My husband would call me a candle QUEEN because I am obsessed with candles – but specifically: I’m obsessed with small shop candle companies. I love supporting ALL THE SMALL SHOPS when it comes to my candle addiction. I’m rounding up 10 of my favorite local and/or small candle studios. I can personally vouch for each of these brands as I’ve burned a candle (or 10) from each. HA! Let’s dive into this.
FAVORITE SMALL SHOP CANDLE COMPANIES


LITTLE LEMON CANDLE COMPANY
If you like witty candle labels and incredible scents filling your home, Little Lemon Candles is perfect for you. Their Glazed Doughnut scent is a favorite and the label name is “Donut Worry, Be Happy”. LOVE.
Scent of choice: GLAZED DOUGHNUT
Discount code: BLONDE15
VIRAGO CANDLE STUDIO
Virago Candle Studio is not only one of the most aesthetically pleasing brands I’ve ever seen – they’re all women and POC owned. Their white sage + lavender scent is to DIE for.
Scent of choice: WHITE SAGE + LAVENDER
ABBOO CANDLE CO
I love Abboo Candle Co. I’ve burned their candles for years now, and almost cried when they came out with their exotic citrus + sugar scent – it’s an exact dupe to the ever popular Volcano candle from Anthropology. AKA: you can get the cult scent WHILE also supporting a small shop.
Scent of choice: EXOTIC CITRUS + SUGAR
Discount code: BLONDE15
BROOKLYN CANDLE STUDIO
These candles are an experience – each candle is named after a location. Maui (while I’ve never been there) is the perfect summer scent. It smells EXACTLY like the ocean.
Scent of choice: MAUI
CANDLE FUSION STUDIO
If you are local to the STL area – I highly recommend taking a trip to Candle Fusion Studio for a date night. You can make your own custom candle and it’s SO much fun!
Scent of choice: LEMONGRASS

COPPER CANDLE CO
This vintage jar + strawberries and cream scent combo are what summer dreams are made of. This scent fills my entire first floor and smells amazing.
Scent of choice: STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM
TERRA SIMPLY
I LOVE Terra Simply! I am insta-friends with the owner and her chai scented fall candle is…in a word: perfection. This cocoa strawberry is part of her valentine’s day drop and it smells divine.
Scent of choice: COCOA STRAWBERRY
SWEET WATER DECOR
I love sweet water decor! They are ALMOST not even a small shop with how much they’ve exploded over the last couple years! Their birthday cake candle is one of my all time faves and I buy one every January!
Scent of choice: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
GLOW CANDLE CO
I didn’t expect to like this blood orange scent as much as I did – but it’s sweet without being overpowering. It would be perfect for a late summer day – if golden hour had a scent, this would be it.
Scent of choice: BLOOD ORANGE
FROSTBEARD
Alright. This company creates candle scents based off of books so I am ALREADY obsessed – but their Wizardy Buttery Drink (read: Harry Potter Butterbeer) is DELICIOUS. It’s buttery and warm with a crisp scent of rum. 10/10.
Scent of choice: WIZARDY BUTTERY DRINK


READ MORE: SMALL SHOP GIFT GUIDE
I hope you take some time to snag a candle at one of these fabulous shops. They’re women-owned and so fabulous. They’d make perfect gifts for a wedding, birthday or a just because gift. 🙂
