This Mother’s Day, consider spoiling Mum with ripe strawberries and sparkling champagne, lychee and peony petals, or salted caramel and creamy vanilla. Not gourmet treats, but beautifully handcrafted, locally made luxury scents by Blushing Ivy Home Fragrances.
Caloundra chandler Lorrae Davies has always felt a strong connection to scent, valuing its unique ability to evoke memory and emotion. “Even as a child, I noticed it,” she says. “I love how a scent can take you straight back to a moment.”
A local of more than four decades, Lorrae attended Caloundra Primary and met her husband at Caloundra High. Years later, as a stay-at-home mum with three young children, a practical need sparked what would become a thriving business. “We couldn’t really afford good candles at the time,” she says. “So I taught myself to make them in the kitchen, watching YouTube videos.” What began at home grew steadily, leading her eventually into an artisan pod at White Pepper Homewares in 2018.
Her brand, Blushing Ivy, is named after her daughter, while her more masculine range, Wild Heath, is named after her son. The collection includes candles, diffusers, room and linen sprays, along with a heavily discounted refill service offering 40 per cent off — a practical, sustainable touch. There’s also the Australiana collection, created in collaboration with artist Victoria McGrane, with a portion of each sale supporting Wildlife Warriors.
Quality is central to every product. “There are a lot of cheap candles out there, but you don’t always know what you’re burning,” she says. Blushing Ivy products use 100 per cent soy wax and Australian-made fragrance oils, safe for homes, families and pets.
Beyond retail, Lorrae also hosts mobile candle-making workshops for hens’ parties, corporate events and private gatherings.
With Mother’s Day approaching, she reflects warmly on her own family, speaking with pride about her mum and nanna, who raised her in Caloundra. “My Nanna worked at the Council as the tea lady when it was down the bottom of the street, and my Mum lives just one kilometre from me. I’m her only child, so we’re very close.”
Her plans for the day are simple – enjoying time on the water with family, a generous platter and a glass of wine in hand,
Visit Blushing Ivy at White Pepper Homewares, 26 Bulcock St, Caloundra or view the collection at blushingivyhf.com
