Some may see enjoying candles as a mostly female pursuit towards wellness—leading to questionable examples at times—but filling a room with a pleasurable scent can create a mood and bring joy to anyone, regardless of gender or background.
The thing is, nice-smelling burning wax isn’t the exclusive domain of women and the crystals-and-yoga crowd, but a genderless and inclusive experience that engages the universality of the human condition. Vigyl co-founders Stephen Michlits and Theshan Puvirajasingam set out to redefine the culture around candles and designed for “sensible progressives.” Inspired by luxury brands and fine art, Vigyl’s branding, packaging, and visual identity come courtesy of Brandsicle. The result is a blend of minimalism with fine art diffused through a contemporary lens.
Launching during Pride month, Vigyl and Toronto-based artist Nicko Cecchini have collaborated on a limited edition candle inspired by summers spent at Hanlan’s Point. The Lake Ontario beach is popular with Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community, thanks to the inclusivity and openness inherent to nude beaches. The packaging features a painting depicting three beachgoers of indeterminate gender lounging with a beachball on the sand.
“Hanlan’s is really a unique beach in Toronto, and we wanted to capture that feeling of escapism that happens when you are surrounded by friends—close enough to home, but away enough to let loose. It needed to smell like summer—warm sun, sticky sand, and creamy sun lotions, and most of all, happy. There’s a powerful sense of joy and pride on that beach, and I hope this fragrance makes people smile in the same way a day at Hanlan’s does,” Michlits said in a press release.
Five dollars of every purchase of the Hanlan candle goes towards supporting the efforts of Rainbow Railroad, a global non-profit organization devoted to saving LGBTQ+ individuals escape life-threatening situations due to who they are or who they love. To date, the organization has helped more than 1,600 people through emergency relocation and other types of support.
