Meet Heidi from Excelsior Candle Company

How did you get your start in candle making?

Before I started candle making, I was actually reupholstering furniture, and I did jewelry for 14 years. I was an accountant at the time, and I was taking over the house with all my crafty things, so my family said, “Can you pick something?” I decided I wanted to learn how to make candles, and they said, “You don’t do that, Heidi,” and I said, “I know, but I want to learn.” I’m a huge pyromaniac and I love fire, so I thought this would be perfect. That’s how I got into this, and I was self-taught. I went out and got a kit and started learning. I found a website I really liked and started digging around the information there. I bought some wax, some fragrance oils, and I started out as “The Vintage Pyro.” I did only vintage containers: mason jars, barware, jewelry boxes, and teacups. I rebranded from Vintage Pyro to Excelsior Candles because I was trying to get into bigger stores, and they thought it was just “too cute.” So, I decided to rebrand to Excelsior Candles because I lived in Excelsior when I started my business.

What’s your process for developing a new candle scent?

Memory. My first scent was Lake Superior Mist, and that’s one of my favorite childhood memories, so I based it off of what I thought it would smell like to be up along the North Shore. I base my other scents off of my favorite childhood memories, flowers, crystals, and gems. I based the gems candle line off of what I think those gems would smell like. Sometimes it’s recommendations from other people who are like, “This smells like my grandma,” or, “This smells like this memory,” so I like to incorporate those things when I create a new scent.

What’s your favorite scent you’ve made and why?

Red Ginger Saffron. It’s an earthy scent, and it’s in my Carnelian candle, so if you buy my Carnelian candle, that’s what’s in there. It’s really warm and cozy, and I really like it. There’s no specific memory tied to that one—I just stumbled on it. I didn’t sell it to the public for a while; I just kept it for myself. It was like a year before I even put it into my line to sell. It was funny because people would come in and ask, “What’s that smell?” and I’d be like, “Nothing!”

If you could work with any other medium, what would it be and why?

Clay. I’d like to do clay and plants. I really want to get into more medicinal plants, and clay because I love working with my hands. I’d love to make my own containers as well—so I could make the containers, then pour the candle, then use the herbs and flowers that I grow myself on top.