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32 Small Candle Companies to Support (Chicago Local, Female + BIPOC Owned!)

I’ve rounded up 32 different candle brands for you to support this season as you purchase gifts for yourself or someone special. These candles are all tried by yours truly because I’m that scent-obsessed. Plus, now more than ever small businesses are looking for our support so if you think a candle would be the perfect little gift, consider ordering from one of these small businesses. They’re such a special way to make even the smallest moments a little more special.

Do you ever associate a scent to a memory? I definitely do and each scent reminds me of a different season in my life – just like how people associate songs or homemade meals with memories. I always light a candle when I end the workday to make that transition from work mode to relax mode a little more official. 

A few of my candle criteria’s:
 
  1. The scents have to layer well and not be super intrusive – I’m a big fan of the woodsy scents but like them to not be super overpowering.
  2. Preferably no paraffin wax – all of these should be soy or coconut wax-based.
  3. Doubles as decor! Must be aesthetically pleasing (yes, I said it.).
  4. As many local + female + BIPOC-owned businesses as possible.
 
You might have noticed a little color palette going on here. I love having a neutral space so everything here are in shades of black, white, and grey with some gold accents here and there to match. 
 
Some of the businesses give back to the community so by supporting them, you’re also supporting their community. Aside from the locals and the women/ BIPOC-owned picks, I did include my tried and true cult favorites like Le Labo, Byredo, and Diptyque  at the end because they are classics for a reason. If you could find these at your local boutiques or small shops – even better! I know Alice & Wonder here in Chicago carries the Canceled Plans candles. Happy shopping and cheers to your space smelling amazing everyday! *Note – I get no kickback or commission from any links in this post. Just wanted to share these with you all! 
 

1) Mala The Brand

Buy a candle from Mala The Brand, and they plant a tree. These candles are soy-based and hand poured with sustainable materials. Meet the owner, Melody, here. Loving this Cereal + Golden Hour scent. 

*Female, BIPOC-owned

2) Aerangis 

We love a good ceramic holder. Meet the owner, Alicia Tsai, here. 

*Female, BIPOC-owned

3) Lit Candle Supply 

Love a good nod to our city of Chicago. Find the Chicago candle here and you can also order from their Etsy. 

*Female, BIPOC-owned

4) The Koop NYC

The Koop drops seasonal candles and once they’re out, they’re gone! Made from coconut + soy wax. So good – they also have a core collection you can find here. 

*Female, BIPOC-owned

5) Labotica NYC

Chic is all I think about when I think about the candles from Labotica. Love the scent CASABLANCA.

*Female, BIPOC-owned

6) Cement Candles

I found this cute little shop on Etsy on a whim. Again, we love a good cerami c holder! 

*Female-owned 

7) The Luxuriate 

Marble + stone candle, but make it refillable. Enough said. Can’t go wrong with the marble or black marble holder. 

8) Boy Smells

You can basically find Boy Smell candles anywhere now, but you can check your local boutiques to see if they carry it – great scents, great packaging, great team behind the brand. Cashmere Kush is my all time favorite scent from Boy Smells, though I doubt you can go wrong with any of them. It even comes in a large size! 

*BIPOC-owned

9) Tatine 

Local to Chicago and OMG that BRANDING. You gotta have them all. 

*Female-Owned, Chicago-local

10) Ranger Station

Candles poured in a whiskey glass holder. For all my dudes around here (or ladies who love whiskey glasses). Also love the City Series where you can add a little customization here. 

11) Dehv Candle Co

Thoughtfully + ethically packaged in a concrete vessel with a metal copper lid – the container is also a 100% biodegradable packaging. Meet the owner Jade, here. 

*Female-owned 

12) Parks Project 

For the nature lover in your life. Purchases help fund a project in a National Park. Love the Joshua Tree candle, here. 

 
When in doubt, gift someone a black + white minimalist candle to give them the little something they never knew they needed. 
 
*Female, BIPOC-owned
 
 
How about I want every single candle from this collection (so if you’re a friend reading, *hint hint*) But really – we love a nicely packaged candle with some sarcastic text. Gift someone (or yourself) the athleisure or adulting candle, because they’ll both be relevant for many years to come. P.S if you’re in Chicago, try supporting a local boutique to get your Anecdote Candle – I know they have them at Neighborly in Chicago! 
 
*Female-owned 
 
 
The Giving Wick helps charities fighting for a good cause – 15% of every candle purchase goes back to their charity of choice that season. You can choose a soy or coconut wax candle and it comes in three different vessels – on the go tins, a simple box for gifting, or the closed tube. 
 
*Chicago-local 
 
 
My favorite gift to give – the Windy City Candle! Find your favorite city and its matching scent – such a good candle to give away to someone moving! I discovered this brand when I was living in Charleston, SC. I also own several of the 42 Pressed City Prints and all around, these candles can’t be beat. Chicago locals – you can also find these at Foxtrot! The code “NUTRITON” gets you $5 off any purchase. 
 
*Female-owned 
 
 
Beautiful design and clean scents. Love the Cedar scent – I bought mine at Foxtrot here in Chicago! 
 
*Female, BIPOC-owned
 
 
An all black candle = instant chic. 
 
 
I love the Good Friday and Sunday Funday candle. For your friend who’s still dating in these times…. can’t go wrong with Cuffing Season. 
 
*BIPOC-owned
 
20. Keap 
 
Reccomendation from my friend Rachel – particularly the Wood Cabin scent. Ordered this and I’m sure I’m going to love – anything to make my apartment smell like I’m in a cabin in the woods, but not. #glamping 
 
 
Love the 11:11 Candle. 
 
*Female-owned 
 
 
Another 11:11 Candle, because we can’t get enough. 
 
*Female-owned 
 
 
Soy Candles made by young moms in Chicago at the Bright Endeavors paid training program – 100% of all proceeds support their mission of empowering young moms, their kids, and their communities. Love this Juniper Berry + Fir scent. 
 
*Chicago-local 
 
 
If you’re ever around Charleston, SC or Atlanta, GA – you’ve got to check out Candlefish’s candle library. I’ve also taken a candle making class at the Charleston location and it’s such a fun day activity. Plus, how amazing is it that you get to remember a memory like that with a candle? I love Candlefish No. 4 and their Gold Marble Vessels. 
 
*Charleston-local 
 
 
I also discovered this while I was living in Charleston, SC – the vessels are made from recycled wine bottles and obviously, there’s a matching scent to each type of wine. For the wine lovers in your life! 
 
*Charleston-local 
 
 
Candles named after neighborhoods in Chicago! Fun idea for new homeowners, or those loyal to their Chicago neighborhoods. You can also find these at NOMAD Chicago. 
 
*Female-owned, Chicago-local
 
 
Charleston locals will always have a special place in my heart. LOVE these chic candles at the perfect price with the BEST scents. Available in black or white vessels. Love the scents UGH Those Feels and Finer Things. 
 
*Female, BIPOC-owned, Charleston-local 
 
 
SO FREAKING RELATABLE. SUCH FREAKING GOOD SMELLS. I love them all, but particularly the Canceled Plans (best smell ever), I Miss High Fives, and Remember Hugs. If you’re in Chicago, you can find them at Alice & Wonder! 
 
 
These candles shimmer and crackle (as in you can hear them – like a fireplace!) in addition to providing a fresh scent. Cute idea to involve all the senses in one candle! 
 
*Female, BIPOC-owned
 
 
Sustainable candles hand-poured in Georgia with the best holiday scents. Cinnamon rolls? Sign me up. You get to pick your size of candle in addition to the type of wick – cotton or wood. 
 
 
So chic, so lovely. If I had a type….it would be a sleek minimalist candle. 
 
 
Another carrera marble that’s refillable – what more can we ask for? 
 
*Female, BIPOC-owned
 

8 cult favorite candles worth the hype

I love the Frasier Fir scent in this holder, but it also comes in this and this – same scent, different holder! G.O.A. T holiday candle if you love the smell of Christmas + pine trees. Honestly I can burn this year-round and still love it. If you’re in Chicago, try to support your local shops – you can find this at Foxtrot! The code “NUTRITION” gets you $5 off any order. 

Partial to the Roses, baies, and Mimosa scents in the black holder. 

Top picks: Woods or Burning Rose.

My favorite fragrances of all time. You can’t go wrong with Santal 26 (smells like leather books). Also customizable, and we love that around here – the perfect detail to make a gift a little more special. 

The perfect shade of millennial pastel. Or is it Gen Z? Can’t tell time anymore, apparently. 

Top pick: Portable Fireplace. Because duh, portable. fireplace. 

Two words, Tom Ford. And Fucking Fabulous. Almost too cliche to include but it’s too chic not to. 

Top picks: Silk Pajamas + Fallen Fir 

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November 19, 2020 115 MIN READ TAGS: , , , , , BY: May 0 COMMENT
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