Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Pascoe.
Hi Kaitlyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Kait! I run Kosmic Kandles, my small-batch candle business based in New Caney, Texas, where I live with my amazing husband, and way too many cats.
I’ve always been drawn to scent because so many of my favorite memories are tied to the way something smelled. With a house full of pets, year-round allergies, and a lifelong love of all things cozy and fragrant, making candles felt like second nature.
With pets and allergies, I know the importance of clean ingredients. I’m passionate about crafting scents that are clean, made with care, and might be linked to someone’s next best memory.
Kosmic Kandles launched in 2020 as a cozy little quarantine project born from homesickness, a love for crafting, and the wild idea of sending candles to family without spending a rocketload on shipping. I started small, just me and a few small yogurt jars, selling through Etsy and hoping someone out there would enjoy what I was creating.
Spoiler alert: the first candles were… not great.
But after plenty of feedback, a few (okay, many) wax-splattered disasters, and the mind-blowing realization that candle-making is actual chemistry, I dove headfirst into learning everything I could. Testing. Reworking. Learning more. Testing again. Slowly but surely, things began to click…and burn evenly.
In 2021, I registered Kosmic Kandles LLC in the state of Texas, launched my own site, and decided to start streaming the process live on Twitch. On stream, I bring people behind the scenes to show what really goes into making each candle, from pouring to packaging. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s real. And it’s 100% powered by passion (and caffeine).
I’m the creator, designer, pourer, packer, customer service rep, website editor, supply orderer, and social media goblin behind Kosmic Kandles. Every product you see here is hand-poured in small batches right from my home studio with love, care, and often a dash of ethically sourced mica glitter
I’ve even been lucky enough to collaborate with creators and brands I admire like working with GUN Interactive on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Game, and bringing literary worlds to life through scent with local Houston-area authors like Emily Rex and Salina R. Cruz.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced wasn’t necessarily business-related at first. I moved to Texas shortly before the world shut down in 2020, and suddenly found myself in a new place without an established community. Working remotely full-time only added to that sense of isolation.
For a while, both life and business felt pretty solitary. Everything changed when I started participating in local markets and events. What began as a way to get my products in front of customers quickly became something much more meaningful. I found a community of fellow small business owners, makers, readers, gamers, and customers who genuinely supported one another.
Those events helped me grow not only my business, but also my confidence. They led to collaborations, professional relationships, and some truly wonderful friendships. They taught me that building a successful business isn’t just about creating a great product. It’s about showing up, making connections, and becoming part of a community.
Even today, my biggest challenge is continuing to push myself outside of my comfort zone. As a solo business owner, it’s easy to stay behind the scenes. But some of the most rewarding opportunities have come from putting myself out there, introducing myself to new people, and saying yes to experiences that feel a little intimidating.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While candles are a very different world from my day job, there are a lot more similarities than people might expect.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked in industries built around communities. Whether it was partnering with gaming creators, supporting product launches, or managing relationships between brands and customers, I’ve always been drawn to the people side of business. I love figuring out what excites a community and finding ways to create experiences that bring people together.
That mindset has carried directly into Kosmic Kandles. Building candles is only one part of what I do. I also manage our ambassador program, coordinate collaborations with authors, artists, and fellow creators, and work to create products that feel personal to the communities they’re made for.
A lot of what I’ve learned professionally has helped me grow the business. Knowing how to build genuine relationships, manage partnerships, and bring creative projects to life has allowed me to turn Kosmic Kandles into more than just a candle company. It’s become a way to connect with readers, gamers, convention-goers, and other fandom communities that share the same passions I do.
At the end of the day, whether I’m working with a game studio or developing a new candle collection, the goal is the same: create something people get excited about and build lasting relationships along the way.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I went to market much sooner than I should have, but I think that’s what most small crafty businesses do. You kind of have to learn as you go, but I do wish I was a bit more prepared before I started sending candles that smelled like nothing to my family members haha.
Another piece of advice I would tell myself if I were just starting is to enjoy the making process. So often I find myself dreading having to handcraft things. It’s not because I dislike it, it’s because I wasn’t enjoying the actual process! Taking the time to slow down and really enjoy it has made my outlook on running this little thing so much more fun.
Pricing:
- Glass Candles – $20-35
- Tin Candles – $18-20
- Wax Melts – $6-8
- Oil Diffusers – $10-12
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kosmickandles.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosmickandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KosmicKandlesLLC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KosmicKandles
