International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Women I Work With
By Sally Waters, Founder of ÉLAN Home Fragrances
International Women’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the achievements of women in business and the growing network of female entrepreneurs supporting one another.
As the founder of ÉLAN Home Fragrances, I feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with inspiring women building successful businesses across a wide range of industries. From recruitment, logistics and wealth management to aesthetics, wellness, luxury retail and automotive, these women lead their companies with creativity, care and a focus on exceptional customer experience.
Many of the corporate clients I work with are women-led businesses who value thoughtful, high-quality gifting for their teams and customers. It’s always rewarding to see how fragrance can play a small part in helping them create memorable experiences.
Women-led collaborations
One long-standing partnership has been with Samantha Chambers of SC4 Recruitment Ltd. We have worked together for many years, with ÉLAN candles and diffusers often gifted to successful candidates placed through the agency.
“Our candles and diffusers have been a huge hit among the successful candidates supported by SC4 Recruitment. We take pride in surprising and delighting them with these fragrances as a token of appreciation for their hard work. As a recruitment agency, we understand the importance of creating a positive experience for candidates at every stage in the process, and these little gestures go a long way in strengthening our relationships.”
A more recent collaboration has been with Jessica Whitnell at Alisped UK Ltd. For Christmas 2025, we worked together to design a bespoke gift box for their clients.
“Their knowledge of fragrances and great eye for detail really elevated the end product and exceeded our expectations. We had amazing feedback from our customers who were completely overwhelmed by their gifts, commenting on the luxurious scents and packaging.”
I’ve also enjoyed working with Kelsey Bailey of KB Aesthetics London Limited, who chose to stock ÉLAN products in her high-end aesthetics clinic in Canary Wharf — a luxury destination for working women looking for a little rest, relaxation and perhaps a subtle tweakment in the heart of the city. Incorporating fragrance into the space helps create a calm, welcoming environment for busy professionals.
Closer to home, Nancy Abbott, owner of The Beauty Manor in Great Dunmow, was one of ÉLAN’s very first stockists. Today, her popular wellness salon has its own recognisable yet exclusive signature scent, helping to create the luxurious and calming atmosphere her clients experience when they visit.
Another collaboration I’m particularly proud of is working with Sarah Hilton at Hilton & Moss Limited, the renowned high-performance classic car restoration specialists. Together we created a bespoke candle bearing their logo, with a fragrance designed to reflect the same timeless luxury and craftsmanship that defines their beautifully restored classic cars.
I would also like to thank the team at Trotters Jewellers Limited in the Royal Exchange, London. We worked closely together to create a bespoke own-brand candle in time for Christmas 2025 as a thank you to their loyal customers. The project included laser-cut logo lids, bespoke packaging, custom labelling and ribbon. It was a tight deadline, but together we delivered a beautiful finished product in time for the festive season.
The team behind ÉLAN
Behind ÉLAN is also a fantastic and reliable team of women who support the day-to-day running of the business. Leia provides valuable marketing advice and strategic input, while Gill and Abbie support me in the studio with production and order fulfilment. Leanne from Brooklyn Interiors contributes her creative eye and design expertise, and Sarah from Orbital Assistant Services currently advises on EA support and administrative processes that help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Their dedication and support are an essential part of the brand and something I’m incredibly grateful for.
I’m also proud to be a member of the Essex Business Forum, where I have the opportunity to connect with many other women-led businesses working hard to grow and develop their companies across the region.
Over the years, working with businesses across different sectors has reinforced my belief in the power of fragrance to shape an experience. Whether it’s creating a welcoming atmosphere in a wellness clinic, a signature scent for a luxury showroom, or a thoughtful branded gift for valued clients, fragrance has a unique ability to leave a lasting impression.
And finally, a big thank you to all of my loyal clients many of whom have been with me since the very beginning almost ten years ago. Your continued support is the reason I remain so passionate and dedicated to my craft.
On this International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate the remarkable women I work with - my clients, collaborators and the team behind the scenes who inspire and support one another every day.