Pictou County Entrepreneur Turns Candle-Making Hobby into Business

Sierra Fraser, a resident of Pictou County, Nova Scotia, has transformed her passion for candle-making into a flourishing small business. Beginning in 2024 as a means to alleviate her anxiety, Fraser quickly found herself with an abundance of candles, prompting her to consider selling them.

“To me, selling them felt like the perfect way to share what I love with others, and it also helped fund my growing hobby,” she explains. Thus, Fraser’s Flames was born, offering a variety of soy candles and wax melts that aim to evoke the essence of different seasons and moods, filling spaces with warmth and ambiance.

Fraser, who identifies as a creative individual, has a rich background in storytelling from her childhood. She enjoyed writing and performing plays, and today, she continues to express her creativity through painting and candle-making. Initially, her candle-making process was experimental; she learned through trial and error and by watching instructional videos online.

She notes that popular scents can shift frequently based on customer preferences. One of her standout creations is the “Gram’s House” candle, which evokes the smell of freshly baked goods with a hint of cinnamon. “It smells wonderful and has a story people can relate to, which is probably why it has become one of the most popular candles,” she adds.

When designing new products, Fraser draws inspiration from personal experiences, associating scents with specific memories and emotions. For instance, her Gothic Romance candle was inspired by a visit to Casa Loma in Toronto, where she later watched a movie that captured the gothic essence of the location.

Creating candles offers Fraser a mental break, bringing her ideas to life and allowing her to share them with others. “I also enjoy creating alongside other people and being part of a community filled with some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet,” she reflects.

Despite the joy her craft brings, Fraser acknowledges the challenges of entrepreneurship. Putting her work out for public judgment is daunting, as is securing the funds needed to sustain her business. Nevertheless, the positive feedback from customers fuels her passion. She cherishes hearing how her candles resonate with others, whether they are gifted or used to mark special occasions.

Fraser recalls a memorable moment when her P.E.I. candle was photographed alongside a giant potato during a trip to Prince Edward Island. “I love hearing stories from others about what my candles mean to them. It makes me happy to know my creations are part of those moments,” she says.

Looking ahead, Fraser hopes to expand her offerings by creating larger candles with intricate details and designs that tell their own stories. Balancing her entrepreneurial efforts with her studies, she holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and is currently advancing her education in digital marketing.

“Selling my candles has been a fun and exciting way to explore my creativity, earn a little extra during school to support my hobby, and learn new skills that I hope will help me in a future career,” she states.

Fraser’s Flames can be explored at local markets across Pictou County. For those interested in her creations, updates are available through her social media platforms, including Facebook at Fraser’s Flames and Instagram @frasersflames_.