Our story — Meet Nikolaos
Ten years ago, I was knee-deep in a research project on early settler industries in South Australia. My work often took me to small collections and archives across the state, from tiny libraries in places like Willunga to the odd farmer’s shed still storing century-old tools. What struck me most was the resourcefulness of those early communities — how they used what they had to create reliable, everyday goods. I never expected that fascination to follow me out of academia, but here we are.
Before this, I spent most of my life on a different career track. I had a PhD in history from the University of Adelaide and spent years lecturing and publishing, mostly on the material culture of early Australian settlements. It was rewarding work, but I always felt slightly removed from the physical world I was studying. Around 2013, while working on a particularly dry publication, I started experimenting with making some of the products I’d been writing about — mainly to understand the processes better.
That side project ended up taking over. I started small, sourcing local materials like South Australian wool and Kangaroo Island eucalyptus, and making simple, functional items at my kitchen table. The turning point came in 2016, when I realised I could either keep this as an occasional hobby or give it a proper go. By 2017, I had left academia and was driving deliveries around Adelaide with the first Spruce Goods collection in the back of my car. It wasn’t exactly glamorous, but I felt like I was finally building something tangible.
Today, Spruce Goods operates out of a small workshop in McLaren Vale. We’ve grown to a team of five and now work with suppliers from all across the country — from Tasmanian leather to recycled glass from Sydney. Every product starts with materials that tell their own story. I still oversee every design personally, and sometimes I think this job has more in common with research than you’d expect.
— Thanks for taking a look — Nikolaos, Nikolaos Souris
Journal
Tracing the Source of Our Eucalyptus Oils
The eucalyptus oil in our candles comes from one family-run distillery in Inglewood, VIC — here's how it's made.
When we started working on our eucalyptus-scented candle, I knew I wanted the scent to feel authentic, not overly sweet or artificial. That sent me down a rabbit hole of essential oils, which led to Inglewood, VIC. There’s a family distillery there that’s been producing pure eucalyptus oil for over 100 years. I visited a few years ago when this project was still an experiment.
The operation is surprisingly simple. They steam-distill the leaves from blue mallee eucalyptus trees, a species that thrives in the dry conditions around Inglewood. It takes about 5 kilograms of leaves to produce just 15 milliliters of oil. The scent is sharp, a little medicinal, but it rounds out beautifully in wax. It’s not hard to understand why this oil was an early export during colonial times.
Candles are a tricky thing to get right. The wax has to hold the oil in just the right concentration — too much, and the candle won’t burn cleanly; too little, and the scent disappears fast. It took me months to balance these proportions, working in my kitchen after hours. The first successful batch had a throw that filled the room without being overwhelming. I knew we’d found something special.
I still use that same oil from Inglewood in every batch. You can pick up hints of its origin if you know where to look. There’s a freshness to it, the kind you only get from plants grown in tough conditions. I like to think about those mallee trees when I light a candle at home — so much resilience packed into a small flame.
If you ever find yourself on the Calder Highway near Inglewood, you’ll notice the scent of eucalyptus in the air. It’s subtle, but it’s there, especially after rain. That’s the exact feeling I wanted these candles to evoke, and it’s why I keep going back to that same source year after year.
A Spring Picnic with Bamboo Fibre Sets
November is ideal for picnics in McLaren Vale, and our bamboo fibre picnic sets are made to handle the season.
Spring in McLaren Vale is picnic weather, plain and simple. There’s a sweet spot in November when the wildflowers are out, the days are warm, and the flies haven’t quite hit their peak. The picnic set we’ve been working with — made from bamboo fibre — was designed to handle these conditions. I tested it extensively last summer, lugging it around weekends at Deep Creek and Maslin Beach.
The thing about bamboo fibre is its durability. Plates and bowls can take a bit of rough handling without cracking, but they’re lightweight enough that you’re not dragging a heavy load to your picnic spot. And because they’re reusable, they’re a clear step up from the disposable plastics I remember from childhood. Back then, everything ended up in the bin after one use. Times have changed, fortunately.
One detail I struggled with early on was the colour. So many picnic sets go for bright, candy-like colour schemes, but they never quite felt like they belonged in the Australian landscape. We settled on muted greens and earth tones — colours you’d actually see around McLaren Vale. When these sets are spread out on a picnic rug, they look like they fit right in with the background.
Last weekend, I took the set out for a quick hike and lunch at Onkaparinga River National Park. It was one of those days where the sky couldn’t decide whether to rain or shine. I ended up eating sandwiches under the cover of a eucalypt tree, watching kangaroos graze in the distance. The picnic set held up well, as expected, but the real joy came from just slowing down and being outside.
If you’re planning your own picnic soon, I recommend heading out early. By midday, the wind tends to pick up, and you’ll find yourself chasing napkins. Or maybe that’s just part of the charm. Either way, November doesn’t stick around for long, so make the most of it while you can.
Restoring Vintage Wool Throws in Winter
I’ve spent the last month cleaning and mending a batch of vintage wool throws — here’s what I learned.
Winter is when I dive into projects that require focus, and this June, it’s been restoring vintage wool throws. I picked up a batch from a local auction house in Adelaide. They were dusty and smelled like they’d been sitting in a shed for years, but the patterns — classic tartans mostly — were worth salvaging. Wool is forgiving that way; it holds onto its integrity even when neglected.
The first step was cleaning them. Wool doesn’t like harsh soaps, so I used a lanolin-based detergent and soaked each throw in the tub for about 20 minutes. The water turned an alarming shade of brown, but the throws themselves looked immediately brighter. Drying them took ages; I spread them out on an old Hills Hoist under cloudless skies, hoping the birds wouldn’t take too much interest.
Mending was another challenge. A few of the throws had moth holes, ranging from tiny pinpricks to gaps the size of 50-cent coins. I used a technique called Swiss darning to patch them up. It’s slow work — you have to replicate the weave of the fabric stitch by stitch — but it’s satisfying too. There’s something meditative about it, especially on rainy afternoons.
One throw in particular stood out. It’s a bold red-and-black check, made in the 1950s by Onkaparinga Woollen Mills. The label is still intact, which is rare for something this old. After cleaning and mending, it’s as soft and warm as it must have been seventy years ago. I’ve been draping it over my armchair in the evenings, using it as a lap blanket while I read.
If you’ve got an old wool throw at home that’s seen better days, I’d say don’t throw it out just yet. Wool can take a beating and still come back to life with a little care. It’s what makes these pieces worth holding onto, even when they’re not perfect.
The Process Behind Our Recycled Glass Vases
Our recycled glass vases are made in Melbourne using glass collected from residential recycling bins.
The recycled glass vases we carry start their lives in a surprisingly mundane way: as empty wine bottles and pickle jars. The glass is collected through residential recycling in Melbourne. People often wonder how recycling actually works, and in this case, the process is refreshingly straightforward. The glass is sorted, crushed, cleaned, and melted down at a facility in Melbourne’s west.
One of the things I like about this process is that it keeps the glass local. Australian recycling infrastructure isn’t perfect, and a lot of material ends up being shipped overseas. But with these vases, everything happens within a few hundred kilometres. The melted glass is formed into sheets or blown into moulds, depending on the design. It’s a mix of traditional glassmaking techniques and modern technology.
We work with a small studio that specialises in this kind of production. Their space is a mix of industrial and handmade — kiln furnaces running full tilt alongside rows of hand tools. Last time I visited, the heat was almost unbearable (this was in summer), but the team seemed unfazed. They’ve been doing this for decades and have the precision down to an art form.
The final vases have a slight irregularity to them, which I love. You might notice tiny bubbles or faint ripples in the glass if you hold one up to the sunlight. These imperfections tell the story of their creation. Each vase has this faint greenish tint, too, a result of the glass’s prior life as bottles. It’s subtle but present, and it sets them apart from mass-produced pieces.
I’ve got one of the vases on my dining table now, holding a few sprigs of wattle I picked near Sellicks Beach. It’s sturdier than it looks, which is good because I occasionally bump the table. I don’t think we give glass enough credit as a material. It’s endlessly recyclable and surprisingly resilient, qualities that aren’t always visible at first glance.
Autumn’s Start in McLaren Vale
March in McLaren Vale is harvest time, a season of golden light and cooler mornings. Here's what I notice most.
March in McLaren Vale feels like the year shifting gears. The mornings are cooler but not cold, and the grape harvest is in full swing. If you drive past the vineyards at sunrise, you’ll see crews starting early, avoiding the heat of midday. The light is golden and soft in a way that only happens during this time of year. It’s fleeting, but it’s my favourite season by far.
This year, I’ve been paying particular attention to the sounds. There’s the hum of tractors in the vineyards, the rustle of dry leaves on the ground, and the occasional flock of lorikeets that descends noisily on backyard fruit trees. The latter is a small annoyance; lorikeets have no concept of sharing. But even these moments feel like part of the rhythm of this place.
At home, I’ve started bringing out the wool throws again. Evenings stay warm for now, but there’s always that first night when the chill surprises you and you realise you haven’t seen a heater in months. The throws are draped over chairs and couches as a kind of preparation. They’ll stay there until late spring, ready for whenever they’re needed.
There’s also the return of tea. During summer, I mostly stick to iced versions, but now I find myself reaching for a proper hot pot in the mornings. Earl Grey is my default, but a neighbour recently dropped off a loose-leaf blend from Kangaroo Island that’s packed with native herbs. It’s earthy and slightly smoky, perfect for autumn. I’m almost through the tin already.
Seasons here don’t announce themselves loudly. They creep in at the edges, in the small changes: a shift in the light, a new sound, a cooler breeze. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss it. But once you notice, it’s hard not to feel connected to the rhythm of it all.
Summer Candle Testing: The Real Challenge
Testing candles in summer is its own beast — wax behaves differently when temperatures push past 35 degrees.
People often forget how much temperature affects a candle. During winter, everything feels predictable. But in summer, when the mercury hits 35 degrees or more, the entire equation changes. Wax softens in the heat, and some scents can evaporate too quickly. Testing candles during January’s peak heatwave was a reminder of just how finicky this process can be.
I spent most of February running tests in the garage. It’s the hottest part of the house, and by 3 p.m., it feels like an oven. Not ideal for comfort, but perfect for stress-testing candles. One batch melted into a puddle within 30 minutes of lighting — the wick couldn’t stand up to the heat. Another batch burned too fast, the wax practically boiling around the edges.
The solution ended up being a slight adjustment to the wax blend. By increasing the melting point by just a few degrees, the candles held their shape and burned more evenly. It’s a small tweak, but one that makes them usable year-round, even during Adelaide’s worst heatwaves. I keep detailed notes during these tests, down to the minute, because it’s amazing how much difference one variable can make.
My least favourite part of testing in summer is cleaning up the spills. Melted wax is unforgiving on tiles, and I’ve gone through more than a handful of scrapers trying to tidy up the aftermath. But that’s part of the process. It’s messy, unpredictable, and occasionally frustrating, but there’s a satisfaction that comes with solving a problem — particularly one you’ve been stuck on for weeks.
Now that the weather’s cooling down, testing becomes less dramatic. But there’s still something about those summer trials I enjoy. They’re a reminder that even something as simple as a candle is influenced by its environment. It’s never just wax and a wick; it’s context, climate, and, occasionally, a lot of sweat.
Customer reviews
Jess M. — Fitzroy, VIC — 2024-01-15 — 5/5
Perfect for picnics
Ordered the Bamboo Fibre Picnic Set and it’s been fantastic for outdoor meals. Sturdy and lightweight, plus it arrived faster than I expected.
Luke P. — Newtown, NSW — 2024-03-02 — 5/5
Incredible scent
I got the Eucalyptus Scented Candle and it smells amazing. Fills the room without being overpowering. Delivery was smooth too.
Amelia T. — Paddington, QLD — 2024-05-18 — 4/5
Lovely throw for cooler nights
The Vintage Wool Throw is beautiful and warm. Took off one star because it sheds a little, but otherwise I love it.
Nina R. — Manly, NSW — 2024-07-25 — 5/5
Great value for a journal
The Leather Travel Journal has become my daily notebook. The cover feels sturdy, and the paper quality is excellent. Worth every dollar.
Tom D. — South Melbourne, VIC — 2024-09-11 — 4/5
Nice vase, careful with packaging
The Recycled Glass Vase is lovely. It arrived with a small chip but customer service sorted it out quickly. Impressed with how they handled it.
Eliza K. — Norwood, SA — 2025-02-08 — 5/5
Perfect for gifts
I bought the Bamboo Fibre Picnic Set and the Eucalyptus Candle as gifts. Both were beautifully packaged and arrived on time.
James L. — West End, QLD — 2025-03-21 — 5/5
Eco-friendly and functional
The Bamboo Fibre Picnic Set is a great alternative to plastic. Easy to clean and looks great. Highly recommend for picnics or camping.
Clare S. — Bondi, NSW — 2025-05-15 — 4/5
Good throw, minor issue
The Vintage Wool Throw is very warm and soft. It does shed like others mentioned, but it’s manageable with some care.