Meet Melissa Ottstadt | Candlemaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Ottstadt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

The Lys Collective is a product of my desire to create a cozy home and share my own small way of coping. During the pandemic and while spending a lot of time at home, I began using candles to separate my day.

One in the morning while drinking coffee and checking emails, another for a lunch time yoga break, yet another while cooking dinner. Burning candles became a way for me to bring some sense of routine and normalcy back into my life – while at the same time, making my apartment more cozy.

Since I was burning them so much, I decided to order a candle making kit and found that I really enjoyed making them! What started as a coping mechanism and a creative outlet, turned quickly into an obsession – as I soon threw myself into researching and testing wax, fragrances and vessels – asking for feedback, taking notes and going back to the drawing board many times.

I luckily knew many of my neighbors within my apartment building, so I had invited them over to test scents and get their feedback. Also during the development stage, I reached out to sustainability experts and branding consultants in order to build a brand that I could be proud of.

After a year of learning and prepping, I launched my brand. 6 months after that, I left my corporate job to pursue it full-time. At the moment, I work alone with help from my family to ship orders while I travel and to set up at local markets as a vendor.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
During the pandemic, candles became a way to bring routine back into my life. After noticing that I was burning them frequently, I decided to try making them myself.

My goal was to make the most sustainable candle brand that I could. After a lot of research and consulting with sustainability experts, I am so proud to be using a unique wax made from coconut and apricot, clean fragrances (without phthalates, parabens, toxins, sulfate) as well as a vessel made from recycled glass. Using recycled paper labels, water soluble packing peanuts and other earth friendly materials, I package my candles with minimal materials for a minimum impact.

Getting to where I am has not been easy, but mostly from a personal perspective. I left a career 15 years in the making to strike out on my own, seeing a world of possibility and a different way of life than I ever thought was possible before. The pandemic shifted something in me, as it did for many people, and I began to value personal space, relationships and well-being above all else. I made a huge transition and now focus on all of those things, spreading light the best way I know how – through my candles and with openness in sharing the journey that I’m on.

I am a believer in seeing challenges as opportunities and moving forward with love and not fear. As a person and a business owner, I am ever evolving and fully embrace the possibilities for change and improvement. I encourage others to do the same and use my social media platforms hoping to connect and inspire.
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Through The Lys Collective, my goal is to reflect how the simple act of lighting a candle can change a mood, brighten a day, and be a reminder that you can find comfort even in uncertain times – just as it did for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots range from cozy candlelit restaurants to strolls in Central Park. All of them would be saved in a shareable google map with notes included! I started doing this when traveling abroad a few years ago and it’s come in so handy when comparing notes with others (and trying to remember what I’ve done)!

With so many flavors and neighborhoods to choose from, I’d say my favorites are Gramercy and the UWS in Manhattan and of course where my candle making journey began – Williamsburg BK. Traveling outside of NYC has made me realize the breadth of community, culture and history we so easily take for granted. My advice is to try as many cuisines as you can (Ess-a-bagel or any of the top rated ones is a must), take the ferries along the East River (at night is the best), enjoy a Jazz performance (Birdland is iconic) and just let the rhythm of the city take over. The Museum of Natural History and the Museum of the City of New York are wonderful, but I’d spend as much time walking the neighborhoods as possible.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, family and friends. Without their support, encouragement, feedback and positivity, the decision to strike out on my own would have been a lot harder. They continue to be a source of inspiration for me, cheering me on and helping me to move forward even when I inevitably have days filled with doubt! I also want to thank my former employers. I had incredible opportunities in my past to see and partner with colleagues across the world, learning the intricacies of retail both at home and abroad. While my career may not have ended up where I thought it would, I am so glad for my prior experience because I definitely would not be where I am today without it.

Website: https://thelyscollective.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelyscollective/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ottstadt-0849385/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelyscollective

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzmBAvnr9exSOeSD0zc-E_Q

Image Credits
Joanne Rabenarisoa
Lauren Listor