08/25/2026
Behind the flame: How Olson Candles evolved
It started in a high school entrepreneurship class with a simple assignment—and the sudden, eye-opening realization that a basic school project could quickly become my actual reality.
Growing up, candles were a constant in our home. My mother and aunts always had a flame burning, filling every room with amazing scents. But as I dove deeper into the craft for my project, I noticed a major flaw: almost all of those good-smelling candles were made with paraffin wax—a petroleum byproduct that releases soot and unwanted toxins into the air. I knew there had to be a cleaner, better way to bring those cozy memories to life.
My very first candles were poured into simple tins, but through constant testing, I quickly upgraded to glass jars. Glass holds and distributes heat much more evenly—preventing hot spots, creating a smooth, even wax pool, and letting that beautiful glow shine through.
Driven by a desire to learn and evolve, I quickly engrossed myself in all things scent. What started as just candles grew into crafting matching wax melts for every fragrance, followed by car diffusers, diffuser refills, and eventually a line of room sprays.
The project didn't end when that class was over; it became the blueprint for everything built today. Driven by learning, evolving, and growing my knowledge every single day, every hand-poured product made now is a tribute to the warm home I grew up in—crafted cleaner, safer, and better for yours. Made with purpose. Made with love.
Today, this business is more like a small family of fragrance lovers, all driven by the exact same mission: helping you make your home smell wonderful, clean, and deeply inviting.
