Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn King.
Hi Jaclyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Here is a little background about how my absurd candle obsession turned into my dream job. For the last 20 years, I was a designer by trade so I’ve always had a very real love of all things pretty to look at. But even better, items or spaces that have/tell a visual story. Now I have always loved a good candle, and because I have two kids and three dogs, I have always NEEDED them too. I may have even had designated candle closet drawers full of candle fragrances for any occasion. But what drove me crazy was that I had to throw away the vessels after use. It feels SO wasteful to just “pitch them” after use, but they sure aren’t pretty enough to repurpose. I often found myself putting a proverbial bag over their heads by hiding them inside other vessels so they could be smelled but not seen. In my career, I have always sourced uniquely vintage accessories for clients, so then it hit me: why not hand-pick antique vessels and turn them into chic candles for the design-savvy buyer. We choose to sell only the loveliest vessels we would place in our own home space. My Grandmother & Aunt had an antique business, “Two Dumb Dames”, and since I was a child being dragged to estate sales at 6 am, my love of vintage has only grown stronger over the years and now I get to go treasure hunting every day. I work with vendors, pickers, and individuals all over the world to help create a totally unique shopping experience, complete with a wax refill option, so you never have to throw another candle away.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been fairly smooth. There have been many challenges but not having products made overseas has made it easy for me to, well, oversee. Because it has been a slow and steady launch without the pressure of working with investors or relying on profitability as my “full-time job income”, I was able to research, learn, develop and refine my product and business model. The hardest part was definitely the science of making a good candle. I spent many long days understanding the chemistry of how to work with various oils and find the perfect ratios for my brand.
As you know, we’re big fans of Old Flame Candle Co. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Old Flame Candle Co takes handpicked, uniquely vintage vessels and turns them into chic candles for the design-savvy buyer. From petite candles to giant statement candles, we work with dealers and pickers across the world to offer you a totally unique shopping experience. Besides the wonderful working relationship we have with dealers, our favorite part of our jobs are those days we get to buy in person. Days are spent with our sack lunches in tow at flea markets and estate sales, rifling through all the coolest treasures of decades past! We buy brass, glass, marble, copper, ceramic, silver, stoneware…even match holders. We then take each vessel back to the studio, clean her up thoroughly, and breathe new life into her. She gets her own personal photo shoot, then off to the internet she goes.
After each candle has dutifully served its purpose, rekindle your relic by cleaning out any remaining wax and repurpose it to your choosing! Old Flame Candle Co. also offers a wax refill subscription in which customers may send back their vessels to have them refilled with the scent profile of their choice. Also, we realize some people are sensitive to fragrance; therefore we offer fragrance-free wax with any wax refill.
Our all-natural wax and wooden wicks are better for you, your children, and your pets to breathe. The wax is a luxurious, soft, and smooth vegan blend of apricot and coconut wax, so natural it’s even FDA-approved. It provides excellent fragrance throw, and it contains no chemical scent enhancers that cause headaches and irritated eyes. It’s also free of toxins, gluten, paraben, phthalate, and comes from renewable sources.
Our wooden wicks are completely chemical-free with no pesticides, made from FSC Certified Wood, hand-crafted & made in the United States. FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Before I got the opportunity to start my own business, I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to offer personal fragrances that didn’t smell like everyone else’s home. One thing you won’t find here is Apple Cinnamon or Vanilla Sugar, ladies and gentleman. We offer approximately 10 scent selections, all containing multiple unique tops, middle, and base notes. Oh, and make sure you come back often because we always offer new scents in celebration of each new season. We also choose our oils very carefully, and therefore our fragrances are crafted with the health-conscious, environmentally-friendly consumer in mind.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
As a young, small business, we strive to make connections with other like-minded individuals. In our industry and being in the vintage space, having “boots on the ground” is critical to us acquiring our beloved pieces. We wouldn’t be where we are without having made connections with our vendors who are out there everyday sourcing so that we can be in our studios operating. My advice would be to reach out to those with similar styles, designs, and business aspirations. These are the people who will help you build a bigger and stronger foundation. In our experience, working together with these vendors proves more beneficial than to be in competition. It behooves our vendors as much as it benefits our business to work together. Find people you admire and those you can grow alongside. Don’t be afraid to make connections!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oldflamecandleco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldflamecandleco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063563771926
