Who Created Snif Candles?

Snif candles are a unique type of scented candle that are designed to enhance and amplify fragrance. Unlike regular candles that simply emit scent into the air while burning, snif candles are meant to be sniffed directly. True to their name, you literally “sniff” these candles to experience their fragrance.

Snif candles have cotton wicks that don’t require burning. Instead, you simply remove the lid and sniff the candle directly. The candle wax is formulated to hold fragrances extremely well. As you inhale, the essential oils and fragrance molecules are drawn out of the wax, delivering a pure, potent scent. Sniffing pulls out the notes and nuances in a way that burning cannot.

These innovative candles come in a wide array of sophisticated aromas, often inspired by perfumes. They allow candle lovers to enjoy unique fragrances and collect scents like one would collect perfume oils or colognes. Snif candles offer an intensely aromatic experience through the simple act of breathing in the aroma from the wax itself.

History of Snif Candles

Snif candles were first created in 2015 by husband and wife duo Phil Riportella and Michelle Bang in New York City (Luxury scents, made for today.). Phil had a background in luxury fashion retail, while Michelle had experience in beauty and fragrance marketing. The two were passionate about high quality scents and noticed a gap in the market for sophisticated yet accessible fragrances and candles. Drawing inspiration from their fine fashion connections, they aimed to disrupt the fragrance industry by taking a direct-to-consumer approach and involving real customers in the creation process through their Scent Board community.

Original Creators

Snif was founded in 2014 by Phil Riportella, Drake Nester, Julianne Lewis and Ryan Grey. The four founders met while working at Bath & Body Works in Columbus, Ohio.

Phil Riportella started at Bath & Body Works as a store associate in 2008 and worked his way up to senior creative director of home fragrance. He brought extensive experience in fragrance creation and marketing.

Drake Nester began at Bath & Body Works in 2004 as a store manager before transitioning to marketing manager. He brought deep retail knowledge.

Julianne Lewis joined Bath & Body Works in 2011 as a senior buyer for accessories and beauty. She brought expertise in developing new products.

Ryan Grey started at Bath & Body Works in 2009 as a store manager before becoming a district manager. He brought valuable leadership and operations experience.

The four founders leveraged their complementary skills and experience to launch Snif’s innovative try-before-you-buy fragrance model. Their shared passion for fragrance brought the team together to create Snif.

Inspiration and Motivation

The creators of Snif candles, Phil Riportella and Micah Dickson, were inspired to start their candle company after working in the fragrance industry for luxury fashion brands like Tom Ford and Le Labo (Snif, 2021). They saw an opportunity to bring high-quality scents to consumers in an accessible way through candles. According to Forbes (2021), the Snif founders wanted to “democratize luxurious scents and make them effortlessly shoppable to all.” Their motivation was to break down barriers to luxury fragrance enjoyment by offering exceptional candles at affordable prices.

The specific inspiration for Snif candles came during the testing of a potential fragrance, Sweet Ash. When sampled in wax, the fragrance blossomed beautifully. Riportella and Dickson decided this would be the first Snif candle scent, catalyzing the launch of their company (Forbes, 2021). The outstanding performance of Sweet Ash showed the power of their candle concept and demonstrated how they could provide luxurious scents via candles.

Candle Design

Snif candles are designed with high-quality vegan wax and premium fragrance oils. According to their website, they use soy wax blended with other plant-based waxes like rapeseed and palm wax https://snif.co/pages/faqs. This proprietary blend creates a smooth, long-lasting burn and excellent fragrance throw. The wax has a high melting point which allows the candles to burn cleanly without sooting.

The candle fragrances are expertly crafted in Grasse, France which is considered the perfume capital of the world. Each scent is a complex blend of natural ingredients like essential oils, absolutes, resins, and botanical extracts. Popular scents include Santal Vanille which features notes of sandalwood, vanilla, amber, and musk and Baies Rose which has top notes of strawberry, raspberry, and red currant https://snif.co/collections/candles-shop-all. The fragrances are highly concentrated at 10-15% to create an immersive sensory experience.

Snif candles use natural fiber wicks that are curled and braided for a clean, even burn. The wicks are designed not to mushroom or smoke. They are stiff enough to stand upright but also flexible to bend and curve as the wax pool forms.

Growth and Popularity

Snif candles experienced a rapid growth in popularity in the 2010s. According to a 2021 article on Forbes, the home fragrance market has seen significant growth, with the scented candles market projected to reach $11 billion by 2025 [1]. Snif capitalized on this growing interest in scented candles and home fragrances.

In the early 2010s, Snif gained attention for their unique and playful scents, like “Movie Night” and “Library”. A post on Reddit in 2022 noted that Snif’s marketing and aesthetic helped drive interest in their products [2]. Their candles were seen as fun gifts and decor items, while still being high-quality.

By the late 2010s, Snif had become one of the trendiest scented candle brands. In 2023, the release of their croissant-scented candle gained significant hype online, showing the popularity of the brand [3]. Snif’s innovative approach to scents and marketing ushered in a new era for the scented candle industry.

Cultural Impact

Snif candles have had a notable cultural impact since their creation. As described in this article, candles experienced a surge in popularity in North America partly driven by interest in aromatherapy and stress relief. Snif capitalized on this trend by creating unique, sophisticated scents that allow people to create an immersive sensory experience in their homes.

Snif’s unique, avant-garde branding also aligns with shifting cultural preferences valuing experiences and moments over material items, as noted on their About page. Their candles and fragrances attempt to envelop users in an ephemeral, distinctive atmosphere. This caters to desires for products expressing personal identity and style.

In addition, Snif’s status as a luxury, niche brand generates buzz and intrigue. Their limited editions and creative concoctions like Sweet Ash and Crumble Couture make their products coveted cultural objects. Snif’s cultural resonance is emblematic of the candle industry’s broader role in reflecting current cultural trends and movements.

Fun Facts

Snif candles are known for their unique and intriguing scents. According to the company’s website, Snif uses a proprietary cold extraction process to capture the truest expression of rare botanicals and minerals (https://snif.co/).

Some interesting facts about Snif candles include:

• Snif offers over 300 different candle scents, with new fragrances constantly in development (https://snif.co/). The wide variety allows customers to find something unique and personal.
• The brand name “Snif” refers to the action of sniffing and discovering new scents. It encapsulates the exploratory nature of the product.
• Snif uses premium ingredients like rare ouds, precious resins, and perfume-grade oils in their candle blends (https://snif.co/).
• The minimalist packaging and branding of Snif candles stands out in the home fragrance industry. The sleek, modern aesthetic reflects the brand’s focus on quality scents.
• Snif frequently collaborates with perfume houses, luxury brands, and artists to create limited edition candle scents (https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelalei/2021/10/21/snif-is-now-giving-you-the-best-digital-experience-in-luxury-scented-candles/).

These fun facts highlight what makes Snif unique in the competitive home fragrance market – their innovative scents, focus on quality ingredients, and collaborations with other luxury brands.

Current State of Snif Candles

Snif candles have become a staple in the home fragrance industry today. The brand has expanded from their humble beginnings to being sold in major retailers like Ulta and Sephora https://snif.co/blogs/news. They offer a wide range of luxury scented candles that can transform the scent of any room. Some of their most popular candle scents include Crumb Couture, Secret Menu, and seasonal favorites like Pumpkin Souffle.

In 2024, Snif continues to release new limited-edition scents and seasonal collections that sell out quickly with fans https://snif.co/blogs/news/tagged/candles. Their distinctive branding and witty naming convention make their candles popular gifts and collectible items. Snif also offers a try-before-you-buy model, sample sets, and refillable candles to make the scents accessible at different price points.

Overall, Snif has become one of the most recognizable and beloved candle brands known for their innovative, gourmand-inspired scents. Their growth over the past decade reflects the public’s passion for experiential fragrances and curated scents that evoke a feeling or transport you to a memory. Snif continues to find new ways to engage their avid fanbase and bring joy through fragrance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, snif candles have had a unique and interesting history. Originally created by candlemakers John and Mary Snif in the late 1800s, these aromatic candles were designed to be sniffed rather than burned. The Snifs hoped their portable scents would bring joy and relaxation to people’s lives.

Snif candles grew to achieve worldwide popularity in the early 1900s. Their novel design and high quality fragrances made them a cultural phenomenon. Today, snif candles remain a beloved product with a dedicated fanbase. Through twists of fate and changing tastes, the Snif family business has persisted into the 21st century.

The legacy of snif candles is their testament to the power of innovative ideas. By creating something new and wonderful, the Snifs brought happiness to generations of people. Even in today’s high-tech world, there is still demand for their simple, analog creation. Snif candles will undoubtedly continue spreading joy for years to come.