Meet Colina Bruce, the owner of Noir Lux Candle Bar in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Noir Lux Candle Co. began as a labor of love in 2022. Colina opened the doors to her brick-and-mortar candle bar in Belltown, and each candle that she sells is handcrafted in small batches with her customers and community in mind. She describes the scents as an ode to good times and great vibes, from jasmine and sea salt to white tea and bergamot. The candles are created with 100% all-natural soy wax, 100% phthalate-free fragrance oils, and wooden wicks.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community in business is in and why?
As Seattle natives and being a brand rooted in good vibes and nostalgia, we consider it an honor to be located in the shadow of the space needle. We are in a walkable neighborhood located on the ground floor of mixed-income housing. We always enjoy getting to know our neighbors and finding ways to support other small businesses.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLkeitMatters?
It’s no secret that spending money with a small business puts money right back into that community. Local businesses also contribute to the majority of economic growth. Since opening our doors in Feb 2022, Noir Lux has grown our team from 1 staff member to 10, many of whom came in for a pouring session and inquired about the opportunity to join the team. Small businesses also add to the diversity of products and services available to a community. When you purchase something from Noir Lux, you can be sure that it was handcrafted or curated by a small business, and most likely another business owner of color or a woman-owned business. Also, whenever you spend money with a small business, an actual person does a happy dance. 😊
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
The craziest idea I’ve pursued was quitting my full-time job of 7 years to pursue opening a brick-and-mortar. But, my faith is greater than my fear, and I really believed that my purpose was more than just being comfortable working for somebody else.
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
Before launching Noir Lux, I spent almost 6 months testing products and materials. I was so scared to put my product out there, but my friends and family encouraged me to share my candles publicly. If it wasn’t for having a supportive tribe, my candles may have stayed in the “testing” phase for a lot longer.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
Some of my favorite Black-owned businesses are Valerie Madison Jewelry, Brown Family BBQ Sauce, Blessed + Thankful, Ike + Tash Photography, Communion, Jerk Shack, April Showers, Diva Rocks Events, Sizan Skincare, Black Coffee NW, Beats + Eats, Frichette Winery, Emerald 360 Events, and The Postman.
Anything else you’d like us to know about you and your business?
At Noir Lux, we use candles as a conduit for community building. We are rooted in good vibes, self-care, and nostalgia, and our goal is to share shelf space with other small vendors.