Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Hall.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mallory. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had a passion and love for candles and fragrance. The beautiful glow has always been a staple in my home. I never planned to have my own collection, but there were a few moments that made me ask myself, “why can’t I do this?”. The first moment occurred when I received a package that contained a few candles that I ordered online. These were very popular designer candles that I have purchased for years. I opened them and I was shocked to see that the labels were completely crooked, peeling, or misplaced. The second moment happened when I walked into a very well known, high-end department store’s candle section. All of the testers on display were very underwhelming. They were completely discolored, had lots of craters and tunneling, the wax was a mess, but the packaging was exquisite. That got me thinking! I NEEDED to do this!
The third moment occurred after receiving a prominent jewelry designer’s candle. The container was beautiful, and I was expecting to be completely blown away. To my surprise, the candle was made of pure paraffin wax and looked absolutely horrible. The candle smelled good, but the flaky wax presentation overshadowed the fragrance. Paraffin wax is created as a byproduct of petroleum sludge. It is treated with carcinogenic chemicals, and even after processing it still contains several toxic compounds and chemicals. Two of those toxic substances are benzene and toluene. I was absolutely floored, and that is what pushed me to start researching. I tirelessly researched waxes, compounds, carcinogens, you name it. I started questioning every candle I had in my home. Those moments had my mind spinning once again. Are these pricey candles mass-produced to the point that there are no quality checks to make sure that the labels (a very basic concept) are presentable? Is that tiny $80 candle in the fancy store worth more than $4, and am I just paying for the nice box that serves no purpose once ripped open? Does that famous jewelry designer even know that the $100 candle with their name on it is incredibly toxic? That fueled the fire for me. I continued to research instead of sleep, started testing in my newly created lab, and created a product that is both luxurious and safe. We buy things because they are pretty or appealing in some way. We assume that because something is expensive or eye-catching, that it is made with the safest and highest quality ingredients available. FALSE.
So why not create something that can be safe, guilt-free, and still be gorgeous? What if I could create a product that is allergy-friendly, sustainable, and eco-friendly? I was engulfed in the process and Wyatt Vannin Designs was born. My candles (and other products) are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. They burn clean and even without discoloration. The glass can be reused, and the packaging is recycled and reusable also! I decided that only the best and safest would be my standard. After years in finance/accounting in the legal, oil & gas, and construction fields, I made the choice to build the brand. Lots of late night trials and errors led me to create Wyatt Vannin Designs. Wyatt & Vannin are my children’s names, and having their names attached to the product line is a huge motivator for me. They are really proud and think they are famous now. I’m okay with that.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been relatively smooth, although exhausting. Answering emails, messages, fulfilling orders, shipping, purchasing, scheduling design consultations, creating social media content, and updating my website is all me. It is definitely pressure, but I remind myself that I created the pressure. I want things done a certain way, so I handle it. I am constantly learning new ways to streamline production, and I’ve had to learn that it is okay to take breaks and breathe from time to time. I’m still working on that.
Please tell us about Wyatt Vannin Designs.
At Wyatt Vannin Designs, our products are not only aesthetically pleasing; but also sustainable, eco-friendly, allergy-friendly, non-carcinogenic, free of synthetic dyes, reusable, and made with ethically sourced materials.
Our hand-poured, dual-wick, 13oz. candles are made with natural coconut wax that burns cleaner, cooler, and longer than your average candle wax. Traditional (and very, very common) petroleum, coal, and GMO (genetically modified organism) based waxes are INCREDIBLY profitable and popular, and will NOT be found here. Like, never ever. These things matter, especially when you light those things on fire. We use lead and zinc-free cotton wicks, and all of our fragrance oils are phthalate and sulfate free.
Our SPACE MIST ® is for your home, office, linens, auto, or any space that could use a nice dose of your favorite fragrance! Made with 100% organic wild-harvested witch hazel, and non-gmo grain alcohol. So versatile!
Every batch is strategically blended with eccentric fragrance notes; creating an inimitable aromatic experience. Our products are meticulously produced by hand, using only the purest and finest ingredients from some of the world’s most exotic regions.
I am so proud to have developed a safe collection that can help reduce waste at the same time. I wanted nothing less. Our signature label candle tube packaging helps support a non-profit organization that works to reforest the globe. These incredibly engineered tubes provide excellent candle protection and are 100% recyclable, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and REUSABLE! Our other products and accessories come in reusable pouches. Packaging with a purpose!
Wyatt Vannin Designs is known for making incredibly unique, sexy, and beautiful fragrances that cannot be found anywhere else. Our customers love that you have the option to customize as well! Choose your glass color and finish, choose your label, choose the overall vibe to fit in your space. You can have a great smelling, custom luxury product without toxins. It is possible!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I had to think about this quite a bit, and my answer is simple. I wouldn’t change a thing. All of the trials, broken glass, and high temperature wax fiascos were valuable lessons. I needed those moments to know how to move forward in different artistic directions. I needed them so I could think bigger, create smarter, and produce efficiently. I never stop creating, and I’ll never stop challenging myself. Those moments have brought the Wyatt Vannin brand to life, and it is shining bright!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wyatt-vannin.com
- Email: hello@wyatt-vannin.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/
wyattvannindesigns - Instagram: Instagram.com/
wyattvannindesigns
Image Credit:
Studio by Christa Elyce
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
