Made in Illinois Candle Companies Light the Way with Strong Scents and Missions

Made in Illinois candle companies are uniquely shining bright with hand-poured candles. Each with a distinct story, they’re leaving their mark on the industry.

Farm to Wick

Founded by longtime friends Amy Manahan and Alice Long, Farm to Wick Soy Candles in Stanford brings people together to create their own do-it-yourself candles.

“During COVID, we realized how isolated people felt, including ourselves,” Manahan says. “When the travel restrictions started easing, Alice and I went on a girls’ trip together and came across a do-it-yourself candle storefront. We got to talking about how this would be an ideal business to bring back to central Illinois. We weren’t meant to be isolated, and that was really the premise of Farm to Wick: bringing people together while doing something fun.”

The duo bought a mobile trailer and held their first events in September 2021.

“We’re a mobile business and have a box truck named Marge,” Long says. “We’ve held candle-making events at people’s homes, wineries, businesses and even at weddings.”

The name Marge stemmed from Manahan continually saying how big the truck was on the first drive back. They deemed it “Marge and in charge” with a bumper sticker to match the slogan.

When guests sign up for a Farm to Wick experience, all supplies are provided. They pick out the container for their candle and up to four scents, then blend them into hot soy wax. While candles are curing, Manahan and Long provide refreshments and interact with guests – anything from casual conversation to group trivia. The company also offers a line of retail products.

In addition to creating an experience for people, it was important for Manahan and Long to support local farmers, as they both have a background in agriculture. They’ve held events at many Illinois Farm Bureau offices and attend IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago.

“The soy for our wax is sourced from throughout the Midwest,” Long says. “Soy wax is clean and slow burning. We don’t use fillers or paraffins.”

As their business has grown, the friends say it’s been gratifying to bring people together through candles.

“Our motto has always been to ‘let your light shine,’” Long says. “People come together for a great cause, a good time or just to love one another. The candle is simply our tool.”

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Labyrinth Made Goods

Labyrinth Made Goods, based in Bloomington, is another Made in Illinois candle company with a meaningful mission. As part of the McLean County YWCA, the business provides professional development programs, apprenticeships and employment opportunities for women who were previously incarcerated.

“Speaking from my own experience, I felt low self-esteem and unworthiness after incarceration. I know I’m not the only woman who feels that way,” says Shay Tolise, program coordinator at Labyrinth Made Goods. “I started with the professional development program, then began my apprenticeship, which was then extended to lead apprentice. The team continues to support me in my dreams, helping me gain the skills I needed.”

Tolise emphasizes the importance of providing similar opportunities for others.

“It’s so important to continue to make those same opportunities for others that I had,” she says.

The company’s candles are 100% soy wax, and all sales and donations go back into the business to foster empowerment opportunities. They have two candle collections: the Seasons Collection, inspired by Midwest seasons, and the Resilience Collection, which aligns with the company’s mission.

“Our signature scent is Serenity,” says Tolise, noting that it smells like cool lake water and shaded trees. “We choose a word that’s significant to us as previously incarcerated women and work with a fragrance expert to create scent notes that remind us of that word. The grounding note represents our transition from incarceration to freedom.”

In addition to candles, the company also makes wax melts and fragrance cards. Products can be purchased on their website or at several wholesale partners in the Chicago area.

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Daisy Lane Candle Co.

Sisters Bridget and Lana Schutz started Daisy Lane Candle Co. in the summer of 2022, after Lana attended a candle-making session at Illinois Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting.

“I fell in love with the art of it and thought to myself, ‘Why couldn’t I do this, too?’” Lana says. “Bridget was starting her senior year of high school and joining the CEO program. I felt it would be a great opportunity for us to combine our talents.”

The sisters grew up on a farm in west-central Illinois and have several family members who are also entrepreneurs and small-business owners. As a nod to their agricultural roots, the candles are made from soy wax sourced from another family-owned Illinois business, Central Illinois Candle Supply in Colfax.

“We chose soy wax for a few reasons,” Bridget says. “We wanted a clean product that would burn clean and last long. Soy is natural, easy to work with and holds the scent well.”

Daisy Lane Candle scents include bestsellers like Bourbon Butterscotch and Pumpkin Pretzel Latte. Lana says they love gathering feedback and aim to make products customers want to buy.

Customers can find Daisy Lane Candles at several locations across the state, including Brantzel’s Coffee and Creamery in White Hall and Atrina Farms in Elburn. They can also order directly from the website.

See more: Made-in-Illinois Gift Guide