It’s the last day of BHM, so we wanted to end the month with a lit feature. 🕯 Enter: Colina Bruce (she/her), founder and CEO of Noir Lux Candle Co., WA state’s first Black and women-owned candle bar.

At Noir Lux, each item is handcrafted in small batches, with tons of unique smells to buy either online or IRL. But what makes Colina’s business really special is the candle bar experience where guests get to choose their vessels and fragrances to curate their own custom candles.

So, how did this almost year-old biz come to be? “Noir Lux Candle Co. started as a side hustle in my kitchen during the pandemic,” she shares. “At the time, I was working in education, a field I had been in for over 15 years. Overnight, we went from being in-person, seeing our scholars and families every day and running academic mentoring and programming, to sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end. I found myself lighting a candle every morning before starting my meetings, and it became sort of a ritual. That sparked my curiosity in regards to candle quality. I started asking questions like, ‘What makes a candle a good candle? What makes some candles burn longer than others? How come some candles tunnel and you don’t get all of the wax out?’ So with that curiosity and $500, I bought as many candle supplies as I could and set out to make the best ones ever. The day I launched my business, I sold out of every single candle in less than 3 hours—120 candles, gone! That’s when my journey really began.”

Now, let’s learn more from Colina and light this candle.

You have some really cool collections listed on your site, like the one dedicated to mental health. How do candles exactly impact one’s mental health?
In general, scent is tied to mood and memory in some really cool ways. Certain scents can be nostalgic and can take you back to different memories and moments in time. Some fragrances actually have an impact in a way that they can be mood enhancing, calming, or relaxing. The act of pouring candles itself can also be therapeutic and soothing. When I started pouring candles, it quickly became one of my favorite ways to practice self-care.

What’s your fav collection of candles that you offer?
I think my favorite collection would have to be our very first one, “Dear Summer I Miss You.” I created it at the beginning of the pandemic, as an ode to some of my favorite summertime things that I had maybe taken for granted before. Seattle Summer is an ode to Seafair, the Blue Angels, and the Bite of Seattle; Sundaze is an ode to a party we used to host before the pandemic; and Namastay Home was a reminder to stay home and stay safe.

Now, what’s your fav candle overall?
My favorite candle today is Santal 206. It’s our bestseller, and is inspired by the Le Labo Santal 33 fragrance.

For those who don’t live near a candle bar, what are your tips for making at-home candles?
Making candles at home can be really easy and fun, but there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. You can upcycle an old candle jar or mug, but make sure you’re using a heat safe vessel.

2. I recommend working with soy wax and non-toxic fragrances. This is more of a preference, but it’s always nice to know you have a clean burning candle that’s not releasing toxins when you burn it.

3. Always measure your fragrances before adding them to your wax. If you use too much fragrance oil, it will be harder to bond with your wax and won’t make a great candle.

Aside from shopping, how else can people support Noir Lux Candle Co., the values it upholds, and other businesses like it?
At our candle bar, we really use candles as a conduit for community building. We use our apothecary to highlight items curated by other small Black businesses and our space to host events that contribute to fun, learning, and self-care. We also use candles to support nonprofits that are doing amazing work, and we always encourage folks to find out more about these or other nonprofits and find ways to support their work. If you have the opportunity to shop with a small business, we recommend that you do so. If you aren’t able to spend money with small businesses, you can also invest by sharing about the business in-person or on socials.