From One TikTok To A Six Figure Candle Brand

Before The Company Flare was carried by hundreds of retailers across Canada, it was me, a pile of candle supplies, and a very messy kitchen in my one-bedroom apartment.

I was 21, a broke university student, and hyper-fixated on the TikTok candle-verse. I bought some supplies and started experimenting with wax and fragrance because I loved the way scent could change the feeling of a space, but I couldn’t find candles that felt as fun, distinctive, and memorable as I wanted them to.

So I started making my own.

At first, there was no grand business plan. Just a lot of trial and error, questionable decisions, and wax on nearly every surface I owned. But somewhere in that mess, I realized I wasn’t interested in creating just another candle company. I wanted to build a brand people could recognize instantly that made candles feel more exciting than just pretty smells.

At 22, I quit my job and bet on myself.

Was it reckless? Everyone around me thought so. But I was determined and my Arab pride refused to prove them right.

Within a few months, The Company Flare had secured one of the largest candle contracts on the East Coat with Cows Inc. and Anne of Green Gables Chocolates recreating some of their iconic scents.

Now? Flare is a multi-award winning six-figure company, found in more than 230 retailers across Canada.

Along the way, Flare has been named Best Candles by the Canadian Choice Awards twice, and I have personally been recognized as one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Innovators and nominated twice for the RBC Canadian Women of Influence Award.

Those milestones mean more to me than I can explain, but the heart of Flare is still the same.

Every candle is created to make an ordinary moment feel like something more: warmer, sweeter, funnier, calmer, or simply more yours. From the unexpected scents to our signature paint-can packaging, everything is designed to feel different from what you’ve seen before.

Because you deserve more than an average candle. In fact, Flare is much more than just a candle company. It's a lesson in daring to be different and embracing authenticity. One that I'm thankful to have learned early in life.

.... Apparently, making a mess in that apartment kitchen was worth it after all.


Rennee
Founder & CEO