In a short period of time, Adlan has captured the attention of fragrance connoisseurs, interior designers, and collectors alike. "We're almost in a hundred retailers, and we just had our first international store in Paris," says Alexander. "It feels larger than it is, but we’re still babies." The brand's rapid success is a testament to the duo’s unique vision: to create a product that combines the best of both worlds—artistic design and luxurious fragrances.

Adlan’s story starts with a simple observation: while scented candles are often an important part of the home, their design doesn’t always align with the aesthetic of a well-curated space. "We’ve always been fragrance aficionados," Alexander explains. "We're the type of people where you come over to our house and we’ve designed the space through scent." The couple spent years perfecting their home’s ambiance through fragrances, carefully selecting candles for different rooms to create distinct moods. But the traditional glass vessel candles they encountered seemed to blend in with the surroundings rather than complementing them. “It's kind of like a paper towel roll in your kitchen. It just blends in, but certainly doesn't add to the aesthetic. So we found ourselves going to little flea markets and secondhand places and really cool boutiques and trying to find alabaster vases and things that we can drop our candles into so we always have something beautiful, but we still have the scent as well,” says Alexander. “We thought, it can’t be that hard; we should try to create something that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is amazing as a candle and fragrance. " And thus, Adlan was born.

Of course, one of the standout features of Adlan candles is their stunning design, which draws inspiration from a traditional stoneware loose-leaf tea canister from Asia. When Alexander first encountered the design, he was instantly captivated. "The design and the shape was so simple but so intentional, down to the way the light catches it, " he recalls. Adlan’s candle vessels are now produced in the same factory that specializes in crafting these traditional tea vessels.

But Adlan is much more than a beautiful vessel—its fragrances are equally sophisticated. Alexander and Andrew are deeply hands-on with the fragrance creation process, often experimenting in their home "fragrance room," where they have hundreds of fragrance vials lined up on bookshelves. “We have maybe six or seven hundred fragrance vials on bookshelves, all categorized. And Andrew and I will just sit there one night, I'll have a glass of wine and we'll have something in mind for a new fragrance. We’ll start with a 10-drop recipe," says Alexander. "Then it’s like, okay, let’s try 30% of this fragrance, 20% of this fragrance, 50% of that."

One of our favorite scents here at Clove & Creek is Adlan’s Playing with Fire. "We really, really try to create fragrances that are multidimensional," Alexander explains. "When you smell Playing with Fire, it’s a really strong and powerful smoky scent. My inspiration for that was maybe the night before you went to a beach bonfire with your friends...there’s the smoke, the sea air, all these different scents." When the candle is lit, however, some sweet notes come through, evoking the complexity and nuance of a beach bonfire that lingers in your memory. For Adlan, fragrance isn’t just about a pleasant scent—it’s about telling a story and creating an experience. Each candle is a journey that unfolds as it burns, with layers of scent revealing themselves over time. The result is a collection of candles that feel personal and immersive, as if they were crafted just for you.

A key component of Adlan's candles is its unique wax blend. "It’s one of those non-sexy parts of a candle, but your wax blend is going to be essential," says Alexander. The brand uses an all-natural wax blend made from coconut wax, apricot oil, and soy wax. This blend not only makes the candles sustainable and non-toxic but also ensures a better burning experience. Frustrated by the wasted wax that occurs when candles tunnel (even when lit by the most careful of candle connoisseurs) Adlan set out to create a self-levelling candle that ensures consumers get the most out of their money. “My biggest pet peeve is when you spend a hundred dollars on a candle and even though you follow the rules, you burn the candle all the way to the edges for the first time and you trimmed your wick and all of that, when you reach the end of the candle there's half an inch to an inch of wax all the way around.” Adlan’s unique wax blend melts at a lower temperature, eliminating the problem of tunneling. 

Looking ahead, Adlan is set to expand its offerings with the launch of its diffusers. "I’m so excited for people to be able to utilize them in spaces where maybe a candle is less appropriate," Alexander shares. Diffusers are perfect for smaller spaces like powder rooms or hospitality projects where a candle might be overwhelming. The diffusers will allow people to experience Adlan’s distinctive fragrances in a new way, further elevating the brand’s presence in homes and businesses.

Despite Adlan's growing success, Alexander and Andrew remain focused on the things that matter most to them—quality, craftsmanship, and design. "I think what led to the most success was not focusing so much on what other brands were doing, but really just focusing on what I would want in a product that I was purchasing," Alexander says.

Adlan isn’t just about fragrance; it’s about creating an experience that touches every sense. "A candle company doesn’t have to just cater to your sense of smell. It’s also about touch and feel." With their innovative designs, carefully crafted fragrances, and commitment to quality, Adlan has proven that luxury doesn’t have to be unattainable—it can be beautiful, approachable, and meaningful.