Meet Danielle Hardge | Candle Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Hardge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

My thought process behind starting Leveaux Candle Bar was to provide a variety of scents to our customers that would allow them the opportunity to remember their loved ones and or friends one scent at a time. Due to us being military I understand the value of having a loved one around you everyday then one day they’re gone because they had to deploy.

So I wanted to make candles that would try to help ease the emotional rollercoaster behind losing a loved one or just remembering them by their scents until you’re able to see them again. Many different scents can change the vibe which you and your loved ones enjoy, so because of that I wanted to make candles to help others enjoy the memories of their loved ones everyday.

We believe what sets us apart from other candle brands is the ability to help others relax and or find some type of peace with a scent within a candle. I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to come into someone’s home with a candle and being able to help adjust their environment.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Candle making actually started as a hobby for me. When the pandemic hit I started to take candle making more seriously and wanted to start a company. Finding a wax we actually like to use was very challenging. It took hours upon hours of testing and trying different waxes. On top of trying different waxes we needed to find out which wick was perfect for each different vessel we decided to make. It definitely wasn’t easy. It was trying times and lots of late nights staying up trying to figure out the equation to this science. We were almost to the point of giving up after investing a good amount of money into different supplies, waxes, and vessels. We finally got the perfect combination of wax and wicks for all of the vessels we tested and started producing the product from there.

The lesson I’ve learned along the way is to be patient! Take your time with everything and study your craft. This will take you a long way in whatever you decide to do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If you have a friend visiting town, what are some spots you could take them to? Give us your weekend itinerary.

This is an awesome question…

Our itinerary would start on Friday morning… breakfast in San Diego at Farmer’s Bottega then head down to Murrieta and have lunch in Wine Country at South Coast Winery and explore the venue. Then for Dinner it would be back to San Diego to STK Steakhouse! Then back home because I’m sure she would want to relax and just do a fire around the pit.

So Saturday we would wake up and I would cook breakfast at home around the pool and chat about everything she wanted to do or just chill. Then later head to LA to enjoy the scenery in Hollywood. Take her to see the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign. After that head to Laguna Beach for some fun in the sun. Possibly jet skiing…if she’s up to it. For lunch it would be Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse. Leave there and head to the mall at Desert Hills Premium Outlets Cabazon since I know she loves to shop. Later on that evening head to LACMA – Los Angeles County Museum of Art. After that it would be dinner at BOA Steakhouse.

Sunday we would do breakfast in Temecula at The Vineyard Rose Restaurant at South Coast Winery. After that head to church that morning and after service head for lunch in San Diego at Crack Shack. After lunch enjoy Santa Monica Beach and Pier. Rent a couple bikes or rollerblades. Let her enjoy the giant Ferris wheel as well. For dinner we would do Born and Raised in San Diego. During her visit we would definitely take lots of pictures during every adventure.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

First I would like to give a shout out to my support team that stands behind me daily. Which is my husband and family! They are always there to give a helping hand and advice on all my new candle collections, wicking and or just staying up with me late making candles. I appreciate each and everyone one of them because without them I wouldn’t be where I am today! I appreciate all the daily encouragement from them!

Secondly, I would like to give a shoutout to Ms Teri Brown in the Facebook group “For the Love of Coconut Wax”. She offers a lot of advice with a lot of guidance in this group. Every time I would reach out for any advice and or questions she’ll always be happy to answer it. One thing about Ms Brown is she is always willing to help you succeed in your craft!

It’s about 14 thousand people in this group and she does her best to set up templates to help guide you… Files to the proper wicking guide and a supplies guide. What I like about her is the fact that she is like a real teacher. She wants you to learn your craft and be confident in your craft. She wants you to TEST TEST TEST! Not just take what she has said in the group and say “Walla” I make candles now. She wants you to actually take the time and put the leg work in to know your vessels, wax, wicks and fragrance oil so when people ask you questions about your vessels, wax and or wicks you can answer them confidently! Because making candles takes a lot of testing to be able to know how your wax, fragrance oil, and wick actually work.

Website: leveauxcandlebar.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeveauxCandleBar

Image Credits
Deshani Sibblies