We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrea Animashaun. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrea below.
Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve always enjoyed creating – sketching, crocheting, cooking etc… About four years ago, I began a new project of making candle melts using leftover wax from candles I had purchased. During the process, I began researching candles in depth and learned about the toxic candles I was burning in my home. The most common candle wax on the market is paraffin, a petroleum-based by-product produced when rendering crude oil. To make matters worse, as I continued digging, I discovered that my family and I were inhaling carcinogens such as benzene, toluene and even formaldehyde daily and the candle labels failed to explicitly warn consumers of this risk. I felt misled, I was angry and disappointed. Why hadn’t I known this and more importantly, why was it legal and considered safe to create products that had the potential of emitting these types of chemicals?! I love to burn candles and now I had to give them up. Soon after, it clicked. I was going to bring awareness to toxic candle burning and I was going to create a natural, long burning candle, free of chemicals and synthetic fragrances. I knew my concerns were valid, I not only needed to share them, I needed to create an alternative.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It began with a cabinet full of candle jars containing leftover wax. A project to repurpose leftover candles led to tons of research and revealed my toxic candle burning routine. A few harsh realities, candle scents and wax types are not required on a candle label. It’s acceptable for a manufacturer to label a candle “Scented” and put it on a shelf. Synthetic fragrances emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. The most common wax on the market is paraffin, when burned it releases carcinogens such as benzene and toluene. Deciding to start my own candle company was rooted in my dissatisfaction, I held myself accountable for resolving that uneasiness. I knew I could do better. I knew my concerns would be shared and I knew that if I made a product accessible to others, they would see and appreciate its value. June Bug Candles is a sustainable, eco-friendly candle company on a mission to eliminate toxic candle burning. Utilizing 100% pure, natural beeswax, we create pillars, votives and aromatherapy wax melts scented with 100% pure essential oils. There are a variety of benefits to burning beeswax candles. Beeswax is the only candle that emits light along the same spectrum as the sun. It’s a natural air purifier because it releases negative ions when burned. Household dust, mold, viruses, and bacteria carry positive ions. Burning beeswax naturally forces these positive ions out of the air we breathe. For this reason, it’s a great candle option for those with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities to strong scents. Beeswax is one of the longest burning natural waxes because it’s extremely dense, therefore, it has a high melting point without the use of chemical hardeners. Lastly, beeswax smells divine! It releases a natural, subtle honey aroma when burning. My goal has always been to improve the candle burning experience by creating products with natural, transparent ingredients that improve wellness. I believed I could create a solution to toxic candle burning and I am – one pour at a time.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I continuously remind myself that building my brand is a process that will continue to evolve. I had to unlearn the idea of “overnight success”. Yes – we know it happens; however, I believe the concept of building a successful business is oversimplified. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It’s not easy, it’s not always fun, it’s not always hard – but for me, it’s worth the effort. It takes consistency, dedication, and a willingness to continue learning and adapting.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of my journey as a creative is having the ability to share my knowledge with others. I’ve met so many people on each end of the spectrum; those that knew about the toxicity of traditional candles and those that had no idea. I would say that some of my best moments have come during in-person events. Simple conversations with people that had given up toxic candle burning walked away having purchased my candles. The fact that those types of interactions happen regularly confirms that there is a world of consumers that want an alternative but don’t know that one exists. That understanding is enough for me to continue my mission to eliminate toxic candle burning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.junebugcandles.com
- Instagram: @junebugcandles
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SimplyJuneBugCandles
Image Credits
Product Photography – Marika Castaneda of Marika Photography