Milk Jar Candle Co was started in a home kitchen. In 2016, Holly Singer began experimenting with the goal of making clean-burning, beautiful-smelling candles that she could sell in her local community while also fundraising for an important cause. Through annual donations to non-profits supporting inclusion and safe workplaces for people with disabilities, Milk Jar has become known for more than just candles. We spoke with Peter Kaczan, Marketing Manager for Milk Jar Candle Co, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Milk Jar Candle Co. is a Calgary-based candle company that hand-pours clean-burning coconut soy candles designed to make your space feel cozy, welcoming, and a little bit magical. What really sets us apart, though, is our mission: $1 from every candle sold supports inclusive employment initiatives for people with disabilities. For us, candles aren’t just about great scents; they’re about creating a brighter, more inclusive world.
What made you want to do this work?
Milk Jar began in founder Holly Singer’s kitchen in November 2016, inspired by two simple goals: to create clean-burning candles that smell incredible and to build a business that gives back. Years earlier, while studying Kinesiology at university, Holly formed a close friendship with a boy living with Cerebral Palsy and his mother. That experience left a lasting impression on her, highlighting both the resilience of people with disabilities and the barriers they often face. When Milk Jar first launched, Holly set a modest goal of raising $500 in its first year to support programs focused on learning and growth. What she didn’t realize at the time was just how much the company would grow and how much greater the impact could become.
Nearly nine years later, Milk Jar has grown into a household name in Calgary. We’re proud to model inclusive employment within our team while continuing to donate annually to non-profits that support accessibility, inclusion, and safe workplaces. While our (very awesome, plant-based and phthalate-free) candles remain at the heart of what we do, the line has expanded to include reed diffusers and fragrances as well.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We wanted to create candles that people could truly feel good about burning, with clean ingredients, amazing scent throw, and thoughtfully designed products. At the same time, we wanted to prove that businesses can grow while giving back. By supporting inclusive employment initiatives through every candle sold, we aim to make a meaningful impact while creating products people genuinely love.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our customers come from all walks of life, but our most common demographic is millennial women who appreciate thoughtful products, beautiful design, and brands with a meaningful mission. That said, candles tend to bring everyone together; we often see people buying them as gifts for friends, family, coworkers, or simply as a little treat for themselves (we don’t judge!)
How does your business make money? How does it work?
At our core, we design and produce a range of home fragrance products, including candles, diffusers, perfume rollers, shower steamers, and car air fresheners. Alongside our retail and wholesale offerings, we also create custom candles for businesses and events, host candle-making workshops in our studio, and run a fundraising program that allows organizations to raise money while sharing products people genuinely enjoy.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
You can visit us at our flagship Milk Jar storefront and studio in Calgary, where we pour candles, host workshops, and welcome customers who want to experience the scents in person. Our address is 1450 28 St NE # 7, Calgary, AB T2A 7N6. We also have 700+ Wholesalers across Canada and the USA who distribute and sell our products with love.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
What makes your candle different from a “toxic” candle?
A great candle should burn cleanly and smell amazing without filling your space with unwanted chemicals. At Milk Jar, we use a plant-based coconut-soy wax blend, high-quality fragrance oils free of dibutyl phthalates (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalates (DEHP), and a unique crackling wooden wick designed to deliver a clean burn and excellent scent throw. The wooden wick also adds a gentle crackle as it burns like a tiny fireplace that keeps you company while you relax. We focus heavily on scent balance so the fragrance enhances your space without overpowering it. All of our products are vegan and cruelty-free, and $1 from every candle sold supports the creation of inclusive and welcoming spaces around the world.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is seeing how something as simple as a candle can bring people together — whether it’s a customer finding their new favourite scent, a workshop guest pouring their first candle, or someone discovering that their purchase supports inclusive employment and the disability community.
The hardest part? Probably trying to describe a scent through a computer screen. If only computers came with smell-o-vision!
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Around here, we like to say we’re all Chandlers. Not the sarcastic one who lived in a New York apartment… the original kind, people who make candles for a living. That said, if a test candle burns slightly crooked, we still occasionally look at it and ask, “Could it be any more dramatic?”
Where can we follow you?
You can follow us on Instagram
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We absolutely adore Inclusion Alberta. Inclusion Alberta is a family-based nonprofit dedicated to advocating for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families, working to ensure everyone can live fully included lives in their communities. Through advocacy, education, and employment initiatives, they help create opportunities for people of all abilities to belong, contribute, and thrive.
We’re proud to support their work and their mission to build communities where everyone is welcomed and valued.
