Writer | Mikayla Balk
Photos | Local Candle Co.
FOCUS ON: Local Candle Co.
Winter 2025 Issue
Every state has its signature scents. When you think of Michigan, you might think of autumn campfires, cherries, fudge or the smell of Holland tulips. A local candle company has tapped into the scents of our home state and crafted specialty candles. Simple in ingredients and in name, Local Candle Co is booming in Northern Michigan.
Much like many businesses that evolve from passion projects, the idea for Local Candle Co started during the COVID pandemic. Spending a lot of time in her home, Kelsey Agruda started getting headaches from her candles. She began working on a formula, experimenting with different chemicals to find a combination that would be headache-free.
At the time, she was also doing a lot of rock hunting and decided to incorporate that into her candle practice. Each candle comes with a stone, Petoskey stones being one of her favorites. The business grew at a rapid rate, and Agruda quit her regular job as a nurse to dedicate all her time to running Local Candle Co.
Each scent the company creates is custom-blended. Many of the scents are nontraditional, featuring more earthy and natural fragrances. When asked what customer favorites are, Agruda says the Lake Michigan candle is popular. It has notes of blood orange, lime and agave nectar. Many of their candles feature a unique after-rain scent worth noting called petrichor.
The company lives up to its name and its values by supporting other local businesses in their endeavors. They implement as many women-owned businesses as they can in the production process and where they source their herbs. There’s a local vendor that makes the wooden lids of the candles.
A watercolor artist paints special candle labels since customers often want customized candle labels for gifts or for events. Baby showers, weddings and birthday candles are common orders.
Care and consideration are poured into every aspect of the business, including a strong focus on the environment. For every hundred wicks used, they plant a tree. When rock hunting, the Agruda family takes trips to the beach to clean up litter. Packaging is reused as much as possible in addition to using biodegradable packaging peanuts.
There are two important components to the Local Candle Co sales model. They balance online sales with a presence at local retailers. The business has partnered with retailers in Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Agruda loves doing artist markets and craft shows, and has met many of their retailers that way. With online sales, the company ships all over, so everyone can enjoy the scents of their favorite state, should they ever find themselves missing it.
With the amount of love put into each product and its ingredients, it’s clear that Local Candle Co is comprised of people living out their passion. If you care about supporting local businesses, what better place to start than filling your home with your favorite aromas?
