This week’s Small Business Saturday feature is Edgewater Candles ATX and perfect for holiday gifting! Kelly is creating 100% soy wax candles and wax melts, as well as other flameless options like reed diffusers, room sprays, and rollerball perfumes, all with phthalate – free proprietary scents right here in her Austin studio. Enjoy!
Hi Kelly! I’m so excited to learn more about you and Edgewater Candles ATX!
I’m Kelly Dahl Johnson. I have one 18 year old daughter (Daphne) who plays basketball for LeTourneau University. I’ve lived in Austin for 23 years, although I’m originally from the Chicagoland area, and grew up between there and Corpus Christi, TX. I love watching basketball (all levels!) and Austin FC, enjoy live theatre and stand up comedy, beer connoisseur (have frequented most breweries in Austin!).
Edgewater Candles ATX is the Texas branch of the Chicago formed candle company, Edgewater Candles. Both branches opened in 2016 and have been growing in the Chicagoland area and Texas ever since. Edgewater Candles ATX is proud to make 100% soy wax candles and wax melts, as well as other flameless options like reed diffusers, room sprays, and rollerball perfumes, all with phthalate – free proprietary scents that we create in our studio.
I began doing this in order to support my mom’s origami flower line – Trees2Flowers – which consists of single origami flowers and bouquet origami flowers. She learned origami in rehab after a horrible car accident which left her with a traumatic brain injury, rendering her unable to work in a typical job environment. You can find our products online at edgewatercandlesATX.com, or in the following stores in the Austin area:
– PaperWork on South Congress
– The Escape Fine Crafts & Gifts in Georgetown on the square
– Art Escape at the Oasis
Where do you see your business in the next five years?
I see my business moving into a studio out of my house, facilitating candle making classes on a regular basis and providing studio space for people who want to break into the creative industry.
What do you like about having a small business in Austin?
Austin is very supportive of the arts, the creatives, and especially small businesses. It’s constantly growing and changing, which makes having a business here interesting and never boring!
Want to share any of your favorite small businesses?
Pretty Bird Studio (owned by Meg Bodi). She is an esthetician who takes a holistic approach to skin care, and has made me so aware of how things you put in your body affect your skin. Also, Kilter Fitness (owned by Tony Thomas). It’s a boutique gym where Tony holds individual and small group physical training sessions. I’ve gone twice a week for over a year, but after just a few months, I couldn’t believe how much stronger and better I felt! Tony also educates you along the way better than any other trainer I’ve ever had.
Anything new and exciting you’d like to share?
We just released our new Zodiac line on our website! Find your sign and discover the scent we have created for you! This new collection is inspired by the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the elements of fire, earth, air, and water, and the four seasons.
Each scent has four distinct fragrance notes that come together to form a profile uniquely suited for its sign. The scent journey alone was exciting, and we also found great joy in expressing ourselves through the artwork of this collection. We love Prairie Style architecture, and our new “Edgewater Candles” lettering reflects this influence. We are also admirers of Art Deco design, and you can see these motifs throughout the border and central design of the artwork. And lastly, the design of the ZODIAC word itself was shaped by the concept of ancient runes. The distinctive artwork is printed in silver foil on matte black labels, which complement the amber glass beautifully.
What is something people may not know about you?
Something not many people here in Austin know about me – I was a theatre major in college and was part of an improvisational comedy troupe for several years before moving to Austin. I also own a junk removal business called IREP (stand for I Recycle Everything Possible) and have been in business for over 10 years. *Stay tuned for more on IREP here on South Austin Moms!