Director of Products

Candles & Oud; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium fragrance brand seeks a Director of Products to lead product strategy and ownership across home and personal fragrance. This senior leadership role requires someone with experience in overseeing home fragrance production and a strong commercial understanding of product costing and scalability. The candidate will manage supplier relationships and drive product development from concept to launch while reporting directly to the CEO. This role offers ownership and direct influence within a growing brand.

Qualifications

• Experience in overseeing home fragrance production.
• Demonstrable experience within beauty or premium FMCG.
• Structured and commercially minded.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute product roadmap across home and personal fragrance.
• Lead all aspects of home fragrance production.
• Manage testing, compliance, and readiness for launch.

Skills

Senior product leadership experience within fragrance

Strong commercial understanding of costing

Management of supplier relationships

Ability to operate at leadership level

Job description

Director of Products

Candles & Oud | London (Hybrid, London E3 3YD)

Reports to : Chief Executive Officer

We craft oud-infused blends for people and spaces, transforming ordinary days into extraordinary moments — because you deserve to Feel Exceptional.

The Role

Candles & Oud is seeking a Director of Products to take full ownership of our end-to-end product ecosystem across home fragrance and personal fragrance.

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO. The successful candidate will be accountable for product strategy, development, production, commercial performance, and lifecycle management.

Home fragrance production — including candles, diffusers, and associated accessories — will sit entirely under this role.

This position requires someone who can operate with clarity, authority, and commercial discipline, while respecting the creative integrity of a premium fragrance brand.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Ownership

• Own and execute the product roadmap across :
• Home fragrance (candles, diffusers, accessories)
• Personal fragrance (EDP, extrait, future formats)
• Translate brand vision into scalable, commercially viable product lines
• Ensure consistency, coherence, and long‑term relevance across the range

Home Fragrance Production

• Lead all aspects of home fragrance production, including :
• Manufacturer and supplier management
• Quality control and formulation alignment
• Packaging development and sourcing
• Ensure production meets agreed standards on quality, cost, and timelines

Development & Launch

• Oversee product development from concept to launch
• Manage testing, compliance, and readiness for retail, travel retail, online, and B2B
• Work closely with operations, retail, marketing, and finance to ensure disciplined execution

Commercial & Operational Control

• Own product costing, margins, and bill‑of‑materials discipline
• Ensure products are scalable across kiosks, stores, online, corporate gifting, and travel retail
• Review product performance and optimise the range based on data and commercial insight

Supplier & Partner Management

• Manage relationships with fragrance houses, manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and laboratories
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and commercial terms
• Maintain governance, quality standards, and supply reliability

Leadership & Governance

• Act as the internal authority on product matters
• Present clear, structured updates and recommendations directly to the CEO
• Bring order, discipline, and accountability to the product function

Candidate Profile

• Senior product leadership experience within fragrance, beauty, lifestyle, or premium FMCG
• Demonstrable experience overseeing home fragrance production
• Strong commercial understanding of costing, margins, and scalability
• Comfortable operating at leadership level with minimal supervision
• Structured, decisive, and commercially minded
• High standards, sound judgement, and the confidence to challenge constructively

What This Role Is

• A leadership position with real ownership and influence
• A strategic role shaping a growing premium fragrance brand
• Direct access to the CEO and decision‑making authority

What This Role Is Not

• A junior or purely creative role
• A project‑management‑only position
• A role requiring constant direction

Why Candles & Oud

Candles & Oud is building a disciplined, scalable fragrance business that blends Middle Eastern fragrance heritage with British structure and execution.

We value clarity, accountability, and excellence — and we expect our leaders to do the same.