While most have tied a neat bow around the gift fair and called it a day, our wrap up wouldn’t be complete without including the Paddywax booth. Granted it’s two weeks later, the creative stories, themes and art direction behind the product make it worth sharing. Just as fashion designers make mood boards, Gretchen Hollingsworth, the creative force behind this candle brand, applies a similar process when kicking off each new collection. After choosing a theme, be it the Journey of the Bee, Woodland or Library, the ingredients are combined, stories completed and graphics made to make a cohesive commercial package.

Our favorite collection follows the Journey of the Bee. Inspired by stops along a bee’s path to pollinate, the six fragrances – Clover, Rose, Orange Blossom, Wild Blackberry, Freesia and Raw Honey are poured into black matte glass bearing a gold bee emblem and packaged in a honeycomb patterned gift box complete with ‘b’ facts.