From the Kitchen Table to Regional Retail: Burning Flame Candle Company

When Lauren Burke started Burning Flame Candle Company in March 2020, it wasn’t something she mapped out years in advance. There was no formal business plan, no branding agency, and no safety net. There was a kitchen, a box of candle-making supplies, a young son, and an urgent need to create income.

Like many Nova Scotians, Lauren saw her hospitality job disappear overnight as a result of the pandemic. Rather than waiting for things to reopen, she decided to build something of her own.

“I didn’t have the luxury of waiting things out,” she says. “I had to figure something out, and fast.”

That decision marked the beginning of Burning Flame Candle Company, a women-led, Nova Scotia–based manufacturer now carried by major retailers across Atlantic Canada.

Starting Small, and Starting Anyway

Lauren’s first candles were made on a whim using supplies her mother already had on hand. With support from the Self-Employment Benefits program through CEED, she committed to taking the idea seriously, learning as she went, producing larger batches, selecting her first eight scents, and launching an Instagram page.

Sales started locally and informally: deliveries from the trunk of her car, word-of-mouth referrals, and batches selling out faster than she expected.

“Back then there were no professional candle labels, no set plans. It was all trial and error,” she says. “COVID was a strange time, but for me it became a turning point. It pushed me to build something from nothing.”

Spotting Opportunity and Scaling Smarter

Image

From the beginning, Lauren believed Burning Flame Candle Company could be more than a small-batch operation. She noticed a rising demand for candles just as major players were pulling back their physical retail presence in Canada.

Rather than focusing solely on direct-to-consumer sales, she looked for ways to move volume sustainably. That’s where custom and white-label work became a key growth driver.

In her first year, Lauren landed a custom candle partnership with East Coast Lifestyle, starting with a 400-unit order that quickly scaled into the thousands. Additional collaborations followed, including a 1,000-unit order for local brand Coldstream Clear Distillery.

“Custom work became this steady flame behind the scenes,” she says. “It funded growth, built credibility, and introduced the brand to a much wider audience.”

Scaling Responsibly

For Lauren, growth has always been intentional.

“Scaling responsibly means not growing faster than I can support,” she explains. “Saying yes to everything is the fastest way to lose control of quality and your sanity.”

Burning Flame Candle Company continues to use the same traditional, hands-on production methods as day one. What’s changed is efficiency, planning, and time management, not the product itself.

Every candle must meet the same standard, whether she’s producing hundreds or thousands. “Growth only matters if the experience stays consistent and the business remains sustainable long-term.”

Manufacturing in Nova Scotia

Today, Burning Flame Candle Company operates out of a workshop in Bedford, producing locally and staying rooted in the community where Lauren grew up.

Lauren is candid about the realities many creators and crafters face when building a manufacturing business without access to capital or a built-in support system. From managing SKUs and product registration to navigating retail logistics, pallet requirements, and compliance, much of the work happens behind the scenes and often falls on the founder alone.

“There’s so much to manufacturing,” she says. “People are often shocked by how much I do myself.”

Without the resources to hire consultants or advisors, Lauren turned to tools like ChatGPT to help bridge the gap. She credits the technology with supporting everything from negotiating and signing her commercial lease to refining pricing, sourcing supplies, and figuring out how to package and ship pallets, tasks that would otherwise have required costly professional support.

“When you’re working with zero dollars and just trying to get to the next day, you have to be resourceful,” she says. “ChatGPT has become my business advisor, and a big part of how I figure things out.”

For Lauren, keeping production in Nova Scotia is a deliberate choice rooted in both values and experience. “I’m a proud Nova Scotian. Generational entrepreneurship is in my blood,” she says. “Keeping production here isn’t just about location. It’s about honour. It’s about keeping value in the local economy while building something that lasts.”

Through the Nova Scotia Loyal program, Burning Flame joins a community of businesses recognized for their commitment to local manufacturing and supporting Nova Scotia’s economy.

That same hands-on, locally rooted approach continues to resonate with both retailers and customers alike.

Breaking into Retail

Burning Flame Candle Company is now carried by major retailers across Atlantic Canada, including Lawtons Drugs, with expansion underway.

Breaking into retail required persistence, preparation, and relationship-building, skills Lauren credits to growing up around sales and entrepreneurship.

“I wasn’t afraid to reach out, follow up, and put the brand in front of the right people,” she says. “I treated every opportunity seriously and focused on long-term relationships, not quick wins.”

One standout milestone is an upcoming custom candle project for Kent Building Supplies’ 50th anniversary, launching across 48 locations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Power of Community and Support

Image

As a woman-led business, Lauren says mentorship and community support have been critical.

“Entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially when your personal life and business are so intertwined,” she says. “Mentorship brings clarity and confidence. Hearing other women speak honestly about the same challenges makes growth feel possible.”

She credits organizations like the Centre for Women in Business, along with Invest Nova Scotia programs including the Launch Export Atlantic Incubator, for helping her sharpen her strategy and long-term vision.

“It helped me connect what I was doing day to day with where I wanted the business to go.”

What’s Next

The year ahead is focused on thoughtful growth, deepening relationships with existing retail partners, expanding wholesale, and continuing to scale local production without compromising quality.

For Lauren, the goal isn’t growth at all costs, it’s building a business that reflects her values, supports her community, and proves that manufacturing can thrive in Nova Scotia.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Her advice is simple and hard-earned.

“You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to begin,” she says. “Momentum comes from showing up consistently, doing what you say you’ll do, and adjusting as you go.”

In Nova Scotia, she adds, people notice that commitment, and they support it.

Could your business be Nova Scotia’s next success story? Reach out to the Regional Business Advisor nearest you.