Six Years Since San Patrignano: A Journey That Changed Everything

The San Patrignano dining room, known as the "Salone," warmly accommodates over 1,000 residents sharing their daily meals.

Last Saturday marked six years since I made the decision to leave Scotland and begin a life-changing journey in Italy. I joined San Patrignano, one of the world’s largest and most respected addiction recovery communities, and a place that became home for nearly four years of my life.

Founded in 1978, San Patrignano has welcomed over 26,000 people, offering them hope, dignity, and a real opportunity to rebuild their lives. I feel deeply grateful to be one of them.

A New Kind of Family

I arrived at San Patrignano feeling broken and unsure of what lay ahead. But over time, the community became my refuge. I spent three years and eight months living and working alongside more than 1,000 other residents, all committed to the same thing: recovery.

I missed four Christmases with my family in Scotland. But I wasn’t alone. The people around me. each with their own story became a new kind of family. We supported one another through challenges, setbacks, and moments of growth.

San Patrignano isn’t just a place to stop using substances, it’s a place to relearn how to live. The program is long-term and completely free, focusing on personal transformation through vocational training, education, and community living.

What I Learned There Changed Me Forever

San Patrignano taught me the value of working hard, showing up for others, and creating something meaningful. But more than anything, it taught me about connection, the power of empathy, purpose, and being part of something bigger than yourself.

That experience didn’t end when I left.

It lives on in everything I do now, especially in Nera Luxury Candles.

From Recovery to Fragrance: The Scents of San Patrignano

Every candle I create is inspired by an emotion or value that helped carry me through recovery. The scents in the Recovery Collection - Acceptance, Courage, Connection, Resilience, Reflection, and Gratitude, are deeply personal.

One in particular, Connection, always brings me back to San Patrignano. The scent reminds me of shared meals, shared work, long talks, laughter, and moments of quiet understanding, all the small things that help you feel seen and not alone.

Why I Share This

Recovery is not a journey you walk alone. It’s built on the bonds we form, through kindness, trust, shared struggle, and shared hope.

At San Patrignano, I learned that healing comes from being part of a community that believes in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself yet. That belief stayed with me, and it’s part of what Nera Luxury Candles stands for.

Learn More or Share the Light

If you're curious about San Patrignano or want to understand more about the story behind Nera, please read the "My Story" section of the website.

You can also read more about the incredible work they do at the Italian community at https://www.sanpatrignano.org/en/

Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone else through it, or simply drawn to stories of resilience and hope, I hope this reminds you of what’s possible.

Here’s to the power of connection, community, and second chances.