A Scottish candle company founded by a self-taught teenager in a converted Skye bothy has acquired the very soap business that gave its founder his first job on the island, marking a significant milestone in its 20-year journey.
Isle of Skye Candle Company has announced the acquisition of Isle of Skye Soap Company, bringing together two homegrown brands with deep roots in the island’s entrepreneurial landscape. The deal represents a full-circle moment for founder James Robertson, who first conceived the idea for his candle business while working for the soap company as an 18-year-old.
At the time, Isle of Skye Soap Company was sourcing candles from England. Spotting an opportunity, Robertson asked owner Fiona Meiklejohn whether she would consider buying Scottish-made alternatives if he could replicate the same scents. With no online tutorials available, he bought a book on candle making, along with basic equipment, and began experimenting in a converted bothy on his uncle’s croft near Portree.
Two decades on, Isle of Skye Candle Company employs more than 100 people and produces handmade candles and reed diffusers from the Highlands, selling through its website and retail locations in Skye, Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Inverness. The business is now led by James, 38, alongside his brother Raghnall Robertson, 40.
Following the acquisition, both brands will continue to operate independently, with Isle of Skye Soap Company maintaining its focus on natural soap production. Fiona Meiklejohn will step down as part of the transition, with no job losses expected.
Reflecting on the journey, James Robertson said the acquisition would not have been possible without Meiklejohn’s early support.
“None of this would have happened without Fiona,” he said. “She gave me my first job on Skye and it was while working for her that I had the idea for the business in the first place.
“I remember asking why they were buying candles from England. I said if I could make Scottish candles using the same scents, would they buy them?
“There was no YouTube then, so I bought a book about making candles, a boiler and some wax, and started from a converted bothy on my uncle’s croft just outside Portree. It was a steep learning curve and I made plenty of mistakes, but it felt worth persevering with. I’m glad I did.”
Robertson added that while the two businesses had never been direct competitors, Meiklejohn’s retirement created a natural opportunity to bring them together.
“We would never have gone head-to-head with them, but with Fiona retiring it felt like the perfect opportunity to expand,” he said. “It is surreal, but we are incredibly proud to have the chance to build on what she has achieved.
“In the next 12 months, we will be focused on expanding distribution, and we are excited by the opportunities available.”
Meiklejohn said she was pleased to see the company pass into familiar hands. “I am delighted that James and Raghnall are the ones to be taking over the soap company,” she said. “I’m looking forward to enjoying my retirement and spending more time with my family, and I know the business is in good hands.”
The acquisition marks the latest chapter in a period of sustained growth for Isle of Skye Candle Company, which has expanded well beyond its original home fragrance offering. In 2022, the business acquired the former Aros Centre in Portree, transforming it into a multi-purpose visitor destination featuring a flagship store, production facilities, Gasta Pizzeria, the Las cinema and theatre, and a wellness studio. The name “Las” is derived from the Gaelic for “kindle” or “ignite”.
Although Robertson grew up in Glasgow, he maintained strong ties to Skye, where his mother was born, and relocated to the island at 18. He continued developing the business while Raghnall was at university, with his brother later investing savings into equipment and helping scale the venture.
Raghnall Robertson recalled the early years as experimental and uncertain. “We were far from polished entrepreneurs. The first few years we had no idea what we were doing. It was basically glorified research and development,” he said.
The company’s first breakthrough came through local stockists and craft fairs, followed by a significant milestone when a retailer on Byres Road in Glasgow began stocking their products.
Five years into the venture, the business moved to premises in Broadford, combining retail and production. Continued growth, including five retail locations and increased online demand, eventually led to the acquisition of the Aros Centre in 2021, enabling further expansion.
“It was a massive stretch for us, but buying it has taken the business to another level. This latest acquisition is another significant step,” Raghnall said.
“We have had no grand plan, but it felt like too good an opportunity, and too exciting for us, not to do. We want to create good jobs on the island beyond the traditional hospitality and public sector route.”
In Case You Missed It:
He added that the broader vision has always been to contribute to Skye’s community as well as its economy, creating a space for locals as well as visitors.
James Robertson said the business has ultimately been about building a life on the island. “I have now lived on Skye longer than I ever lived in Glasgow, and if there was a way for me to stay here, I was going to find it,” he said.
“That is probably what the business has always been about for me. It was a way to build a life here, and now it is helping other people build lives here too.”
