We recently connected with Kat Shenton and have shared our conversation below.

Kat, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

When I decided I was finally going to jump in and learn how to make candles, I was fortunate enough to have a friend that already had a shop. I found her expertise, as well as the experts online extremely helpful. What I didn’t really grasp at the time was how much trial and error there really was, and how much time I would take. Dozens to hundreds of test candles, and the various issues with fragrance loads and wick sizes…

I truly think I’m still always learning and growing from my mistakes. And just as important is the design element of the labels. I absolutely love designing the labels and connecting with the stories in that way, as well as creating a custom scent.

My style has changed tremendously since I started, and looking back I wish I had started right away with a better photo printer, labels, and spent longer honing my design style. It’s such a fast paced shop that it’s easy to rush, so time quickly becomes the biggest obstacle. Learning to slow down and go at my own pace to get things just right has been the most important learning curve.

Kat, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always loved reading, and as an adult I’ve found myself drawn to a lot of LGBTQ+ indie self-published books. I loved seeing all of the small shops out there selling merch for books, but unfortunately I was finding it more and more frustrating, because it seemed almost impossible to find merch for the books I was reading and loving. Well, I decided to do something about that.

I’d fallen in love with bookish candles specifically, but I would always have to purchase custom candles in someone else’s style, until one day I decided I was going to change that. I was going to start making them myself. I bought my first candle-making kit, and immediately I was in love.

I loved feeling like I was mixing potions; heating the wax to temperature and creating my own fragrance mixes… and I love designing the labels. It was a whole new way to immerse myself in the book I already loved and support the amazing authors that created those worlds.

Now, after almost 3 years, I’ve had the privilege to work with some of my all-time favorite authors in the LGBTQ+ community and create candles and designs for books I love. I’ve worked with artists to bring those characters to life in a different way, and met so many other readers who love the same books. Through what started as a fun idea, I’ve found something I’m passionate about as well as a sense of community. I love the feeling like I’m supporting LGBTQ+ indie authors and the community in my own small way.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

You don’t have to do something just because it seems popular, or it works for someone else. Do what feels right for you and your shop. It’s okay to change.

I remind myself of this all the time, and it always leads me down the right path for me.

The first time I had to learn this was early on in my shop. When I first started, I was looking at other shops and they all had pretty tops on their candles. Everyone has more or less their own style, but almost everyone had glitter. So naturally, I figured that was the popular thing to do… Within a few months, I realized I absolutely hate glitter. I didn’t like how it could effect the candle. I didn’t like the potential burn risks, or health risks. I didn’t find it particularly beautiful, and there was glitter EVERYWHERE.

I tried to push through, thinking that’s just what I was supposed to do… And then I realized that this is my shop. Maybe some customers like the glitter, but I’m going to try something else that I like. So I started researching, and eventually I tried color marbling. I loved it immediately. It’s fun to do, pretty, safe, and will eventually fade slowly and naturally into the candle to look like a smoky marble. It was the perfect fix, and my customers LOVED it. Still do!

Even now, sometimes I create a label, and maybe in 6 months or a year later…. I have a better idea. I’m going to update. Because it’s my shop, and I want to help represent these books in the best way I can.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I absolutely LOVE when an author or reader comes to me to tell me they got their candle, and it’s exactly what they imagined. Or even better than they imagined. I love when we can both smell my candle and think of a specific aspect of that character, book or scene. It’s absolutely incredible when an author lets me know they’re burning the candle while they write their next book.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sanctumflames.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sanctumflames
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sanctumflames?_t=8qC1xeFxN66&_r=1
  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sanctumflames.bsky.social