Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Roberts.
Rachel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
First, I owe everything I have to God. Lilly Grant Candle Studio was born from my love of long baths, candlelight, and soft music; this was my evening routine. A long, hot bath and the gentle light from a candle flame. And a captivating book. This evening routine led me to learn how to make candles. I burned so many candles during bath time that I wanted to learn how to make them myself. I always had a love for scent and fragrance. Fast forward, I booked a candlemaking class with a friend. My friend wasn’t able to make it to the class, so I joined the class by myself. I made two candles and decided I wanted to start a candle brand. I didn’t know anything about starting a business, but that’s what I did.
I’ve always been intrigued by scent. Memories and experiences can be captured within the depths of a fragrance. It has the power to transport you to unknown and unseen places. I wanted to capture all of these elements in a candle allowing stories to be shared in intimate spaces through scent.
My goal was to create a sensory experience through scent as a conversation starter and an experience maker, providing scented candles that capture moments that parallel life experiences. I want people to light a Lilly Grant candle and drift away from their everyday lives. Candles are another form of self-care and can transform any environment.
After some testing and research, in December 2018, I officially launched Lilly Grant Candle Studio from my apartment while working full-time at a non-profit. I was living in Chicago at the time. I used the opportunity to participate in as many vending opportunities and local festivals as I could. This is how Lilly Grant got its start and name out there. I spent a couple of years working shows after work and on the weekends. Eventually, I started collecting names and emails at the events I worked and built an email list.
Fast forward a few years, I moved to Columbus from Chicago after getting engaged. My fiancé and I moved to Columbus to help lead the Singles Ministry at our church and to receive marriage counseling. After our move, I left my full-time job as a fundraiser and focused solely on Lilly Grant. I found a nice (affordable) studio space for all my production, partnered with a local store, and brought on a social media intern.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, entrepreneurship is not a smooth road. It can sometimes be a bumpy rollercoaster ride. But it’s a ride filled with joy, determination, and excitement. There are times when business goes well, and there are times when business doesn’t go as well as you would like. During the holiday season, I see an influx of sales when customers purchase gifts for friends and family. There are other times during the year when I have to pray and think creatively to attract new customers or release a new scent to keep the brand fresh. The process of owning a candle company and small business is cool. Despite the challenges, I always have the freedom and flexibility to think creatively and experiment with new scent combinations.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lilly Grant Candle Studio?
Lilly Grant is a conceptual candle and fragrance brand inspired by art, soulful travels, nature, and ephemeral experiences. We design and manufacture products that elevate intimate spaces, tell stories and share memories through scent.
Our curated line of luxury and sustainable candles are slowly poured by hand in limited quantities using high-quality, phthalate-free fragrance and essential oils, natural soy wax, and lead-free cotton wicks. Our line is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced products.
I am proud to own a Black and woman-owned brand.
We want to be known as a high-end candle and fragrance brand that prioritizes creative development, people, and giving back to our community.
Lilly Grant offers nine scents: Bright, Eden, Faith, Morning, Rain, Rosa, Teakwood, Tobacco+Caramel, and White Tea. In the future, I plan to launch other fragrance and home collections and expand our product offerings. This year, I would to partner with another local business and host candlemaking classes.
Pricing:
- Morning Candle – $28
- Faith Candle – $28
- Bright Candle – $28
- Eden Candle – $28
- White Tea Candle – $28
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lillygrant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillygrantlife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillygrantlife/
