"From Late Night Ideas to Handcrafted Art...Welcome to Our World of Scented Stories"

Our Story

Apollo Ipsum isn’t just a business. It’s a tapestry woven from friendship, late-night dreams, and the desire to create something that truly means something.

I’m Raymond, and alongside Colin, my oldest friend and creative partner, we started Apollo Ipsum on a rainy London night, huddled in a tiny kitchen, surrounded by wax, old books, and the aroma of burnt matches and cheap candles. We didn’t set out to build anything big... we just wanted to capture the feeling we got from reading a haunting story or stumbling on a forgotten, horrifying painting through scent and story telling.

Our first candles were clumsy, dripped with wax and ambition. We laughed at our failures and celebrated our tiny victories, and spent hours sketching ideas and many, many drafts. I remember the first time a friend told us our candle reminded them of a childhood nightmare they had, that was when we realised we weren’t just making candles. We were creating stories, nostalgia, and a bit of candle magic!

Who We Are

We love all things dark, creepy, horror and weird! Colin used to be a tattoo artist in South Korea and an ex-marine navigator, bringing a world of stories and steady hands to our team. I’m Raymond, a pharmacist by training and currently studying graduate medicine (hopefully to graduate in a couple of months). Our backgrounds may surprise you, but our hearts are firmly rooted in the mysterious and the unconventional, and we love to create and be creative!

Our Craft

Every Apollo Ipsum candle is a piece of our journey. Colin will sketch mountains of ideas - sometimes from stories I come up with, sometimes from ideas we both dream up throughout our lives. I draw inspiration from the gothic and horror (shout out to Darren O'Shaughnessy) novels I read as a kid, the old, creepy apothecary jars in my grandmother’s house, and the strange, beautiful art and book covers that Colin would often bring back from the charity shops. Our signature scent, saffron and oud, took weeks of late-night testing and more than a few ruined batches. But when we finally got it right, it felt like we’d captured the soul of a forgotten library.

Blind Bags started as a joke between us. Colin would mix up odd, mysterious scents and challenge me to figure out their story. Somewhere along the way, we thought - why not share that moment with everyone else? A surprise artwork, a completely unique scent, and absolutely no hints. Today, Blind Bags celebrate our love for the unexpected and the excitement of discovering something unknown and new! And we’re only just getting started...

What Makes Us Different

Every candle is poured by hand with care by people who genuinely love what they do. Each design is a memory, a legend, or a dream, brought to life in wax and ink. My background as a pharmacist and graduate medical student, means every ingredient is safe, pure, and chosen with intention. We’re committed to biodegradable packaging and honest, UK-sourced ingredients because we believe in doing right by our community and the earth. We’ve sold over 40,000 candles (and serving over 15,000 customers), but the real reward is hearing from fellow art lovers, bookworms, and dreamers who see themselves in our work.

  • Handmade in the UK: We pour every candle by hand, in small batches, using organic soy wax and glass jars from North Wales.
  • Art Meets Storytelling: Our designs come from the eerie stories and literature we love, making each candle a work of art with a narrative.
  • Medical Expertise: As a qualified pharmacist and graduate medical student, I make sure every ingredient is safe and pure - no chemicals, just simple ingredients and honest craftsmanship.
  • Eco-Conscious: We’re committed to recyclable, biodegradable packaging and total transparency about our UK-sourced ingredients.
  • Community First: We’ve served over 15,000 (+) customers and received 1,300+ verified reviews from fellow art lovers and alternative souls who inspire us every day.

"For those who find magic in shadows and solace in stories - let our candles light your way "

Why We Do This

Apollo Ipsum is a love letter to the strange, the beautiful, and the overlooked. We make candles for people who find magic in old libraries, who see stories in shadows, who believe that art can change a day or even a life. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, or if you’re searching for something that feels like home, we hope our candles light your way.