Our Story

Candles By John was born from deep grief and the journey of healing that followed. When I lost both my mother and grandfather in 2020, candle making became my way of processing my grief and holding onto the memories of the ones I loved. Every candle I create is more than just a product; it’s a piece of my heart. Each scent is inspired by a loved one, carefully crafted to capture their essence and the moments we shared. These fragrances tell a story—one of love, memory, and connection. With every candle I pour, I’m honoring the people who shaped me and the lessons they left behind. My hope is that these candles bring warmth, comfort, and a sense of connection to anyone who lights them, just as they’ve done for me.

Meet Brennan

Owner and candle maker, I grew up in Miami, FL with a mother (inspiration behind Yvette) who had an extreme love of aromatherapy and perfumes which she passed on to me. As a lad, we would make potpourri together and create essential oil mixes for the oil burners around the house, and of course she loved candles. It was from this love of candles, that my hobby of making them grew. For years I made them for fun and gave them away as gifts. After my mother and grandfather passed away in April 2020, I turned to candle making to process the grief and to feel closer to them and all my loved ones. I live in San Francisco, with my wife and dog, after working in the Financial Industry for 15 years, I've decided to pursue candle making fulltime. However, I will tell you, I'm "just a fella".

So, who's John?

John is my paternal grandfather and the namesake of our company. It was from him that I gained a love of craftsmanship and working with my hands. He also instilled within me the importance of family, dedication to your craft, and values, all of which I wanted to share through my love of candles. He and my grandmother (Sadie Pearl) were married for 60 years before he stepped beyond the veil in March 2020. My memories of him are very special, at his knee I learned much of the principles and ideals that shaped me into the person I am today. He was an extremely humble man and would reply to whatever compliment he received with “I’m just a fella”, it’s that same humbleness I hope to bring to Candles By John and the candles I make.

Our Story

Meet Brennan

So, who's John?

Thanks for burning.