Embracing the Glow: 2024 Candle Trends
In the ever-evolving world of home decor and self-care, candle trends continue to captivate consumers with a focus on creating harmonious spaces that nurture both the body and soul. As we step into 2024, three distinct candle trends are emerging:
1. New Age Minimalism: Less is More in Candle Design
Minimalism is impacting fashion and interior design with trends like Scandanavian and Japanese design and ‘Nineties Minimalist’ clothing. This is expected to continue this year. Candle lovers are also embracing the beauty of simplicity. This trend revolves around sleek and uncluttered designs that seamlessly integrate into modern living spaces. Thoughtful products with clean lines, neutral colours, and sustainable materials are gaining popularity. These minimalist candles are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve as subtle reminders of mindful living.
In 2023 I changed my design to simple, minimalist labels that allow the ambiance and glow of the candle to take centre stage, rather than to distract.
2. Androgynous Scents: Breaking Gender Norms in Fragrance
Breaking away from traditional gender associations, the androgynous scent trend is redefining the olfactory landscape of candles. Embracing a spectrum of fragrances that transcend gender norms, candles are becoming more inclusive and diverse in their scent profiles. A blend of earthy, woody notes combined with hints of floral and citrus create unisex aromas that appeal to a broad audience. Androgynous scents not only challenge preconceived notions but also encourage a sense of unity and connection, making them a popular choice for those seeking gender-neutral and sophisticated candle experiences. We're also seeing a move away from 'seasonal' scents, to more timeless, neutral scents that compliment any occasion. To me, this goes hand in hand with the new age minimalism trend; it's less about the seasonality of our style, and more about choosing things for our home with more of a timeless approach.
3. Spiritual Wellness: Candles as Soulful Sanctuaries
In a world that is constantly buzzing with activity, the spiritual wellness trend brings candles into the spotlight as sacred tools for relaxation and introspection. I've always believed that candles add to the ritual of everyday activities. Herbal toned fragrances like lavender and sage, along with grounding earthy scents like and take center stage, invoking a sense of tranquility and grounding. These candles are designed not just to illuminate spaces but also to elevate moods, providing a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being.
What do you think? Do these trends resonate with you?
]]>I started writing this in an email, but decided instead to make a new blog post so it can live on my website. A quick story time for everyone...
November is always my busiest month of the year. Not only is the weather changing and people want to cozy up inside with candles, but it's also gift giving season. Because of that (and coupled with the fact that I'm notoriously last-minute) I'm always swamped this time of year.
My number of retailers has grown throughout the year (yay!!), and this year I signed up for more markets than usual as well. I did the Big Brothers Big Sisters Show and Sale which went SO well that I had to pour tons to be prepared for Shale Ridge the following weekend. So there I am at Shale Ridge, enjoying the second day of their beautiful Holiday Sip and Shop, which again was going so well that I was worrying about my dwindling inventory heading into One of a Kind Show the following week. I had emailed all of you to say I'd be away, and to expect longer than normal fulfillment times.
Around 10am my website started blowing up with sales. At first I thought, okay it must be my customers who just received that email, getting their order in the queue before I leave. But it just kept going and going. I opened a few of them and saw they were all to the US. Now I was REALLY confused. I rarely ship to the US. I opened Instagram to see if someone had tagged me there, but nope! At that point I texted my friend Laurel from Ysebaert Acres and she said the same thing was happening to her! Shortly after that, I saw a lovely DM from someone saying they were sent to my page from Sandi Brock aka Sheepishly Me and that they were excited to try my candles.
It turns out Sandi (who has over 1m YouTube subscribers) had purchased my holiday candles from Laurel's store, and just out of the kindness of her and Jess' hearts, decided to talk about them on their vlog, and link everyone to my website. I had to wait all day until I was back at home to watch the video (while wicking jars with my husband) and it brought me to tears. I've cried about it many times since then as well.
That Sunday alone, I received over 100 new orders, and the orders have continued since then. Some customers have already re-ordered. Holy cow. Or holy sheep I should say!!
Last night I packed up an order for Sandi and Jess, because I wanted to send them a few things to say thank you. To them, it may not seem like a grand gesture to just speak authentically about products they enjoy so much, knowing that their viewers would enjoy them as well. But to me, it was an unexpected act of kindness at a time when I needed some reassurance that I'm where I'm supposed to be.
2023 was a really tough year for so many small businesses. I can't even begin to count how many of my small biz friends have closed their doors this year. It has felt like the love and support we received during the pandemic had all but disappeared. It's understandable that people would turn back to big box retailers when so many people can't afford to spend the way they used to. Zero judgment from me, I promise, but it doesn't make it any less disheartening.
The orders, the messages, the kind reviews and comments from the people sent my way from Sandi are a true testament to the people she has attracted to her life. I truly feel that kind people attract kind people, and I'm committed to taking care of my customers in the same way.
Thank you all for being here, and please know that every order, every little note in the orders, every comment, every DM, every product review makes my day.
with love, Nicki
PS check out Sandi's vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbSmUdHGjjk. My candles are featured around 17 minutes in.
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One Tree Planted is a nonprofit that is dedicated to global reforestation. They plant trees to restore nature and biodiversity. They also raise awareness about the importance of trees, offer businesses like ours a simple sustainability solution, and motivate younger generations to do something positive for the environment.
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Recently I have been feeling compelled to have a structured charitable component to my website. I've done many different charitable initiatives over the years. I've done many fundraisers for the Terry Fox Foundation which funds research into all forms of cancer, a topic near and dear to me as a sibling of a childhood cancer survivor. I also created and co-organize a not-for-profit fundraising community festival each year called the Camlachie Summer Send-Off (check us out here) which has raised nearly $60,000 to construct a new indoor/outdoor sports facility for our small town of Camlachie.
However, I still felt there was more I could be doing. I went back and forth for a long time on what initiative and charity felt like the right fit. I knew I wanted to do something that benefitted children, and there are so many amazing organizations I found that could work really well.
As a product-based business, I use a lot of resources and materials to create my product. I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible with the materials I choose: sustainable North American grown soy wax, jars from an Ontario-based supplier, compostable shipping materials, etc. Despite that, it's undeniable that I am creating a larger carbon footprint in manufacturing and distributing approximately 10,000 candles each year.
So ultimately my focus was narrowed down to two areas; the wellbeing of children, and the environment. I met with a few different environmental companies, and ultimately One Tree Planted was the right fit for me.
One Tree Planted is a nonprofit that is on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to restore forests that have been degraded or deforested, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity habitat. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. You can check them out and learn more at onetreeplanted.org.
Every purchase made on my website will help fund their efforts and plant trees. You also will have the option to add trees onto your order at checkout. Each donation of $1USD plants one tree.
Enjoy your candles + plant a tree with me!
Happy shopping!
Nic
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It's been a goal of mine for a long time to expand into other complimentary products to go with candles, but I learned from Shark Tank and Dragon's Den University the importance of going deep before you go wide. Working on the new room sprays and body lotions was so fun. Tinkering with recipes and formulations, packaging, labelling, it all sparked my creativity and brought me so much joy. And oh boy could I use some joy right now.
February was a rough month. Really rough. Not only for my business, but for my mental health as well. Inflation is hurting everyone in every way. Yesterday I went to our local grocery store and when the cashier scanned my bag of clementines I thought I was seeing things when it said $17.47. Pardon me? I asked if that was real and when she said yes I said that'll be a pass for me. No Vitamin C for my kids this month thank you very much.
So many small businesses in my local community are closing down. In fact, when I look back to those who were around when I started, almost none of them are still in business. And that's a very unsettling feeling. I've started to question my own relevance and if I'm at the end of the natural life cycle of a brand.
Yesterday I had a great session with my business coach. She helped me get out of my head and reframe my thinking. The negative self talk and the self doubt are not serving me, and in fact they're negatively impacting every area of my life. P.S highly recommend tapping (aka Emotional Freedom Technique) for anyone interested in emotional regulation and shifting your thinking.
This month is going to be a busy one, and I'm ready to tackle it with a clear head and an open heart. The One of a Kind Show is at the end of the month, which has been a goal of mine since before I even owned a business. It's a huge commitment both financially and personally, and I need to make sure I'm going into it in the right headspace.
I felt compelled to share some more about the space that I've been in lately because so often I get asked how I keep everything in balance. The honest answer is that I don't, and I truly don't feel anyone does. We only have so much energy to go around, and it shouldn't be the expectation that everything receives 100% of us. For me, something is always being prioritized over something else. So the times that my business is thriving and keeping me so busy, it's more than likely that I'm missing social events or not connecting with Ryan. If my social cup is full, my health and fitness cup might be empty. You get the gist right?
I hope that I haven't contributed to hustle culture, but if I have then I'm here to say I'm making a conscious effort not to romanticize business (busy-ness). It's unrealistic and inauthentic. No one can pour from an empty cup. Instead, my goal is to show up authentically, do things with my whole heart, and give myself grace for the cups that are less full than others.
Onwards and upwards friends!
Nic
]]>The 3 P's of Bad Candle Ingredients
You've probably heard lots of us in the candle industry talk about different buzz words related to candle ingredients. Finding yourself overwhelmed? You're not alone! It's easy for us to get caught up in our own little world and forget that the average consumer doesn't really know what we're talking about. So let's break it all down, shall we?
1. Paraffin. I use soy wax for all of my candles, but the most common type of wax in mass-produced candles is Paraffin wax. It's also the stuff they put on your hands and feet at spas, but that's a topic for another day. What is it? It's a colourless solid wax derived from coal, oil shale or petroleum. Why do candlemakers use it? It's been around the longest. It's also cheaper than soy or coconut waxes and gives off the most scent.
Paraffin is a contentious ingredient. The National Candle Association and the FDA claim that paraffin is a safe ingredient. Other studies have produced findings that show a level of concern:
Ruhullah Massoudi, a chemistry professor at South Carolina State University, and undergrad Amid Hamidi found that candles made with paraffin gave off a variety of nasty chemicals, including toluene (a benzene derivative, which is a known carcinogen).
My personal stance is that I will never use paraffin. Regardless of the toxicity claims, it's not a renewable, sustainable ingredient, and I don't feel comfortable burning it in my home so I'm not going to suggest you use it in yours.
It's also important to note that if a candle says "soy wax blend" it very likely has paraffin wax. There are no regulations on the percentage of wax needed to make a claim about its composition. Therefore, that candle could be 99% paraffin with 1% soy and claim a soy wax blend.
2 & 3. Parabens and Phthalates. Parabens are preservatives used to increase the shelf life of candles, and phthalates are compounds that help bind different fragrances together. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has concluded that phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. These can wreak all kinds of havoc in our bodies. Because of that, I only use fragrance oils that are free from paraben and phthalates.
Rest assured when you purchase your candles from me, they're free of these 3 P's. I only use soy wax and clean burning fragrance oils, along with a cotton wick.
]]>Have you ever brought a new candle into your home only to find that you can't smell it? Here's a few reasons why that might be the case:
1. It hasn't been burning long enough. Especially on the first burn, it takes a while for the candle to warm up enough, and the true scent to be released. Typically, it takes until the melt pool reaches the edges of your vessel to truly appreciate the scent. Each inch of diameter of the candle vessel = the number of hours your candle needs to be burned the first time. For our 8oz glass jar candle, that's about 3 hours.
2. It's not the right sized candle for the space. We sell a few different sized candles, and it's not only to offer different price point options; it's also to cater to different spaces and scent strengths. Our mini 4oz candle is kind of like a trial size. That little guy burns for a total of 25 hours and is best suited for small spaces like a bathroom. Our standard 8oz candle is perfect for a bedroom sized room. Our large 16oz double wick candles are best suited to a kitchen that has a lot of other scents to compete with. It's also best for a living room in an open concept house, or if you're just someone who likes a lot of scent.
3. You may have gone nose blind. I know this is a funny concept from a home cleaning product commercial, but it's actually a thing! If you find you don't notice your candle scent anymore, it could be from olfactory fatigue. After a while, your nose has had enough and shuts off to that scent. Oftentimes when I'm working in my workshop and someone comes by to pick up an order they tell me how great it smells in there, but I can't smell anything because my nose has had enough. If this happens, you can either switch to a new candle scent to burn or just leave that space for 15+ minutes and when you walk back in you'll probably notice it again.
Happy candle burning, friends!
Nicki
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