We were lucky to catch up with Oddette Staple-Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oddette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

“The origin of Oh D’Luxe Candle Company’s name is quite a delightful tale. It’s a creative play on my own name, Oddette’s luxury candle company, capturing the essence of sophistication and exclusivity that our brand represents. The story behind how we landed on this distinctive name is an amusing one, marked by spirited debates within our home.

The inception occurred during the challenging times of the pandemic in 2020. Spending extended periods at home, my husband and I sought solace in long nature hikes, and it was during one of these excursions, a rigorous two-hour climb scaling 976 feet elevation, that the brainstorming session unfolded. By the end of the hike, we reached an unanimous decision on the name, Oh D’Luxe Candle Company, but a playful disagreement persists regarding its true originator.

While my husband insists that he deserves credit for the ingenious name, I playfully maintain that the creative spark was mine. It has become a running joke within our entrepreneurial journey, and when recounting the story in his presence, I graciously attribute the idea to him. Yet, when he’s not around, it’s fair game, and the true genius behind our company’s name remains open to interpretation.

This lively debate over the origin of our name adds a touch of humor to our professional narrative, underscoring the collaborative and spirited nature of our journey. Regardless of who claims credit, our shared commitment to the success of Oh D’Luxe Candle Company remains unwavering, fueled by creativity, resilience, and a good dose of friendly banter.”

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?

Hello, I’m Oddette Staple-Brown, the proud owner and creative force behind Oh D’Luxe Candle Company. We are a candle and home fragrance company located in Bridgeport Connecticut. At our core, we focus on offering eco-friendly, vegan, non-toxic, cruelty-free, sustainable, candles, room sprays and other home fragrances that are crafted with specially curated fragrances, most of which are meticulously blended in-house, ensuring their uniqueness and handmade in small batches to ensure their quality.
The impetus for starting Oh D’Luxe Candle Company came during the pandemic when I found myself with the gift of time. I have always been curious about making my own candles but prior to the pandemic, it remained as just a thought due to my busy schedule.. As a devoted candle lover, my candle making journey began with a realization that many commercially available candles, despite their popularity, were not only harmful to me but also to the environment. Motivated by a desire for cleaner burning alternatives, I set out to create eco-friendly, non-toxic candles that I could confidently use in my own home.

My husband smelled the candles burning around our home and thought they were too good not to share with others and Oh D’Luxe Candle Company was born.. Our products, available through our online store, at pop-up events, and select stores across the United States, cater to individuals actively seeking cleaner alternatives for their homes.

Participating in pop-up events has been very enlightening, revealing a growing demand for cleaner candles and home fragrances. While some customers may prioritize aesthetics over ingredients, our products specifically appeal to those concerned about what they burn in their homes, offering a superior alternative in the market.

We take pride in our achievements since our inception, having sold thousands of candles, garnered a large, loyal customer base and email subscribers. Our brand has received positive recognition through many five-star Google reviews and features in prominent media outlets such as CNBC Prime, CT Examiner, Redfin Real Estate Blog, Start Small Think Big, Utility Post, Go Solo, Shop Black CT, and the US Black Chamber’s monthly newsletter.

What sets us apart in the vast candle industry is the uniqueness of our scents, our commitment to minimalistic packaging, and our unwavering dedication to exceptional customer service. We are grateful for the support we’ve received thus far and excited about the continued growth and impact of Oh D’Luxe Candle Company in the market.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Absolutely, all of my products are crafted right here in my home, that I share with my husband in Bridgeport, CT. When I started my journey into candle making, I knew nothing about candles except, that I loved burning them. I immediately went to youtube or as I call it, “youtube university”, immersing myself in YouTube videos created by successful candle makers. From there, I discovered a vibrant Facebook DIY candle making group led by one of the YouTube creators. This group, boasting a membership of 125 thousand candle makers ranging from beginners to experts, serves as a valuable community for sharing resources and knowledge.

While obtaining information was relatively straightforward, candle making itself proved to be anything but easy. It involves extensive testing, trial and error, that can be very expensive. Fortunately, I quickly grasped the fundamentals and nailed down the right combinations of jar, wax, and wick(s). Subsequently, I delved into the intricate world of fragrance testing, recognizing its impact on the overall performance of the candle.

Candle making, as I often express, feels almost like returning to school, involving elements of math and science – subjects I admittedly disliked in high school. One crucial lesson I’ve learned in the process of manufacturing my own products, applicable to any endeavor, is the importance of resilience. Success doesn’t happen overnight; it requires dedicated effort. My personal journey involves investing hours into refining my craft, managing the business aspects, focusing on social media strategies and market presence, all while maintaining a balance with family life and self-care.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

This venture, as you’re aware, originated during the peak of the pandemic in 2020. While on lockdown, I continued to receive my regular job income, and with reduced additional expenses due to the “stay-at-home” situation, I utilized the surplus funds to acquire necessary supplies for the initial testing phase-essentially bootstrapping the endeavor. Recognizing the potential for this hobby to evolve into a viable business, I sustained the business by using funds from my weekly salary and additionally used a portion of the government stimulus checks to purchase much needed supplies. As the business continues to grow, I now reinvest the business earnings to sustain and further develop its operations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ohdluxecandles.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohdluxecandles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohdluxecandles
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oddette-s-0127a582/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/OhdluxecandleCo

Image Credits
Dariusz Terepka Photography Helen Gallup Photography