The Rustic House crafts locally handmade, small-batch candles with natural ingredients created right here in Chattanooga, TN.
Natural cotton wicks, American-grown soy wax, essential oil fragrances, slow-burn…what’s not to love about these candles? The Rustic House began ten years ago right here in Chattanooga, TN. Today they proudly still make every candle in small batches by hand and sell them all over the country, and even the world. Continue reading to learn more about this local Chattanooga candle business.
The Rustic House Humble Beginnings
The Rustic House began in 2013 when Emily convinced her friend Chelsea to help her in this new business endeavor. They both worked hard to find the best formula for making fragrant, soy wax candles. The candle making business had humble beginnings in a single-car garage in Northshore Chattanooga. Every weekend they’d move their product to the Chattanooga Market to sell. Today they have their own warehouse here in Chattanooga where they still hand-craft every single candle. It’s an amazing feat since they sell their products in over 400 stores across the US and worldwide.
I also must thank Treston for taking the time to meet with me to discuss more about this business a few years ago. As I explore small Chattanooga businesses, I love to meet with the people who have been there through the growth of these companies. No one can better explain a company than someone who understands the passions behind them. Treston is definitely one of those people. If you’ve ever stopped by The Rustic House booth at the Chattanooga Market, chances are you’ve chatted with him at some point. His passion for this artisan candle business is quite evident. I can’t thank him enough for allowing me to get to know The Rustic House brand on a more personal level. And more recently, for allowing me to come tour the warehouse and film the candle making process to share with you!
What Sets The Rustic House Candle Brand Apart
With the focus on scent, Emily and Chelsea spent a very long time formulating the perfect fragrances that would be unique to their brand. These scents are strong enough to fill a small room, yet light enough to keep even sensitive noses from getting a headache. And if they are still too strong for you, they have reed diffusers as well. These are great for a more subtle scent that still fills the room. Another benefit is that you don’t have to tend to them other than flipping the reeds once a week. No need to light a flame or blow them out and they last 2-3 months.
Also, all the candles look the same. They are painted white to keep with the minimal Rustic House look. This color choice also gives you the freedom to choose the scent you like best without worrying about what it looks like. Lastly, the candles are made with high-quality ingredients. American-grown soy wax is used in the candles and stays white in color. The wicks are 100% cotton and the fragrances are of cosmetic-grade. And don’t forget about the jar itself. They are recyclable. And if you bring your used candle to The Rustic House booth at the Chattanooga Market or The Rustic House warehouse (call ahead), they’ll give you $2 towards your next purchase.
Where to Find The Rustic House Candles
If you’re in Chattanooga, be sure to check out the map for all the store locations that carry The Rustic House collections. And if you’re not local, don’t worry, you might find a location near you too! If not, you can purchase online. In addition to their famous 8 oz. candles, there’s travel tins which are a smaller version. They also have wax melts and large, center piece candle canoes. Treston’s favorite part of the business is that they support local and international charities and projects. Learn more about how your purchase might help and what all they do around Chattanooga and the world.
My first purchase was of course, The Scenic City candle which is just their Signature Scent but with the Chattanooga skyline on the box label. This is the perfect souvenir or travel gift as the Signature Scent is their most popular and the original scent that started it all. It’s hard to describe but the main notes are amber, tobacco, and vanilla. I say that it’s a hearty scent balancing warm, earthy, and clean smells. You’ll just have to try it for yourself to see what I mean.
Treston also gave me Apples + Honey which smells just like fresh, crisp apples and is perfect for the late summer, early fall mood. I have also since bought Lemon Peel which smells like pure lemon, not that fake smell either. This, however, is a retired scent. You have to be on the look out and follow along with The Rustic House because you never know what they’ll do next. Sometimes they bring back retired scents and sometimes they offer brand new products.
In Closing
It doesn’t take long to see why any candle lover will fall in love with The Rustic House candles. With so many products to choose from, I didn’t even cover them all! I look forward to trying the wax melts in the future. What are you most looking forward to trying? Let me know in the comments below. And if you already enjoy The Rustic House products, tell me which is your favorite scent. I can’t pick a favorite because they’re all too good!
Check out my YouTube video for my review of The Rustic House candles that I filmed a few years ago when I first tried them. Trust me, you won’t want to miss my genuine first reaction smelling the Signature Scent of The Scenic City candle. Curious for a behind the scenes look at how The Rustic House makes every candle by hand? Then you’ll want to watch this more recent video. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
