About
How it all began
Welcome to Aycee Apothec
Hi, I’m Anna Cross, the founder of Aycee Apothec, and I’m so glad you’re here. The idea for Aycee Apothec was born in 2023, during a year that was filled with challenges and important decisions. I’ve always had a deep love for candles and fragrances, but it wasn’t until I faced some difficult times that I truly realised the power of scent and candlelight. The simple flicker of a candle and the right fragrance can transform your mood, ease your mind, and bring a sense of calm like nothing else. It became clear to me that these small moments of serenity were more than just indulgence—they were essential for wellbeing.
Inspired by this, I decided to explore the art of candle-making and the science of fragrance. I immersed myself in learning about blending essential oils and creating candles that not only smell amazing but also support health and happiness. Like all great journeys, mine started in a humble kitchen, surrounded by waxes, wicks, and endless possibilities. As I delved deeper into this new passion, I realised I wanted to create candles that were not only beautiful and aromatic but also grounded in nature, sustainability, and wellbeing. I knew I couldn’t compromise on quality, so there was no place for paraffin wax or artificial scents in my candles. If they were going to promote wellbeing, they had to be free of toxins and kind to the environment.
Making a change is never easy. After 25 years as a practising family doctor, taking the leap into a completely new venture felt risky. But my work as a doctor had shown me firsthand how deeply interconnected health and wellbeing are—and I knew this was a change worth pursuing. What started as a personal project quickly became a family endeavour, and Aycee Apothec is still proudly family-run today.
The journey took much longer than I expected, filled with research, trial and error, and many lessons learned along the way. But I’m thrilled to say that after much perseverance, I’ve created a line of candles that I am incredibly proud of—candles that are sustainable, eco-friendly, and designed to bring a little peace and joy into your home. I hope they can do for you what they did for me at the beginning of this journey: provide a moment of calm and help you release the stresses of life.
At Aycee Apothec, each fragrance is carefully crafted to represent a simple concept of wellbeing. I believe that choosing the right candle should be as personal as choosing the right path to happiness, so the names of our core fragrances are inspired by philosophies that mean a lot to me—and to many others. These names come from all over the world, blending languages and ideas, but what matters most is the meaning behind them. Each blend is an invitation to focus on your own happiness and health.
I hope that Aycee Apothec can help you create those small moments of peace and clarity in your day. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Best wishes,
Anna Cross
Founder & Owner
Realising that you have an ability that you never knew you had is a wonderful feeling
Our ethos
At Aycee Apothec we believe that science and well being are not at odds with each other, rather they are two sides of the same coin. A long career in medicine teaches you the value of science in understanding people's health and well being and that ways of improving them do not always come in the form of a pill. Mindfulness, contemplation, meditation all have their role and are incredibly valuable tools. We use our knowledge of well being and the science of scents to create what we believe are wonderful additions to your home. Candles and fragrances that will relax you, feed your soul and make your own environment one in which you can truly flourish.
Our home
We are so lucky to be based in Hampshire, on the south coast of England. Everyone has their own special corner of the world and this, fortunately, is ours! Our rural location gives us wonderful access to the Hampshire countryside, with its lush, rolling hills, protected woodlands and downlands as well as everything the coast has to offer. Being in nature offers so much in the way of well being, a cycle down a country lane, a walk on a cold blustery winters day or a sunset stroll along a deserted beach are things you want to bottle and save. We adore where we live and it strengthens our desire to make products that treat the environment with the respect it deserves and which are truly sustainable so that we can leave things just the way we found them for new generations to enjoy.
