Gift This: A Hyperreal Banana Split Candle With Cherries on Top

Fred Home is an exciting addition to the Australian homewares market, crafting everything from lifelike wax sausages to stylish tassel cushion covers.

Article by Hollie Wornes

Fred Home's Banana Split Candle.Fred Home's Banana Split Candle. Photography courtesy of Fred Home.

Hyperreal fruit and vegetable candles have become a staple in tablescapes over the past few years, thanks in part to local labels like Nonna’s Grocer. Founded by Madeleine Hoy in 2020 as an online venture, Nonna’s Grocer quickly gained popularity, prompting Madeleine’s sister Isabel to join as co-owner. Together, they handcraft a range of candles, from wax heirloom tomatoes to blobs of burrata. The sisters have expanded their reach through collaborations with local businesses such as tequila bar Cantina Ok!, creating a lime-scented candle, and homewares label Maison Balzac, producing a beautiful bunch of grapes.

Maison Balzac and Nonna's Grocer's grape candle.
Maison Balzac and Nonna's Grocer collaborated on a grape candle. Photograph courtesy of Maison Balzac.

A newer entrant in the tempting-to-eat candle scene is local luxury homewares brand Fred Home, which launched as an online store in September of last year. Julianne Robilliard, an interior designer with over a decade of experience, heads the brand, offering everything from furniture to uniquely patterned cushion covers, along with its quirky food-inspired candles.

Fred Home’s candle collection features a diverse array of food-inspired designs, ranging from glazed strawberry tarts and upside-down pineapple cakes to intricately detailed banana splits – sprinkles and all. A standout favourite among T Australia editors? The lifelike string of meaty-looking sausages, which shoppers should hurry to snag as they’re nearly sold out. fredhome.com.au.

Fred Home's Tarte Au Fraise Candle.
Fred Home's Tarte Au Fraise Candle. $55 AUD.
Fred Home's String of Sausages candle.
Fred Home's String of Sausages candle. $75 AUD.