Shortlisted for The Edit and supported by LEO Wicklow
Irish family-run studio MAMO will launch its Irish Proverb Candle Collection at Showcase Ireland 2026, marking a significant next step for the Wicklow-based brand following a year of focused development and mentorship.
Exhibiting in Shelbourne Hall, Stand A34, MAMO will present candles not as decorative home fragrance, but as everyday rituals offering steadiness, reassurance, and emotional grounding — a response to how many people are feeling now.
Hand-poured in the brand’s Wicklow studio, the collection is built around traditional Irish proverbs, used not as nostalgic references but as practical wisdom for modern life. Each candle pairs a familiar saying with a restrained scent profile, designed to settle into a home rather than overwhelm it.
One of the collection’s centrepieces, There’s No Place Like Home, is inspired by the proverb “Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.” Its scent combines the deep warmth of fireside wood with the gentle, honeyed lift of wild gorse — evoking safety and belonging at a time when the idea of home is increasingly uncertain for many.
MAMO is led by a mother–daughter–son team based in Wicklow. Chief Formulator Darina Tsankova brings over 40 years’ experience in food science, chemistry, and cosmetic formulation, ensuring the collection is developed with sensitivity, stability, and EU and UK compliance in mind. Scents are created slowly and deliberately pared back, offering an alternative to trend-led, high-intensity fragrance.
The Irish Proverb Candle Collection has been shortlisted for The Edit 2026, a curated selection recognising excellence in Irish craft and product development. The brand’s growth from a small kitchen-based operation to an export-ready studio has been supported by LEO Wicklow and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, with Showcase marking the first public presentation of the new candle range.
Alongside the candle launch, MAMO will also offer buyers a private preview of forthcoming body care rituals, scheduled for release later in 2026. The brand is already established in-market with soap and dog care collections stocked by independent retailers nationwide.
For retailers attending Showcase, MAMO offers a year-round home and gifting proposition rooted in cultural meaning, emotional relevance, and small-batch Irish production — designed to resonate beyond seasonal trends.
“MAMO began as a way to heal,” says Geri. “Every product still carries that intention — to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with something real. For me, it’s about turning care into something you can hold in your hands.”
“Creating the perfect formula by hand teaches patience,” adds Darina. “You can’t rush the process — and maybe that’s what the world needs more of.
