“I know many people say they ‘started in the kitchen’,” says Paul Briggs, “but for us, it was literally in our kitchen.”
Four years ago, crane operator Paul was given a candle-making kit by his partner, Viki Smith. That modest gift sparked the creation of Dark Foundry No 8, a luxury candle company rooted deeply in the West Midlands.
Today, their exquisite candles have caught the eye of heavyweight publications like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ, marking a remarkable journey from a humble kitchen workspace to national recognition.
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Based in Willenhall, the couple crafts candles inspired by local places and football allegiances. The Bordesley candle, a tribute to Birmingham City FC, blends evocative notes of rock salt and driftwood. Another, The Garrison, infuses whiskey and lemon scents, subtly nodding to Peaky Blinders and the historic Garrison pub. Its unique blend, handmade by Paul and Viki, has been praised by customers as unlike anything they’ve encountered before.
Their third signature candle, The Saddler, carries a rich smoky leather aroma that celebrates Walsall’s saddle-making heritage—a perfect homage from Paul, a Walsall FC supporter raised nearby.
Since opening their first shop and factory unit on Russell Street in August last year, Dark Foundry No 8 has flourished, recently launching a second store in Burntwood, Staffordshire.
“It’s been incredibly hard work,” admits Paul. “But then, out of nowhere, British Vogue reached out to us.”
Viki recalls the struggle to gain local influencer support: “They kept ghosting us—not big enough, not turning over enough. But then a world-renowned magazine knew us. That sparked interest from Vanity Fair and GQ too.”
Before candle-making, Paul worked on tower cranes, while Viki was an award-winning wellbeing practitioner and TV personality until a stroke left her unable to continue. Their experience of hardship inspired the leap into entrepreneurship.
“We had always wanted to do something together,” says Paul. “When Viki’s stroke happened, it changed everything. We couldn’t do our old jobs anymore. So we committed fully to Dark Foundry—and we’ve never looked back.”
The company’s name reflects its roots: “Dark” from their motto “Where there’s dark, we bring you light,” “Foundry” as a nod to the Black Country’s industrial legacy, and “No 8,” their lucky number.
All candles are handcrafted onsite and sold through their stores and online. Paul admits that refining scents can be challenging, with “nose blindness” setting in from constant fragrance testing. Yet they remain confident: “We can blindfold test and identify most scents 98% of the time.”
Among their popular creations is the Sister Dora candle, named after a Victorian nurse commemorated in Walsall. A portion of its profits supports Well Wishes, a charity based at Walsall Manor Hospital, demonstrating the couple’s commitment to giving back.
Dark Foundry No 8 stands as a shining example of passion, resilience, and local pride transforming into national success.