Lynette Reed

Lynette Reed is an artist, designer, and creative entrepreneur known for building brands that bring bold design into everyday life. As founder of Lynette Reed Studio, she creates vibrant pattern driven collections for the home that celebrate color, individuality, and joyful living. Her work blends a maximalist design sensibility with a modern, accessible approach to home style. The studio’s mission is to bring high design inspiration, often seen in luxury European houses, into products that are attainable and meant to be lived with. Reed first gained industry recognition as the founder of Illume Candles, which she launched in the 1990s and grew into a nationally recognized home fragrance brand carried by major retailers before its acquisition in 2000. That experience shaped her approach to design led business building, combining creativity, product development, branding, and retail strategy. Today, Lynette Reed Studio develops textiles, surface pattern designs, and home collections that merge art, fashion, and interior design. Her work draws inspiration from global travel, Italian design culture, and a lifelong love of color and pattern. Collections are designed in Italy and produced through an international network of partners, allowing the studio to bring distinctive, artist driven products to boutiques and retailers. Reed’s philosophy is simple: homes should be expressive, joyful, and full of personality. Through Lynette Reed Studio she continues to explore the intersection of art, design, and everyday living, creating pieces that make people smile the moment they walk into a room.

Working with brands and retailers to develop candle/home fragrance collections.

Fragrance Development, Product Development, Sourcing, Private Label Projects in perfume, candles and home fragrance

I design and make private Label and custom collections for many companies large and small across a multitude of styles and design preferences. Collections primarily are candles, home fragrance and perfume. Over the years customers have included Anthropologie, Tommy Bahama, Barneys NY, Nordstrom, The Limited Brands (White Barn Stores), Destination Maternity (Pea in the Pod Stores), Brooks Brothers, Z Gallerie, Pom Pom, Shabby Chic and dozens of smaller retailers.

I developed a line of unique perfume and body cream and launched it through the gift industry. At the time, it was a unique approach to sell a perfume line through the gift markets. I was a small company and could not compete against the big budgets of the huge cosmetic companies. Rather than even attempt to compete, I chose to market my line at the gift shows and through gift reps and place the line in smaller stores and hopefully get the attention of the press. It worked and my line was featured in many top fashion magazines and gained the traction it needed.

I am the founder of the first nationally recognized upscale candle line. I created all product and grew the business from just myself to over 150 employees and 5000 accounts. I sold the company in 1999 but it still continues today.