Today we’d like to introduce you to Sienna Pesta.
Hi Sienna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My mother was seeing a provider to assess her hormones and she discussed the negative impact toxic candles have on women’s health.
My mother and I have always loved burning candles because they add so much to the ambiance of spaces. I started investigating the health impacts of paraffin wax and fragrance oils – uncovering all of the dirty secrets of the 2.5 billion dollar candle industry in the U.S. My mother, a multi-media artist, has encouraged me since I was young to seek creativity in problem-solving.
Around the same time, I was increasingly more aware of the hidden toxins in my food and beauty products, so pursuing a clean-life style became a priority for me. Little did. I know that I would be embarking on a creative adventure building a small candle-making business. In addition to my passion for creating clean candles, I loved restoring antiques by giving them a new life and purpose.
There are so many beautiful antique vessels that have been passed down from generations that our modern lifestyle and culture no longer need or appreciate – so they collect dust in boxes, drawers, basements, and outdated stores. I wanted to create beautiful, unique candles out of recycled antiques, to reduce waste and contribute to the design and atmosphere of spaces.
I started out pouring candles for friends, family, and colleagues – which slowly grew through word of mouth. Now, I ship across the nation to customers that I have never met. I am grateful for my day-one customers who have been supporting me in my local community and visiting the craft shows I participate in. It is such a joy to create unique, beautiful candles that allow you to breathe with confidence, knowing you are not releasing toxins into your home and inhaling toxins into your body.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a slow build of my business. This is my side hustle so I would spend early mornings, late evenings, and weekends treasure-hunting for antiques, setting wicks, and pouring hot wax. There were a few evenings I was pouring candles past midnight and spilling hot wax across my kitchen floor in my studio apartment (luckily, I never got injured, but it is not a fun mess to clean up).
Within a year or two of my business launch, I saw a handful of other people starting to do something similar which felt discouraging at first. The pace of life continues to pick up, since my business launch – I have gotten married, moved, been promoted at work and now, we are expecting our first child this summer. Like any small business, trying to balance personal life and investing in a business can be challenging – but I’ve witnessed so much growth in myself personally and professionally.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I hunt for treasures – pretty much wherever I go – and recycle them into clean-burning candles. I use soy from a Midwest farmer and beeswax from a Minnesota beekeeper.
I use 100% pure essential oils and cotton wicks. I melt down my ingredients in an antique copper double broiler and hand-pour each candle individually. I truly see each candle as an individual piece of art and I match the essential oil blend to the antique vessel. I lean into biophilic design which is the practice of creating a closer connection to nature through my art. I prefer recycling antiques made from natural materials like stone, wood, clay, and brass – but I am always thinking of unique vessels like recycling antique cocktail glassware, copper pots, and terracotta mugs.
I would say I’m most known for my unique vessels. My customers share very positive feedback about how the candles burn smoothly and evenly. The use of non-toxic ingredients like soy, beeswax, and essential oils – allows customers to safely burn candles in their homes without getting a headache from inhaling toxic fragrances and synthetic petroleum by-products (paraffin wax).
I am most proud of my opportunity to restore the beauty of antique vessels that can contribute to the overall design and function of our most loved spaces. I am proud that my candles can be burned inside without compromising indoor air quality and health. I am proud that people gift my candles to those they love, with joy, excitement, and passion for beauty and health.
What sets me apart is the intention that I pour into each candle. I rarely make more than 5 of the same candle (only when I purchase a set of antiques) – so customers are truly adopting a unique piece of art. I also melt my wax in small batches and hand-pour each candle individually. A lot of candle makers have shifted to large efficient machinery to melt down their wax and pour it into standardized vessels. I would also say that a majority of candle makers are blending paraffin into their candles, they will mix it in with beeswax or soy to say it is a ‘soy blend candle’. I’ve also noticed a lot of soy and beeswax candle makers using fragrance oils instead of essential oils. Essential oils are more expensive to use and have a more subtle smell – so candle makers still use strong but synthetic fragrance oils to scent their candles.
In big box stores, I’ve seen some labels say “infused with essential oils” which would mean that they mixed in a small amount of essential oils with fragrance oils. This is most likely due to cost as well as wanting a potent-smelling candle for the shelves. It takes customers a while to detox their bodies from harsh fragrance oils because they are present in so many of our beauty and household items. However, these toxins disrupt our endocrine system, so as we shift away from harsh fragrances, our bodies will adjust and react strongly when reintroduced.
What does success mean to you?
I would define success as customers understanding the importance of indoor air quality and choosing to trust my antique clean-burning candles to add beauty and atmosphere to their homes.
As I continue to grow, I would love to expand my customer reach and teach others how to recycle and pour candles. I’ve hosted a few classes in the Minneapolis area which has been incredibly fun to share my passion for clean candles.
Pricing:
- Candles range from $20-100+ depending on the antique vessel
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soysienna.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soy_sienna/
