as your parcel is on the move.

Unless otherwise stated, everything listed in the shop is in stock and ready to ship. I don’t take orders for things I haven’t made yet.

At very busy times (like Christmas), things may take a little longer, but it’s very rarely more than a day or two between order and dispatch. If something very out of the ordinary happens I will be in touch by email to let you know.

Yes - lots of people do! Just enter the recipient’s name and address at checkout, and I’ll send it straight to them with no pricing info included.

Every order includes a handwritten gift card, and you’ll be given the option at checkout to write your message.

If you’re sending multiple gifts to different people, you’ll need to place each one as a separate order so the correct shipping address and gift message are attached to each parcel.

Yes — I work with a small number of lovely stockists around Ireland and occasionally further afield. If you run a shop or business and feel Bread & Weather might be a good fit, I’d love to hear from you. Just send an email to ella@breadandweather.ie. I’m always happy to hear from thoughtful retailers who share my values.

Yes, you can — by appointment! Since it’s a one-person operation, I don’t keep regular opening hours, but I’m very happy to arrange a time for you to visit. Just get in touch ahead of time so I can make sure to be here (and not up to my elbows in wax).

I’m really hoping to host occasional open studio days or seasonal shopping events in future. Join the mailing list to be the first to hear when those are happening.