FEATURE FRIDAY: FINNMAKER CANDLES
We took a couple week break from the regular Feature Friday blog posts because we launched our online store, but we are back and so excited to introduce you to Finnmaker Candles! Not only do their candles smell amazing, they are clean-burning with a cotton wick made with dye-free wax and phthalate-free fragrance, locally here in the UP by the sweetest family!! And did you know they created our Harbor + Pine Forest Pine candle that we love so much?! They’re the best!!
Tell us about yourself and the story behind Finnmaker.
My name is Ricky Johnson. I’m married to the love of my life and the kindest person I know, Amanda, and we have three wonderful children. Myself, Amanda, and our fifteen-year-old daughter, Savannah, create our Finnmaker candles. We started the business two-and-a-half years ago under a different brand name, but we decided to change it to Finnmaker, because it felt more personal and had meaning to us. “Finn” in honor of our Finnish heritage, and “maker” because we enjoy making and creating.
What inspired you to start a candle company?
My daughter, Savannah, is very artsy and crafty, so I decided to research products that we could make together. After researching many products, it was decided that candles would be a great product to start with.
We'd love to hear more about the process of creating the candles. How do you come up with new scents and pick the perfect one?
We really enjoy the whole creative process of creating new candles. Brainstorming new scent ideas, themes, and creating the label artwork is a lot of fun. Once a theme is decided on, then I mix fragrance oils together and Amanda & Savannah smell them and offer suggestions on what should be tweaked in the mixture to achieve the fragrance that best matches the scent name.
In your whole candle collection, do you have a favorite scent?
I have several scents that I really like, but I would have to say that Kahvi Aika (Coffee Time in Finnish) is my favorite. It has the most amazing fragrance of roasted coffee and hazelnut. Agave & Oakmoss is another favorite (and our bestseller!).
Where can your candles be purchased? Can you order online?
Our Finnmaker candles can be purchased at Urban Rustics, Copper Country Natural Solutions, Apple Blossom Mercantile (Houghton), North Wind Books (Hancock), Touch Of Finland (Marquette), and Lil’ Red Furniture Shop (Ashland, WI). We plan to have our Website setup in early 2020 for online ordering. We’re excited to announce that we’ll be adding two new products early next year!
To stay up-to-date with new scents and products, where can people find and follow you?
We would very much appreciate people checking us out on Instagram or Facebook @finnmakerco. We add new scents regularly and love sharing them with those gracious enough to follow us on social media!
Be sure to head over to our Instagram to enter our giveaway with Finnmaker to win one of our Harbor + Pine candles!!
