Elton charity launch makes scents
Elton John has launched a new range of candles and home fragrances in the US which he hopes will raise a million dollars a year for his Aids charity.
The collection, launched in Bath & Body Works and White Barn Candle stores, will also be available online at bathandbodyworks.com.
Neil Fiske, CEO of Bath & Body Works expects the collection – inspired by Elton’s country estate in England – to generate sales of $10m (€7.8m) in the first year, 10% of which will be used to benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation.
“Clearly, this has the potential to be big,” Fiske said yesterday, after a news conference where he was joined by the rock star and president of parent company Home Design, Harry Slatkin.
The Elton John Fireside Home Fragrance Collection, ranging in price from $7.50 (€5.90) to $16.50 (€13), includes scented candles, scented stones and home fragrance oils. The collection is expected to be expanded to include soaps and other categories.
John, dressed in a black pinstriped suit, said the partnership with Bath & Body increases exposure for his foundation, which has raised $100m (€78m) since it was established in 1992.
Slatkin said he became friends with John started eight years ago, when the two collaborated on a line of candles, a partnership that raised a total of several hundred thousand dollars for John’s foundation.
“He has a passion for candles. He is my kind of guy,” Slatkin said.
