One Post-it note from her husband helped woman navigate life after he was gone

Everyone wants a partner who will support and believe in their goals and dreams. Kerry, the owner of Whist (@whist_uk), a candlemaking business in the UK, had Nik. He was the one who pushed Kerry to pursue her candle-making business from the very start. The couple was married for 28 years before Nik tragically passed away. But he did leave his wife a gift, or rather a challenge. In an Instagram post, Kerry shared how the candle "Kith and Kin" came to life. 

Before Nik passed away, he wrote down his own blend of essential oils for Kerry to turn into a candle. He chose six oils and wrote, "It's down to you to create it now." Kerry was hesitant to work with the three oils he had chosen, calling them "DIVAS" since they were difficult to manipulate. However, in the end, she decided to proceed anyway.

Kerry said that the candle really "tested" her, and after several wick trials, the candle finally came to life. Luckily, Nik approved and even named the candle just 10 days before he passed away.

While Kerry was grieving the sudden loss of her soulmate, she decided to push through with Nik's candle. It took her six more months to finally get them into the Whist jars, and she only started selling them last September. Nik's "Kith and Kin" candle was Kerry's silver lining, becoming one of Whist's bestsellers in 2025.

Nik specifically chose the name "Kith and Kin" because in Irish, it means "Friends and Family," and to him these two were the most important things. Kerry shared that with every "Kith and Kin" purchase, the customer will receive a handwritten note from Nik. The candle also "supports a charity that helps children after loss, neglect, or any other trauma. It was important to Nik to always try to do good."

 Deep inside her heart, she believed that the candle was a "challenge" from Nik to keep her going and not drown in her grief. She added, "I truly believed he left me the challenge of this candle to keep me focused after losing him. He knew I'd keep going until I had it working."

In a post from January 3, Kerry shared the story of how Whist began with her followers. She wrote, "My brand started after a period of extreme anxiety in my life, which saw me barely leave my house for an entire year. I used essential oils to help me find moments of calm, to create rituals that became part of my recovery." Her candles are handmade and refillable, which makes them environmentally friendly and animal-cruelty-free.

It is scientifically proven that aromatherapy can help reduce conditions like stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, and menstrual cramps. The essential oils used during aromatherapy can directly be applied or massaged onto the skin or inhaled. In a study done by Soleimani et al., researchers found that using peppermint essential oil on patients with "acute coronary syndrome in emergency department" helps in reducing their anxiety.

Kerry's comment section is filled with well-wishers, compliments from customers about the candle, and praise from strangers for her strength despite the huge loss she faced. @the_life_of_cemetries shared, "I love mine, you feel it warming the room. The love of all those who have passed congregating in the room when it’s lit, that’s what it feels like to me." New customer @lisareeshome commented, "I’ve just ordered, so looking forward to receiving it." @marthabrookldn wrote, "What an incredible story, Kerry. I know Nik would be SO proud of you."

You can follow Kerry (@whist_uk) for more content on homemade wellness candles.

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