The Sweetest Scents
Leia Counsellor-Ragland has always loved candles, wax melts, and all types of smell goods, but when her son began having nightmares, her love for these products took on a whole new passion. She is a big believer in the power of sensory products, and she went on a quest to find any and all relaxing, calming candles she could to help her son sleep more soundly. After some time, she decided that instead of constantly buying more and more candles, she would try to make some of her own.
Leia began by starting very small and simple by making candle tins with relaxing scents just for her son. She had a couple of friends that saw some of the candles she made, and they wanted to try them out themselves. As she started making more and more for her friends, she realized that she was actually having fun with the process. She thought to herself, what better way to start a business, no matter how small, than one in which her son could use or benefit from in some way. So in October of 2020, Leia ended up launching Reign Creations.
Initially, Leia started out by making small candle tins. She wanted something that was pretty, but simple, and also more cost effective for someone who doesn’t want to spend a whole lot of money on a small candle. As her business grew, she began producing more decorative candles, including her signature cupcake-like candles with whipped toppings and yummy scents like Banana Bread and Bourbon Pecan.
Leia is a self proclaimed kid at heart, and loves playful things. She appreciates how kids view the world, and says that’s how she views it as well. She has fun making a candle that people look at and ask if it’s edible, and values being able to make products that can be given as one-of-a-kind gifts, truly made from the heart. Leia says, “If it smells good, make sure it looks good too.” All of her candles are soy wax, and her wax melts are a soy wax blend. She uses phthalate free fragrances, and mica powder for her coloring. She also uses lead-free cotton core wicks in her products.
Leia discovered The York Merchant while searching online for a new retail location to showcase her products. She wanted a place where she could allow people to actually smell her candles versus just seeing them online. One of the things that drew her to the marketplace was that customers were coming there specifically to see something different and unique. She loved everything about the marketplace - the building, the floors, the ambiance, but most importantly, that there were so many different types of makers there. She said it’s everything that she would want to represent her brand, and that she is happy to have a space among such a creative mix of individuals.
Leia's candles have not only helped her son with his sleep, but they’ve also created another way for them to connect, as he is currently helping her create a new set of candles specifically for sleep. He is playing a role in everything, from the fragrances to the design, and she is looking forward to launching this new collection soon. Leia says her son has always been very hands on in any project that she’s undertaken, and he is truly her inspiration not just for her business, but in all that she does.
View more of Leia’s delicious candles and other products by visiting her website at www.reignccandles.com