Osmology

The more I looked into candles and fell in love with brands from across the world, the more it became obvious that there wasn’t anywhere I could easily get my hands on them in the UK. I founded Osmology in 2017, curating a range of independent home fragrance brands and selling a selection of scented candles and gift sets, as well as monthly subscription boxes.

How did COVID-19 affect your business, and why did this mean you needed funding?

I was just at the point of needing to take someone on to help me with the business when coronavirus hit. It’s been a balancing act doing everything myself. But being busy is a good problem to have, and I’ve found that lots of customers have been buying candles as gifts, or as a treat for themselves while spending more time at home.

How did you find the application process?

It was an amazingly quick experience. I applied with Starling Bank at 10.30am, at 11.15am the paperwork came through for me to sign, and at 12.30pm I had the money in my account. An hour later, I was able to pay early a number of suppliers who were struggling with cashflow. Getting these loans quickly helps everyone!