Clare | Clare Makes
Clare Makes – Bringing the Scent of Australia Home
Some businesses are built around a product.
Others are built around a feeling.
For Clare Makes, it was the feeling of home.
During lockdown, founder Clare, a former beauty blogger, found herself searching for fragrances that reminded her of Australia. Not perfumes inspired by Paris or candles named after European holidays, but the unmistakable scent of eucalyptus, native flowers and the Australian bush.
"I was married under a eucalyptus tree, and I've been chasing that grounded, unmistakably Australian scent ever since."
What began as a creative outlet soon became something much bigger.
Today, Clare Makes is a proudly Australian-made home fragrance brand, handcrafting candles, room sprays and diffusers in Newcastle that celebrate Australian landscapes, native botanicals and the stories that make this country feel like home.
More Than a Candle
For Clare, fragrance has never been just about making a room smell nice.
It's about memory.
It's about place.
It's about creating a home that feels connected to the Australian landscape.
Every fragrance is inspired by native botanicals such as lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, wattle and boronia, bringing familiar Australian scents indoors in a way that feels authentic rather than artificial.
"I want your home to smell like the outside," Clare says.
"I'm not a gardener, but I am a homebody. Think of me as your scent guide, sharing stories, styling ideas and the scents that are genuinely worth your time."
Handmade in Newcastle
Every Clare Makes product is handcrafted in small batches in Newcastle using premium soy wax, cotton wicks and carefully selected fragrance oils.
Small-batch production allows Clare to focus on consistency and quality, ensuring every candle burns cleanly from edge to edge while delivering a beautifully balanced fragrance throughout the home.
Rather than chasing trends or producing products at scale, Clare has chosen a slower, more intentional approach where every product reflects the care that goes into making it.
Proudly Australian Made
Clare Makes is proudly Certified Australian Made, with every product created using premium ingredients that are:
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Free from nitro musks
- IFRA compliant
It's all part of Clare's commitment to creating products people can feel confident bringing into their homes.
Every Product Tells a Story
One of the things that makes Clare Makes different is the storytelling behind every collection.
The fragrances aren't simply named to sound appealing—they're inspired by Australian places, people and moments.
That same philosophy extends beyond home fragrance into thoughtfully curated books, photographic cards and gifts designed for quiet afternoons, meaningful giving and creating spaces that feel warm, personal and lived in.
It's a brand that celebrates slowing down and appreciating the simple things.
Supporting Australian Manufacturing
At Made In Australia, we love meeting founders who are creating something uniquely Australian.
Clare hasn't tried to recreate fragrances from overseas or follow global trends. Instead, she's looked closer to home, celebrating the botanicals, landscapes and stories that make Australia unique.
It's businesses like Clare Makes that remind us Australian manufacturing isn't just about making products—it's about creating things with purpose, personality and a genuine connection to place.
We're proud to welcome Clare Makes to the Made In Australia marketplace and look forward to sharing more of Clare's journey with Australians looking to discover beautiful, locally made products.