The weather is getting colder, and that means it’s candle season. Besa Gordon took a trip over to Noir Lux  Candle Co. to tap in with Owner and CEO Colina Bruce, who founded the company in her kitchen during the pandemic. Since then, she’s opened a brick and mortar store offering her own candles as well as classes where you can create pour your own.

“It really started as a pandemic passion project,” Bruce said. “It was supposed to be a side hustle, and then it really took off.”

As an educator, the transition from being around students to being on zoom was challenging, and candles were one of the ways Bruce adjusted to the changing world. 

“I was lighting a candle every day, and I started wondering if I could make them,” Bruce said. “We like to say that candles are a conduit for community building, networking, and growth.”

Part of that growth for Bruce centers around self-care. An advocate for mental health, Bruce hopes that she can share messages of empowerment around taking time to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

“Self-care does not mean that you are being selfish. You can’t pour from an empty cup,” Bruce said. “As a business owner, I take on a lot and I have remind myself to find those happy and fulfilling things.”

Bruce has been launching a variety of products, which you can see more of on her website https://www.noirluxcandleco.com/

This story originally aired on Back2Besa with Besa Gordon. Make sure to tune in to Back2Besa this week at a special time of 11:30 pm after the news on FOX 13 Seattle and Sunday at 10 am on FOX 13+.