Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Emery.
Hi Sierra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
As a child of two entrepreneurs, I have always wanted to create something I can share with other like-minded people. My main passions in life have always been music, specifically Classic Rock music. As a female fan in a male-dominated genre, it’s always been a struggle to find products that celebrate these artists outside the typical band t-shirt, poster, or guitar pick. I wanted to create products that any Classic Rock fan can enjoy in their home but would also appeal to people who love great scents! Out of this concept, On Tour Candle Co. was born in 2020. I am often asked what the inspiration is for my scents if I create a scent I love and then pair it with an artist I love or vice versa. The answer is somewhere in the middle! I create various scent profiles across all my products, as scent preferences vary widely. While one person may enjoy clean and fresh linen scents in their home, another may prefer to fill their home with floral or fruit-forward scents. I pair the different scent profiles with different artists’ essence, then narrow down specific scents from there. For instance, my Fleetwood Mac-inspired candle, “Gold Dust Woman,” is a nod to Stevie Nicks herself, filled with warm embraces of lavender and sandalwood. It’s exactly the scent I imagine that fills her backstage dressing room, and easily my most popular scent! I want to cultivate this with my products: I am the happiest when a fellow music fan lifts the lid on a candle and instantly exclaims, “that’s what I hoped that would smell like!”
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any small business owner beginning during the pandemic, there have been a few struggles. However, with some hindsight, what appeared to be a struggle served as a blessing in disguise for my business. As a business that prides itself on being a locally made product, I make most of my sales at markets and pop-up events. For the first year that I was in business, these events were all but nonexistent. I took that time to sell exclusively by word of mouth and dedicate time to my social media and marketing materials to build a consistent brand image. Once events started to pick up again in late 2021, I was fully prepared and didn’t have as many growing pains as I might have otherwise had.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Listening to music is such a sense-based activity, so it would be perfect if someone could evoke the feeling of listening to their favorite song just by lighting a candle inspired by that song. I specialize in creating handcrafted candles and wax melts that Classic Rock artists and songs inspire! I saw a space in the candle market where I saw plenty of books and movie-inspired candles but no scents inspired by my favorite artists like David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac. One of my proudest moments is when someone approaches my booth, gets excited when they find out I have a scent inspired by their favorite artist, and falls in love when they smell it for the first time.
What do you think about luck?
I have been fortunate throughout my life in that my family always valued great music and fostered an appreciation of the music I have based On Tour Candle Co. around. I have also had the great fortune to have such supportive and honest family and friends that have been instrumental in helping get this business to where it is today. It takes a village, and I could not have done it without them!
Pricing:
- Candles $18
- Wax Melts $8
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ontourcandleco
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontourcandleco/?hl=en
Image Credits
Hailey Hughes Photography, Spencer L. Stanton
