Heidi Mueller always had candles in her life. After a decade of jewelry artistry and sewing, Mueller turned to making gifts for loved ones by pouring candles in antique containers, all of which were over 40 years old. From her hobby, Mueller created Excelsior Candle Co., now available on Amazon and in-store at Kowalski’s, Gathered Goods Company, and several more shops around the Twin Cities.
“I pour every candle myself,” Mueller says. Each one is made out of renewable soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks, natural essential oils and recyclable containers. Excelsior Candle Co.’s recent partnership with Vandalia Glass Works has elevated the visual presentation of Mueller’s hard work and provides reusable containers long after the wick goes out.
With a single flame, consumers can dive into fragrances like Spa Day, Lake Superior Mist, Downtown Loft and Lemon Mint. Mueller says, “Lake Superior Mist in particular reminds me of my childhood on the North Shore.” Although her favorite scent, she admits, is Red Ginger Saffron.
Mueller comes up with each scent via her own olfactory memories and intuition. She asks friends, family and customers which fragrances they prefer in order to offer candles her consumers really want.
Along with the established candle lines, Mueller’s wholesale creations give her the opportunity to create unique scents catered directly to the customer’s needs (and noses). The hours spent tweaking each small batch of candle wax pay off for Mueller, because she can personalize those batches.
