A ROSYTH cardiology nurse who started making candles to help cope with the stresses of the pandemic has ignited the launch of her own business.

Mum-of-three Marie Donnelly has now turned the hobby into a new venture and launched Candles Alba just before Christmas.

She is set to launch two new additions to her collection this month.

Building on her passion to ensure her products have a local theme, the new scents will be called Rosyth Gala and Mhairi's Wedding to mark her own wedding anniversary.

"It has gone really well," she said.

"I am a cardiology nurse at the Edinburgh Royal and the pandemic had taken quite a big toll on us all. I had been struggling a wee bit to be honest and I was just trying to find ways of relaxing and fell upon candle-making.

"I found it very therapeutic and started selling it to family and friends and it got quite a good response. It was just before Christmas I decided I would launch because I had had so much interest. I got all the legal stuff in place and got insurance."

Her candles, which include fragrances named Pattiesmuir, Auld Lang Syne, Strip the Willow and Clootie Dumplings, have all been designed carefully making sure each has the most suitable wick for each individual design.

"The candles take a lot of testing to find out the right wick," explained Marie. "Every fragrance, there's a different percentage and a different type of wick. I think as I am getting a bit more experienced, I am getting quicker as I know what I am doing.

"The Rosyth Gala Day one is a cherry blossom one. I chose that one as as we all like going as a family to Rosyth Gala Day. They are all very personal to me.

"My candles are all eco-friendly and made from European rapeseed and coconut wax from sustainable farms in the Philippines. We wanted to get away from the deforestation issues surrounding the increasingly-popular soy wax candles but to deliver the same slow and clean burn.

"All our vessels and packaging are recyclable and our fragrances are free from any added nasties or phthalates for a clean burn."

Marie has already teamed up with the Yellow Cafe in Rosyth who have placed her candles in some of their hampers and collaborated with some local florists.

"I am keen to get the brand out there," she added. "It is a bit different and is Scottish-based and the candles are hand-poured here in Fife."