Meet Brianna Thomas | Candle creator

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

Hi Brianna, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
There are so many various topics on candle making that people are unaware of, but I think the most common misconception I get, and don’t always have the time to go in-depth with the correct answer is, “candles give me a headache”. Many people purchase candles from big box stores and just assume that it’s the fragrance that give them a headache because they have “sensitive noses” so to speak.

And yes, sometimes the issues are with synthetic fragrances that are used in candles, perfumes, body sprays, etc. However, what most people don’t know is box store candles are made with a petroleum based paraffin. When petroleum is burned it releases chemicals such as toluene or formaldehyde, which is the same chemicals found in diesel. If you stood outside a gas station all day and had to inhale the fumes, wouldn’t you have a headache too?

The products that I create, are considered vegan and of course cruelty free. I use a coconut soy based wax and the oils that I use are vegan oils as well, infused with essential oils and give you a clean and soot less burn all the way through the candle.

It’s headache free, free of harsh chemicals, and phthalates, and petroleum products.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been a creative person. I love crafting – especially for the holidays. Wreaths, bows, turning the living room into a haunted house for my kids, it’s always so much fun.

Everything about creating candles is a learning curve. It NEVER goes the way you expect it too. They burn and react differently depending upon the weather and temperatures. And because the biggest part of my business is about being plant based and environmentally friendly, there is always a creative opportunity somewhere.

I’m still learning so much as I continue to grow, I started my business off “by the book” and did all the standard things expected. Ex: Glass jars, cotton or wooden wicks, etc. But as I grow, and as I learn I hate throwing away glass jars because they can no longer be used, or even tested in after a certain point for the fear of it breaking. To be honest, they’re so expensive and it’s such a waste when I have to throw them away.

The hardest challenge for me has been to find candle vessels that will continue to have a purpose long after the candle is done. Over several months I’ve been researching, formulating, and trying different things to create my own vessels by hand that will have many purposes after the candle is long gone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am not going to lie – I am a little kid at heart and I always take my friends and family that visit to the Houston Zoo. It’s an all day activity, it wears my own children out, and I’m pretty sure as many times as I’ve gone I still haven’t seen it all! To enjoy time outside, or to go have a meal, I love going to La Centerra in Cinco Ranch and finding a place to eat outside, maybe let my little ones run on the turf to go play, or walk by the water where the ducks and turtles are. Its a beautiful scene to enjoy in the perfect weather.

During the weekend – because markets are such a big part of my business right now – I get my family’s bread and vegetables from Fulshear farmers market, and on Sundays I get a lot of our other baked goods or maybe even already prepared meals that need to be warmed up from Pecan Grove Farmers Market. Both places have such a fun environment, kids run and go play in the grass and play bean bag toss games. It’s truly a community friendly environment that brings me and my family so much joy to be apart of.

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?
It’s funny because a lot of “origin stories” happen out of the blue and something “just clicks” for a lot of people. If I’m being completely honest, I was in a phase of my life I wasn’t really sure where it was going. I went to school and was in the home stretch of receiving my teaching degree when all of a sudden school wasn’t an option at the moment. 2020 hit, everything shut down, and my family and I were bored out of our minds. I was in school full time for 5 years. I worked a full time job the entire time, I was pregnant with my 4th baby and I didn’t really have any hobbies. My time was always dedicated to something that needed to be done.

One day my husband looked at me and said, (in the most playful but serious way possible) “You need to find something to do. Once upon a time you liked to make soaps and chapsticks and stuff, do that again.” And in the midst of trying to find something I liked to do outside of “working” I happen to scroll across one of those quick “5 minute candle making” videos – that are SOOOO unsafe and wrong by the way. I do not recommend them LOL – and realized that was my “just click” moment. And that was what I was going to do.

Turns out, it became a new love for me, and a huge learning opportunity behind the sciences, chemicals – good and bad-, and with my love of teaching behind it, it gives me the opportunity to educate and teach others.

Website: www.scarlett-sky.com

Instagram: @scarlettskybrands

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