From Hobby to Hustle: Chantel of Candles on Tap

Chantel's candle making journey began as creative outlet by blending her love for unique scents with the satisfaction of crafting by hand. 

She recently opened her second storefront and welcomed us to check out her new Candle Bar. We had an amazing time meeting her in person and crafting our very own custom blend candles!

Keep reading to learn more about she turned candle making into a business, the lessons learned along the way, and her advice for fellow makers looking to light their own path.

how it started

"I have always loved dabbling with scent and was an avid candle shopper. I love the soothing and unique scent blends, and the satisfaction of crafting something by hand. I was captivated by the process of turning raw materials into something beautiful and functional. The tactile experience of melting the wax, blending fragrances, glazing and perfecting the final product allowed me to express my creativity in a hands-on way. When I decided to buy an online kit and teach myself how to craft candles for a fun new hobby, I started with four small mason jars…and the rest was history."

on building a business

"Curiosity led me to explore more about candle-making. I watched videos, read articles, and soon found myself ordering supplies to sell to friends & family. What began as a small experiment quickly turned into a passion. Each time I poured wax into a jar I chose, carefully selected & blended scents, and watched the wick catch fire, I felt a sense of creativity I hadn’t experienced before.

Friends and family noticed the growing collection of candles around my home and I always had a candle on me to give to someone. They loved my candle creations and ultimately gave me the confidence to try getting them into some local shops.

The idea to sell them came naturally. Encouraged by the positive feedback, I walked my candles down to a popular shop in Ocean Beach, CA. They loved them and gave me a shot at selling a handful in their store. 

Each sale was a little victory, a sign that something I created was bringing light and warmth into someone's life."

on acquiring wholesale accounts

"Wholesale is so much fun! It’s a great way to collaborate with local businesses. It takes a lot of outreach to notify people that you offer this service, but candles can be sold in a wide variety of industries. Wholesale forced me to learn photoshop so I could offer custom branded labels on their one-of-a-kind candles. It’s really cool to see my candle creations being made for salons, realtors, celebrities, bridal showers, weddings, and retail locations!"

storefronts by the sea

"The journey of opening my brick-and-mortar candle store began with a simple passion for candle-making. What started as a hobby, creating handcrafted candles for friends and family, quickly blossomed into something more as I realized the joy my creations brought to others. I actually had people doubting my ability to turn this hobby into a larger business, but I decided to turn this passion into something way bigger than my original dreams.

After my online sales and wholesale accounts took off, I knew I wanted to share my candle making experience with the community.

Fast forward, I am so proud to say that I opened my flagship location in Encinitas, CA as the very 1st Candle Bar in San Diego! Five years later, I just opened my second location in Santa Monica, CA. I am very grateful for this journey." 

on standing out

"Our candles are made from natural coconut wax and skin safe, premium fragrance oils. Each product is paraben-free, vegan, and toxic-free. Our candles contain lead-free cotton wicks to ensure a cleaner and longer burn."

on getting advice

"There are a few online candle communities who helped me early on in my journey. Being able to connect with other makers and ask questions was very helpful.

Fun fact: I hosted a Makesy meetup event at my candle bar where makers came together and shared tips with one another!"

on where to invest

"For me, it’s the overhead of two retail locations. Supplies would come second, as I ensure to always be stocked up in both stores on all items needed for candle making. I don’t spend on marketing, since we get foot traffic and customers & influencers who share organic content."

on finding inspiration

"My candle stores are more than just a place to sell candles; it’s a manifestation of my hard work, creativity, and dedication. It’s where I get to interact with customers daily, hear their feedback, and continue to refine my craft.

Opening this store was a dream realized, and every day it serves as a reminder that with passion and perseverance anything is possible."

advice for makers

"I would say to always start with passion & purpose, research thoroughly, start small and scale, be prepared for hard work, and build a strong support network.

You can keep up with Chantel and Candles on Tap on Instagram or via her website!