We recently connected with Brianna Lucero and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My husband and I have always valued creating a home that feels cozy, inviting, and beautiful. From the beginning of our relationship, candles have been a part of that, filling our spaces with warmth and ambiance. Over time, however, we became more mindful of our environmental impact and started exploring ways to live more sustainably. That’s when we discovered just how wasteful the candle industry can be. More than 35 million candles end up in landfills each year, and even among those labeled recyclable, only 8% are successfully recycled.

This realization concerned us, and we felt compelled to seek a better solution. During our research, we stumbled upon bioplastics, specifically algae-based materials being used to create biodegradable plastics. Inspired by this innovation, we began experimenting with algae to create a truly sustainable candle vessel. After months of testing and refining, we developed a unique vessel made from algae that not only safely burns candles but is also fully compostable after use.

Our product is unlike anything currently available in the candle industry. It offers a sustainable solution to a significant environmental issue, transforming candles from wasteful products into ones that actively contribute to the health of our planet. The excitement of combining our love for candles with a mission to make a positive impact drives everything our team does, and we’re proud to offer a product that’s as beautiful and functional as it is sustainable.

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?

I am an art director originally from Fresno, California, now living in Brooklyn, New York. My journey into the creative industry began with a passion for design and storytelling. I started my career in graphic design at a clean fragrance brand, then pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising. After graduating, I moved to New York City with my husband and have been working as an art director for the past year and a half.

Creativity and ambition have been a driving force in my life for as long as I can remember. At just twelve years old, I saved up babysitting money to buy my first camera and launched my own photography business in California. That same entrepreneurial spirit has helped shape the creation of our candle brand. My husband and I make a great team: he’s the engineer who developed our innovative, algae-based candle vessels, and he continues to handcraft every candle we sell while serving as our CEO. I handle the creative direction, including branding, packaging, website design, and marketing.

We’re fortunate to have the support of Mason, a close friend of ours, who helps manage our finances and ensures we’re on track for sustainable growth. His insights and guidance have been invaluable in setting us up for success.

What makes our business truly special is that everything is done from our home in Brooklyn. Each candle is handmade, and all the packaging is designed, assembled, and shipped directly by us. This hands-on approach allows us to pour care and intention into every aspect of our brand.

We’re most proud of solving a significant environmental problem in the candle industry. Creating the first fully compostable and decomposable candle has been incredibly rewarding, and watching this idea grow into a sustainable business has been an exciting journey. Though we are still a small business, we are thrilled about our growth so far and so thankful for the support that we have received. Our team is passionate about blending creativity and this purpose to make a meaningful impact on both our customers and the planet.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding our business was a pivotal moment in bringing our vision to life, and could not have been done without the support of our friends, family, and community. To raise the initial capital, we launched a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $2,000. At the time, our branding was far simpler and very different from what it is today. Using some basic photos of our product that I took in our bedroom with a white poster board and bedsheet, we put together the campaign and shared it on our personal social media accounts, hoping to gain some support from friends and family.

What happened next exceeded all our expectations. On the very first day, we reached our $2,000 goal; the outpouring of support was both exciting and inspiring. Thanks to the generosity of our backers, we were able to take crucial steps forward—refining our candle recipe, funding a professional photo shoot, designing more thoughtful packaging, forming our LLC, creating our website, and investing in marketing efforts to share our story with a wider audience.

We’re deeply grateful for the role Kickstarter played in helping us turn our idea into a tangible business and for the unwavering support people have given us. It’s an incredible platform for small businesses looking to bring creative projects to life, and our success is a testament to the power of community and the belief people have in sustainable solutions. This experience has been a crucial part of our journey and we can’t thank everyone enough for being so supportive of it.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

We manufacture all of our candles by hand in our home, and the journey to get here has been one of persistence, discovery, and growth. Our business began as an ambitious idea—something we weren’t even sure was possible.

To turn it into reality, we immersed ourselves in research on bioplastics, algae, composting, and zero-waste living. Along the way, we learned that scientists use algae to create biodegradable materials like petri dishes, which decompose naturally after use. This fascinating concept sparked new ideas and gave us the direction we needed to move forward.

From there, the process was anything but smooth. We encountered countless challenges, from early prototypes that grew bacteria within a day to candles that caught fire when lit (scary!). With each hurdle, we worked tirelessly to find solutions, refine our designs, and improve our process.

Today, our candles are strong, functional, and beautiful. While there is still room for improvement, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created so far. Along the way, we’ve learned invaluable lessons in patience, resilience, and faith—faith in ourselves, our vision, and the belief that it would all come together. We also leaned heavily on the support of our families, friends, and God, who gave us strength during moments of doubt.

Looking back, the challenges were a vital part of our story. They shaped not only our product but also the heart of our business, reminding us that great things are possible with perseverance and a willingness to learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marinacandle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinacandleco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brilucero
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinacandleco?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits

Jenn Roberts