fact caught up with Raluca Iacob, partner in Qatar’s homegrown organic candle brand Candeel and founder of Rallou Wicks, the visionary concept bringing candle-making to the social space, as she shared information about the brands and her hopes for the future.

You are originally from Romania and have built your career across Qatar and the UAE. What first brought you to the Gulf region, and how did your background in hospitality and lifestyle shape the work you do today?
I originally came to the Gulf region from Romania through hospitality. At the time, I was drawn by the scale of the industry, the energy of the market and the opportunity to be part of concepts that were evolving very quickly. Qatar was where I really built my career and learned how much guest experience matters. Working across restaurants, lounges, hotels and lifestyle venues taught me that people don’t only remember a product — they remember how a place made them feel. That way of thinking has shaped everything I do today, whether it is hospitality consulting, concept development, workshops or candles.

Your background is strongly rooted in hospitality, guest experience and concept development. How did that eventually lead you into candles, and how did your work with Candeel later inspire the creation of Rallou Wicks?
My background has always been rooted in hospitality, guest profiling and concept creation. I spent years thinking about details like atmosphere, emotion, service flow, music, scent and how guests interact with a space. Candles came quite naturally from that because scent is such a powerful part of memory and experience. When I started working with Candeel, I saw that candles could become much more than a retail product. They could become part of gifting, workshops, events and even hotel activations. That is what later inspired me to create Rallou Wicks in Dubai — a concept built more around the social and experiential side of candle-making.

For readers discovering the brands for the first time, how would you describe the difference between Candeel and Rallou Wicks, and how do they complement each other?
Candeel and Rallou Wicks are very connected, but they each have their own identity. Candeel is a Qatar-born candle brand focussed on products, gifting, retail and workshops. It has a strong visual identity and a very loyal audience. Rallou Wicks, on the other hand, was created in Dubai as more of an experienceled concept. It focusses on candle-making workshops, hotel collaborations, private events and lifestyle activations. One is more product-driven, while the other is more experience-driven, but together they complement each other very naturally.

After seeing the success of Candeel in Qatar, you later expanded the workshop concept through Rallou Wicks in Dubai. How have people responded to these experiences, and why do you think they have become so popular?
People have responded very positively because the workshops offer something different. They’re not only about making a candle — they are about taking a break, connecting with people, being creative and having an experience that feels relaxed and memorable. A lot of people come alone and leave having met new people, while others come with friends, colleagues or family. I think they have become popular because people are looking for experiences that feel personal, social and meaningful rather than just another dinner or night out.

You have organised workshops, private events, hotel collaborations and brand activations across Qatar and the UAE. Which experiences have been the most memorable for you so far, and what do you think makes an event truly successful?
Some of the most memorable experiences have been hotel collaborations, private group workshops and brand activations where we could really tailor the experience to the audience. I have loved creating workshops inside cafés, luxury hotels and wellness spaces because each venue brings a completely different atmosphere. For me, what makes an event successful is when people leave feeling like they experienced something special. It is never only about the set-up or the candles themselves. It is about the mood, the energy in the room, the small details and how guests feel from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.

Looking ahead, what are your future plans for both Candeel and Rallou Wicks, and how do you see the brands evolving over the next few years?
I would love to continue growing both brands in different ways. For Candeel, the goal is to strengthen the retail side, expand gifting and create a larger concept store that combines candles, workshops and a lifestyle café element. For Rallou Wicks, I want to continue building partnerships with hotels, wellness spaces, cafés and lifestyle venues across Dubai and beyond. I also see both brands growing more into private events, brand collaborations and immersive experiences. Long-term, I would love for them to become recognised names in the region for both premium candles and creative experiences. ✤