Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Wait
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Slow Burn began as an extension of Sara Wait’s personal practice—both in mindfulness and in working with her hands. With a background in yoga, she has been teaching in the Twin Cities for over a decade and has always been drawn to rituals that help people slow down, breathe, and reconnect with themselves.
Candles naturally became part of that practice. Frustrated by the lack of truly clean-burning options on the market—many of which contain synthetic fragrances, paraffin, or additives that impact indoor air quality—Sara sought something pure, simple, and sustainable. When she began experimenting with beeswax, she fell in love with the process—learning about its history, working with the raw material, and seeing how a single flame could shift the energy of a space.
What started as a personal project, making candles for herself and friends, quickly grew into something larger. As she began sharing her work at local markets, she realized others were searching for the same thing—a high-quality, locally sourced beeswax candle that wasn’t just a product but a tool for mindfulness and intention. That’s when Slow Burn truly took shape.
Today, Sara continues to handcraft each candle, sourcing 100% pure beeswax from a family-run apiary in Wisconsin. She filters the wax herself, carefully selects the right wick for each style, and tests every candle to ensure the best burn possible. She also values community engagement, whether through farmers markets, workshops, or helping customers discover small ways to slow down and create meaningful rituals in their daily lives.
Balancing motherhood, business, and creative work comes with challenges, but at its core, Slow Burn remains what it started as—an offering, a reminder, and a way to bring more presence into the world.
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?
Like most small business journeys, the road to building Slow Burn has been anything but smooth. For Sara Wait, the biggest challenge has been balancing the many roles of being a sole entrepreneur—managing production, marketing, sales, and customer service—all while raising a young child. Time has always been a scarce resource, and learning how to allocate it wisely has been a constant process.
Another major challenge has been educating customers about the value of pure beeswax candles. In a market flooded with mass-produced, artificially scented options, many people don’t realize what makes a Slow Burn candle different. There’s an ongoing need to share the benefits—why beeswax is the cleanest-burning choice, how it naturally purifies the air, and why sourcing locally matters. Competing with big-box retailers and lower-cost alternatives has required Slow Burn to focus on storytelling, transparency, and building meaningful relationships with customers who appreciate quality and sustainability.
Scaling the business while maintaining its handmade integrity has also been a hurdle. As demand has grown, Sara has had to navigate production challenges, streamline operations, and find the right support without losing the hands-on craftsmanship that defines Slow Burn. Hiring seasonal help has been a step toward that balance, but it’s an ongoing learning experience.
Despite these struggles, Sara has remained committed to the heart of Slow Burn—creating candles that help people slow down, be present, and engage in daily rituals that bring comfort and connection. Every challenge has been an opportunity to refine the business, deepen her understanding of what truly matters, and stay aligned with her original vision.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Slow Burn?
What should we know?
In a world dominated by technology, where digital devices constantly tempt us to stay plugged in, Sara Wait feels a deep pull to disconnect. She finds herself drawn to simple moments—like lighting a candle and pausing to watch the flame dance. It’s in these small, quiet pauses that presence returns, where distraction fades and something deeper is allowed to surface. Slow Burn was created to hold space for these moments—offering candles that encourage slowing down, creating ritual, and embracing a more mindful way of being.
What do you do? What do you specialize in? What are you known for?
Sara is known for her ability to create spaces—whether in a yoga class, a candle-making workshop, or even at a farmers market—where people feel seen, heard, and invited to reconnect with themselves. At local markets, she takes time to truly listen to customers’ questions, sharing her knowledge of beeswax and the meticulous process she’s honed over the years. Her passion isn’t just about selling candles; it’s about educating, building relationships, and offering something meaningful—something that extends beyond the transaction and becomes part of someone’s daily life.
What sets Slow Burn apart?
Anyone can make a candle—all it takes is the right supplies, a quick search on Google, and a little patience. But what separates Slow Burn is Sara’s unwavering commitment to refinement. She doesn’t just accept information at face value; she questions, tests, and fine-tunes every step of her process.
“Just because something is taught as ‘right’ doesn’t mean it’s right for you. You have to challenge what you’re given, learn from experience, and adapt in a way that aligns with your truth.”
This philosophy carries through everything she does—whether it’s the way she mothers, teaches yoga, or crafts candles. She approaches every aspect of her life with a willingness to grow, an openness to evolving, and a deep care for the things she puts out into the world.
What are you most proud of brand-wise?
Sara is committed to running Slow Burn in a way that reflects her values—rooted in sustainability, intention, and integrity. In a culture that teaches us that more is always better, that growth should be fast, and that success is measured by scale, she is consciously choosing a different path. Slow Burn isn’t about mass production or chasing trends—it’s about slowing down, making things with care, and encouraging people to be more mindful of what they bring into their lives.
What do you want readers to know about Slow Burn?
Sara has big dreams for Slow Burn, but she’s in no rush to make them happen overnight. The brand name itself reflects her approach—this is a slow burn. Just as she is raising her young son, she is also raising this business, allowing it the space to evolve naturally, at a pace that feels sustainable and aligned. There’s no urgency to expand too quickly, no pressure to force growth. Instead, there’s room to breathe, to appreciate the process, and to let Slow Burn unfold in its own time.
Over the next decade, Slow Burn will continue to evolve—deepening its roots in the community, expanding its offerings, and holding space for more people to embrace the beauty of slowing down. Until then, each candle, each market, and each workshop is another step in the journey—one that Sara is honored to share.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
No matter what you’re pursuing—whether it’s yoga, candle-making, or anything else—if you want to get better at something, you have to do it. A lot. Repetition is the best teacher.
When Sara first started making candles, she wished there had been a step-by-step guide to walk her through the process. But in hindsight, she’s grateful there wasn’t. Some of the most valuable lessons came from trial and error, from making mistakes and figuring out why something didn’t work. Failure, while frustrating, holds deep layers of teachable moments. It forces you to slow down, pay attention, and truly understand what you’re doing—not just follow instructions.
So, if you’re just starting out, embrace the process. Expect mistakes, welcome challenges, and trust that each misstep is shaping your growth. The things you struggle with today might just become your greatest strengths down the road.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.slowburncandles.com
- Instagram: @slow.burn.mn
- Facebook: @slow.burn.mn
