Last updated at 22:01, Tuesday, 01 May 2012

By Jon Simpson

A FURNESS candle factory is changing its name in time for its 30th birthday in June.

The Colony Gift Corporation is switching its name to Wax Lyrical, which is the company’s most enduring range of scented candle products.

The company thinks Wax Lyrical is a more modern name.

In a statement it said: “Colony Gift Corporation, the UK’s largest home fragrance manufacturer, is marking its 30th anniversary by relaunching all operations under the popular Wax Lyrical brand.

“The name change will mean that all ranges, including the hugely successful Homescents, Jelly Belly, RHS, Timeless, Soy and the Reed Diffuser Bar, will sit together as part of the Wax Lyrical family.”

The Lindal-based company employs 150 people and was bought more than three years ago by its present owner, Mike Armstead, a Cheshire business entrepreneur who now has homes in both Cumbria and Cheshire.

Wax Lyrical is a well-established brand in the industry, and last year had success with its two licensed scented candle ranges for the Royal Horticultural Society and the original gourmet jelly bean, Jelly Belly.

The Jelly Belly range are candles based on American sweets that come in colourful tins and have a range of scents such as toasted marshmallow, watermelon and crushed pineapple. They have sold so well in the UK that at one stage, late last year, the company ran out of stock.

This year the company launched a new Equilibrium Spa Collection, which, it says, “gently infuses soy wax with essential oils to capture senses and recreate the essence of a spa in peoples homes.”

Mr Armstead said: “The name change comes at a very exciting time for Wax Lyrical, as the brand continues to grow, with new product development such as the Jelly Belly licensed range and the Reed Diffuser Bar exceeding all our sales expectations.”

Reed diffusers have scented wax liquids in a container into which reeds are put. The liquids move up the reeds, giving off scent for several months.

First published at 13:10, Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk