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MEET THE MAKER Candlemaker Melissa Lester in her pristine Caledon studio backed by tidy shelves of her handmade June + Rose Candle Co. products.
Melissa Lester A Caledon clothing retailer changed course to become a candlemaker with a knack for irresistible aromas. BY JOHANNA BERNHARDT
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he bright and airy Caledon studio where candlemaker Melissa Lester plies her trade feels less like a workspace than a spa-like oasis filled with subtle aromas. The gently flickering flame of a single candle casts a glow on a wooden table. All feels right with the world. As Melissa stands in front of floor-to-ceiling shelves of neatly displayed four- and nineounce candles in gold tin canisters, as well as nine-ounce candles in her signature June + Rose Candle Co. glass jars, she shares the story of how she came to fill her days with soy wax and all this chic, simple packaging. A graduate of Toronto’s International Academy of Design in fashion marketing, Melissa worked as a runway stylist and a personal shopper before opening Bloom Fashion Boutique, her own fashion and accessories store, in her hometown of Caledon East in 2012. When she started selling candles in her store, she discovered many of them contain substances
linked to asthma, cancer, hormone disruption and even indoor pollution. “There was a very limited supply of candles I felt comfortable burning around my family, my children or my pets,” she says. So she took matters into her own hands and began experimenting in her kitchen and pouring her heart into research. “Everything is trial and error with candles. It’s hours and hours of research and testing to get the proper wick size to go with the wax and the scent.” Melissa now sources her ingredients and sup plies from Canadian companies only and blends two types of non-GMO soy waxes. Her wicks are 100 per cent cotton and contain no lead. In 2018, Melissa debuted her candles in Bloom and was amazed by the success. “I had so many customers tell me, ‘This is what I’ve been looking for.’” Her candles were so popular she decided to close Bloom and focus full-time on candlemaking. Looking back, she’s grateful she did. She knew she wanted more time with her two young children, Connor, 7, and Colby, 9, and
the freedom to make her own schedule. She has tremendous support from her husband, Scott, whose unofficial title is head of shipping and receiving, and her parents contribute by helping with deliveries to local retailers. Melissa’s family is also a frequent source of inspiration. In her company name, for example, “June” is significant because several happy family events occurred on the same date in that month. “Rose” was her grandmother’s name. And for her “Numbers” collection, Melissa created a custom fragrance that represents something special to each family member. Connor’s No Thirteen candle, for instance, is a delectable blend of vanilla and buttercream with base notes of sugar redolent of a local bakery. June + Rose candles are hand poured in small batches. The soy wax pellets are slowly heated in a large vat until they reach the desired temperature. (It’s a secret!) The wax is then transferred into a stainless-steel pitcher, called a “pour pot,” and the premixed fragrance oils are C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA G E
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