Bean Candle Co. opens in Sewickley

Laura Palmer adds light and fragrance to the world one candle at a time.

The founder of Bean Candle Co., a fragrance store located along Beaver Street in Sewickley, Palmer has created a brick-and-mortar shop that smells really, really good.

“Scent is powerful in ways we don’t always realize,” said the Bell Acres resident. “It can take you back to a favorite memory, remind you of someone you love or simply make your whole space feel calm and grounded. A scent can shift your mood or change the energy in a room instantly. That’s what I love about it — it’s such a simple thing, but it has the power to make life feel softer, cozier and more connected.”

She began making candles in her home, giving them away to family and friends.

“It’s been amazing to watch something I started at my kitchen counter grow into a space that brings people a little calm in their day,” Palmer said.

Palmer admits she is a perfectionist, so it took several attempts to create her first candle. It took a lot of trial and error to get the candles just right, she said.

“What started as a hobby quickly became a mission,” Palmer said. “After countless tests and late nights, I finally landed on a formula that felt exactly right — and, honestly, it made me happy.”

Her impetus was that she couldn’t find what she was looking for on the market — something that smelled amazing from the first light to the very last, burned clean and felt simple but elegant, she said. Her candles are made with sulfate-free oils and there are no additives or synthetic dyes.

The essential oils and fragrance ingredients are thoughtfully sourced, she said. Every scent is pure.

Mindful of what she breathes, Palmer chose to make nontoxic candles. She hand-pours each candle and uses nontoxic, phthalate-free fragrances and cotton wicks.

Her goal has never been to mass-produce candles.

She uses minimalist packaging and “scents that make a home feel peaceful and lived-in, not perfumed.”

“I’ve always believed our homes should feel good — calm, safe and restorative — but so many candles on the market were filled with toxins or overpowering scents,” Palmer said. “I wanted something cleaner, simpler and more intentional. What began as making candles for myself and friends quickly turned into something bigger.”

Candles are packaged in pristine boxes decorated with a floral motif. Each candle has a name, such as orange fleur, limone, velvet embers and seasonal selections including sweater weather, mistletoe and Christmas splendor.

Moonflower and mint villosa earned recognition within The Inspired Home Show, formerly the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago in March. They were chosen for their captivating scents and the clean, modern aesthetic, Palmer said.

When Palmer learned that chef and television host Christy Rost also was going to be at The Inspired Home Show, she sent her an email.

The two met and Palmer sent Rost two amber forest candles that Palmer had made.

“She was so nice,” Palmer said. “I didn’t realize Christy Rost was a Pittsburgh native until we met. I reached out to her because I liked her show. When I met her in person, she requested candles for her upcoming shoot for her fall season.”

On her Instagram, Rost mentioned to viewers to look for the candles during Season Four of “At Home With Christy Rost.”

The candle making now takes place in her Sewickley-area studio.

Before opening the store, she was selling candles at home shows, craft shows, pop-ups at boutiques and through her online store for two and a half years.

She also has wholesale partnerships with local and national boutiques and spas.

One of those boutiques is Diana Kauffman Designs, a clothing, jewelry, accessories and gift boutique across the way on Beaver Street.

“There are tons of candle companies out there, but I knew her candles would be well-made and handcrafted,” Kauffman said. “The candles are amazing. Her notes are layered well, and she uses the highest quality ingredients. The limone candle is on my nightstand right now. It is special to have a candle store in Sewickley.”

The 12-ounce candles burn up to 84 hours, Palmer said.

Palmer plans to add diffusers, room sprays and oils in the coming months.

Custom candles are available for client gifts, parties, weddings or any occasion to make it personal.

Palmer is the mother of five children, and her husband serves as the warehouse and shipping manager. She also is a real estate agent and once owned a bakery in Crafton and then Oakdale.

“Baking and candle making are surprisingly similar,” Palmer said. “Both require patience, precision and a sense of balance — too much or too little of one ingredient can change everything. One is a recipe, the other is a formula. There’s a rhythm to it — measuring, mixing, testing, waiting — and in both, the reward is creating something that brings comfort and joy to others.”