Door County Candle Company

What Door County Candle Company does

Door County Candle Company is a privately held, handcrafted candle manufacturer and retailer founded in 1993 in Door County, Wisconsin, and acquired by current owner Christiana in 2021. The company produces scented wax products — including traditional paraffin candles, 100% organic soy candles, votives, wax melts, and fragrance oils — organized across four fragrance families (Cozy & Comforting, Fresh & Clean, Fruity & Refreshing, Natural & Alluring) and priced primarily in the $2.95 to $29.95 range. All raw materials are IFRA-certified, and the company maintains a proprietary portfolio of 50+ fragrance blends, including regionally differentiated scents such as Door County Cherry and Door County Coffee. The product line is complemented by candle warmers, diffusers, and accessories.

Revenue is generated through three primary channels: a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (doorcountycandle.com), a single physical retail store and Candle Bar experience in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and a wholesale portal for retailers. The Candle Bar offers a 30-45 minute pour-your-own experience at $39 per person, with group discounts for parties of 5 or more. A secondary revenue mechanism is the Candles Creating Change virtual fundraising program, which enables 501(c)(3) nonprofits and schools to earn revenue through unique event codes tied to product sales; the company has supported 50+ nonprofits and donated over $1M cumulatively. Customer segments are predominantly individual consumers (including Door County tourists), supplemented by nonprofit fundraising participants and wholesale resellers. The company employs 11-50 people, is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, and ships within the United States only.

Name

Door County Candle Company

Legal name

Door County Candle Co.

Website

https://doorcountycandle.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Door County Candle Company is a privately held, handcrafted candle manufacturer and retailer based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, selling soy and paraffin candles, wax melts, fragrance oils, and accessories through e-commerce, a single retail/Candle Bar store, and wholesale channels, with a philanthropic program that has donated over $1M to 50+ nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Fragrance Products

akta.pro primary industry

Home Fragrance (Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays) (CRABADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scented Candles & Wax Melts (Home Fragrance) (CRAJAEAD), Candles, Home Fragrance & Diffusers Retail (CRAIACAC)

Keywords

• Handcrafted candles
• Soy wax candles
• Fragrance oils
• Candle bar experience
• Cause marketing candles

Headquarters

HQ city

Sturgeon Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Candle and Wax Product Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted candles including traditional candles, soy candles, votives, wax melts, and fragrance oils. Products are sold in multiple sizes (5oz, 8oz, 16oz, 26oz) at price points ranging from approximately $2.95 to $29.95. Shipping is free on orders over $60.
2. Candle Bar Experience: In-store candle-making experience where customers create custom 16oz soy candles choosing from 50+ scents. The experience priced at $39 per person, with group discounts of 5% for groups of 5+ and 10% for groups of 10+. Candles take approximately 2.5 hours to cool before pickup or shipping.
3. Candles Creating Change Fundraising Program: Virtual fundraising platform for schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Organizations receive unique event codes; when supporters use these codes during checkout, a portion of qualifying product sales goes toward the group's fundraising goals. Supports 50+ nonprofits to date.
4. Wholesale and Accessory Sales: Wholesale accounts for retailers, plus accessory sales including candle warmers, diffusers, wick trimmers, gift sets, and gift cards. Candle warmers range from $11 to $35, diffusers from $20-$39.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Door County Candle Company manufactures and sells handcrafted candles, fragrance oils, and candle accessories. The company offers traditional paraffin candles, 100% organic soy candles, wax melts, votives, and fragrance oils across four scent families (Cozy & Comforting, Fresh & Clean, Fruity & Refreshing, Natural & Alluring), with a portion of proceeds donated to nonprofits through its Candles Creating Change initiative.

Product overview

Door County Candle Company is a handcrafted candle manufacturer and retailer offering a portfolio of scented wax products including Traditional Candles (paraffin), Soy Candles (100% organic soy wax), Wax Melts, Votive Candles, and Fragrance Oils — all organized across four fragrance families: Cozy & Comforting, Fresh & Clean, Fruity & Refreshing, and Natural & Alluring. The core product line is supplemented by Candle Warmers (pluggable, illumination, midsize, lantern/lamp styles), Diffusers, and Candle Care Accessories. The company also operates an immersive Candle Bar experience in Sturgeon Bay, WI, where customers pour custom 16oz soy candles from 50+ scents. Its philanthropic umbrella brand, Candles Creating Change, ties every product purchase to charitable donations, while the Support a Cause sub-brand features cause-specific candles (Ukraine, Maui Wildfire Relief, Poland, Wisconsin Tornado Relief) with 100% profit donations. A Virtual Fundraising Program enables nonprofits and schools to raise funds through unique event codes linked to product sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Candles Creating Change: The company's philanthropic initiative where each scented wax product purchase contributes to making a positive impact in the world through donations to various nonprofit organizations.

Products and services

• Traditional Candles Handcrafted, hand-poured candles made with paraffin wax, available in 5oz, 16oz, and 26oz apothecary jars, plus votives, across four fragrance families.
• Soy Candles Handcrafted, hand-poured candles made with 100% organic soy wax, available in 8oz and 16oz mason jars across all four fragrance families.
• Wax Melts Scented wax melts (wax chips) in small and large chip bags, compatible with wax melt warmers, available across all four fragrance categories.
• Fragrance Oils Concentrated fragrance oils available across Cozy & Comforting, Fresh & Clean, Fruity & Refreshing, and Natural & Alluring scent families.
• Candle Warmers Electric wax warmers in multiple styles (pluggable, illumination, midsize, lanterns & lamps) that melt candles without an open flame to release fragrance.
• Diffusers Ultrasonic diffusers (Airome brand) that disperse scented mists using water and essential oils, available in various designs.
• Sampler Packs Curated sampler sets containing multiple fragrance samples across scent categories (Cozy & Comforting, Fresh & Clean, Natural & Alluring, Fruity & Refreshing).
• Candle Bar Experience In-store immersive candle-making experience at Sturgeon Bay, WI, where customers choose from 50+ IFRA-certified scents and pour a custom 16oz mason jar soy candle; takes 30-45 minutes plus 2.5 hours of cooling, bookable for individuals and groups with tiered group discounts.
• Support a Cause Candles Cause-specific candles (Ukraine, Maui Wildfire Relief, Poland Support, Wisconsin Tornado Relief) where 100% of profits are donated to designated charitable organizations and disaster relief efforts.
• Virtual Fundraising Program Online fundraising platform that empowers 501(c)(3) nonprofits and schools to raise funds by distributing unique event codes; supporters use the codes at checkout and a portion of qualifying product sales is donated to the organization, supporting over 50 nonprofits to date.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 million raised for Ukraine relief through dedicated candle sales
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Razom for UkraineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Partnership with Razom for Ukraine, a Ukrainian 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Door County Candle Company has raised $1 million through dedicated Ukraine Candle sales, with 100% of profits donated. The partnership began in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Additional Thank You Poland candles also support this organization.
• Maui Ocean Center Marine InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaui Wildfire Relief candle partnership. Profits from Liliko'i (passion fruit) scented candles sold through the Maui Wildfire Relief campaign are donated to support Maui's recovery efforts.
• Volunteer Fox CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for Wisconsin tornado relief efforts. Door County Candle contributed to the coordinated volunteer response organized by Volunteer Fox Cities following the July 27 EF-3 tornado that struck Menasha, Neenah, and Fox Crossing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Yankee Candle: The largest specialty candle brand in North America, offering jar candles, wax melts, accessories, and home fragrance across mass retail, DTC, and its own retail stores. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the same core category Door County Candle competes in.
• Bath & Body Works: Large specialty retailer of home fragrance (candles, room sprays, diffusers, wax melts) and personal care. Competes in the same home fragrance category but as a broad portfolio incumbent with much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Scentsy: Direct-sales home fragrance company specializing in wickless wax warmers, scented wax bars, and diffusers, with a similar product mix (wax melts, fragrance oils, warmers). Highly comparable in product category and target consumer.
• Goose Creek Candle: DTC-focused candle company offering large-format jar candles, soy blends, and wax melts with strong e-commerce and discount-driven positioning. Comparable as a small-to-mid scale DTC candle brand targeting similar value-conscious candle consumers.
• Voluspa: Premium hand-poured candle brand known for coconut wax blends, distinctive packaging, and a strong DTC plus department-store wholesale presence. Comparable as a small-batch specialty candle brand competing on quality and design.
• Chesapeake Bay Candle: Mid-tier candle brand with a regional/tourism-inspired identity and soy/paraffin wax products distributed through DTC and mass retail. Comparable for the regional-themed branding and mainstream candle product mix.
• WoodWick: Premium candle brand known for wooden wicks and distinctive crackling burn experience, sold through DTC and major retailers. Comparable as a premium-priced specialty candle brand targeting gift and home fragrance consumers.
• Homesick Candles: DTC candle brand specializing in location/nostalgia-themed fragrances tied to US states, countries, and cities. Comparable for the place-based, regional-identity candle positioning and DTC-first model.
• NEST Fragrances: Premium home fragrance brand offering candles, diffusers, and fragrance products through luxury department stores, specialty retail, and DTC. Comparable as a premium-positioned candle and home fragrance brand.
• Village Candle: Family-owned candle manufacturer offering hand-poured jar candles and fragrance products through specialty retail and DTC channels. Comparable as a privately-held, smaller-scale specialty candle maker with overlapping product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DoorCoCandle
• Facebookfacebook.com/DoorCountyCandleCompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/doorcountycandle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/door-county-candle-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Door County Candle Company