Made by Mom Gift Guide: Local mom builds soy candle business and finds community at same time

Jayne Hopkins has done all kinds of things. She was director of student activities at a college in Kentucky, a fourth grade teacher in Chicago and an English as a Second Language teacher in Wake County. Today, she's a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 3, 5 and 6 and has another baby due on Valentine's Day.

"I’ve always been someone who wears multiple hats and has multiple responsibilities," she tells me.

Hopkins added to her many hats back in 2012 when she started making soy candles, which she gave away as gifts. Each year, people asked her for more. Eventually she launched Light is Love, a line of soy, phthalate-free, lead-free, zinc-free and dye-free candles.

Light is Love is the final business featured in our Made by Mom Gift Guide for 2019. Find out more about her and Light is Love in this Q&A.

Go Ask Mom: How did Light is Love get its start?

Jayne Hopkins: In spring of 2017, after the birth of my third child, I wanted to earn some extra spending cash for our family and I needed to have a hobby (as a way to establish some self-care) and a reason to have some alone time (also self-care— ha ha). I began attending farmers markets at WakeMed and at the Midtown Farmers Market. I had SOO much fun and got to know so many amazing people. My business has continued to grow and now I stock candles in five stores in the area and have a website in addition to attending makers markets and farmers markets.

GAM: You use a lot of natural products. Tell us about their benefits.

JH: My candles are made with 100% soy wax (which is a natural wax made from soy beans). Soy wax burns up to 50% longer than paraffin wax and burns much cleaner than paraffin (minimal to no soot). Soy wax and other natural waxes are a much healthier option for your lungs— paraffin candles are very toxic and emit carcinogens in the air.

Another key component in candles that can affect the healthiness of the candle is the fragrance. Almost all candles are made with fragrance oils and I’ll explain why in a minute. Fragrance oils are blends of essential oils with chemical fragrances and dilutants and solvents to help the fragrance dissipate throughout the whole candle. I do use fragrance oils in my candles, however, I make sure that every fragrance oil I use is free from phthalates (which are hormone disrupting chemicals).

Why do almost all candles use fragrance oils? The reason is because using pure essential oils can be dangerous and are cost prohibitive. Essential oils are very expensive and large amounts are needed to fragrance candles (approximately 1 oz per pound of wax). They can be dangerous because many are flammable and when used in large amounts, the top of the wax on the candle can ignite causing an extremely large flame. Essential oils are also not meant to be heated. Once they are exposed to heat, they lose their amazing health properties. I love essential oils and diffusing them, but I also love a good scented candle once in awhile. Using natural wax and phthalate free fragrances ensures my candles are a healthier alternative for those wanting something they can’t get from essential oils.

GAM: What's been the biggest challenge as you launched your business?

JH: The biggest challenge for me has been to balance being a stay-at-home mom and homeschool educator with the desire to continue to grow and expand my business. I feel called to do both, but my family always comes first. As a result, I do feel like sometimes I miss opportunities and some of the aspects of owning a business can’t be prioritized for me (such as product photography, keeping up with my website and social media posting) as I would like.

GAM: What do you love about what you do?

JH: I LOVE being a part of a makers community in Raleigh and attending markets! This is my bread and butter and the fun and best part of being an entrepreneur for me. Meeting new people and seeing them get excited about my candles gets me tickled, and when they come back again and again for more candles I am always so humbled and grateful for their support. I love when they ask questions and I am able to talk to them about switching to healthier products. I have so many small business owner acquaintances and friends now that when I go to a market, it’s like hanging out with my friends.

GAM: How can people find you? (Online, in stores, at markets?)

JH: You can find me on my website, Facebook and Instagram.

My products also are available at the following stores:

• The Market at Three Little Birds in Clayton
• Extraordinaire Art Show & Emporium in Triangle Town Center
• Honor Yoga in Knightdale
• Adventures in Bloom in Cary
• Connecting the Dots booth at the Cotton Company in Wake Forest

Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday — and even more often in November and December as part of the Made by Mom Gift Guide.