our story - the "why" behind heart mountain candle co
As someone who understands how harsh chemicals can trigger headaches and sensitivities, Lauren is deeply committed to creating clean-burning, gentle ambiance you can trust.
She has always loved the warmth and ambiance that candles bring to everyday life. But somewhere along the line, she realized that her migraines happened when she was burning candles in her home. They were a trigger for her debilitating migraines.
Once she identified the issue, she tried unscented candles, but they still affected her. Rather than give up on her love of candles, she got curious.
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬: 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐢𝐥𝐬, 𝐖𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬
Lauren’s research became a second job. From January 2023 to September 2024, she immersed herself in research and was shocked by what she found.
Many manufacturers include toxic chemicals like formaldehyde in candles and hide them under different names in the ingredient list. Additionally, many wicks contain zinc or lead cores. While lead cores have been banned and zinc is generally considered safe, using 100% cotton candle wicks is the safest option.
The scent of the candles is also something to consider. As Lauren did her research, she looked into essential oils rather than fragrances. But she learned that some essential oils can become toxic to breathe when heated to a high temperature. In addition, many candles contain paraffin, a sister chemical to gasoline. So, it’s like burning a gasoline byproduct in your home. The fumes and potential health risks are unreal. People often don’t know enough of the science behind it all and blindly trust the innocent candle on the shelf.
Lauren could only think about how toxic and destructive these products were for consumers, and decided to create healthy candles that could be enjoyed without the concerns.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
Lauren learned there were so many different factors and facets to candle making. Initially, she thought, “Okay, people pour the wax, there’s a wick in there, and you light it on fire. No big deal.” However, it took her about a year of testing different waxes, wicks, and oil fragrances in a multitude of combinations to find out what worked best. It was a process of trying, failing, and getting closer every time.
Doing this became a mission, and conquering this mountain was firmly on her bucket list. Eventually, she settled on using pesticide-free soy wax, organic cotton wicks, and clean fragrance oils meant for high heat. She loves that she has a product she can now burn that does not cause any health issues.
It became clear she couldn’t just sit on such a fantastic product, and she decided it was time to share it with the world. Her customers have shared that they extend the life of the candles by not even needing to light them. They can remove the lid and let the candle sit in a bathroom or bedroom to enjoy the amazing scent. Recently, Lauren and her husband, Gary, were out to enjoy food at a local place on a Friday night. While they were there, two separate community members approached her about the candles. They wanted to know where and when they could buy more.
Lauren values customer service and getting real-time feedback from her customers. She also adores the sales aspect of the business and providing a product people genuinely love.
Thank you for supporting Heart Mountain Candle Co and think of us for your next self-care or thoughtful gift.