Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Greene.
Hi Olivia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began making candles in college with the goal of re-using and re-purposing glass jars, cups, etc.
I had heard how detrimental paraffin wax and artificial fragrance were, so started researching natural wax and scents. Then, in December 2021, I wasn’t able to fly to see my family and friends because of COVID, so I decided to make my own candles and send them as gifts. This was my first time experimenting with silicone molds and I fell in love with them.
The sculptural soy candles, I’ve been making for over a year now are from the molds, scents, and colors I choose and hand mix. Liv Greene is not only my name but is also based on the idea of living “as green” as you can. For me, that means experiencing self-care in a way that has the smallest environmental impact possible. The containerless candles I create indulge the senses with natural scents and use wax that doesn’t hurt your lungs and the atmosphere.
Before I had a website, friends would give me a budget and say “surprise me.” I would mix colors based on that person’s personal style and interior design colors. Now, I have about 30 products on my site’s shop for people to choose from. If they don’t see the candle in the color they want, they can write that color preference in the note and I will do that for them.
It is so fun to see people’s color, shape, and scent preferences.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Despite having the resource of other friends who own businesses, I really had no idea what it would be like. I was, and still kind of am, blown away by how excited people are about my candles.
Luckily, during the 2021 holiday season, it was the off-season for my full-time job as a rose farmer. I was able to fulfill the most orders I ever had in such a short time, as well as boost my wholesale orders exponentially.
I am back at the farm and so managing individual orders + wholesale and writing is a bit difficult.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I was lucky enough to go to school for creative writing.
After school, I became more educated in the world of sustainability. As a collective, we are fed the narrative that our personal choices impact global warming the most. While personal choices such as flying, plastic use, and diet definitely matter, the idea that it’s all on the individual can feel debilitating.
On a larger, yet still relatively small scale, businesses have the power to choose more sustainable and biodegradable materials. They can support local farmers and use their marketing to educate people.
It was at a juice cafe in Saint Louis as the Sustainability Manager that I learned how impactful recycling programs, educating the public, and providing sustainable materials were. From there, the drive to support other sustainable businesses really took off (and ultimately become one myself).
From that passion comes the desire to frequent bulk refillery stores, grow my own food in the summer months, and maintain a vegan/vegetarian diet. I love going to Sage Mountain Sanctuary in Park City, UT to visit the animals there. I am looking at applying to grad school to receive my MBA in poetry and short fiction hopefully either in Iowa or abroad.
I am proud of the ways in which I’ve made a concerted effort to shop small, sustainably, and be a sustainable business myself. I use all biodegradable/recyclable materials to ship, drop off local when I can, and use non-toxic candle-making supplies.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
I have made a lot of… supported risks in my life. I lived in Saint Louis for college and 2 years after, making it a total of 6 years For those of you who have never been, St. Louis, MO is a place that fosters creativity, collaboration, and growth.
It became a place where I felt comfortable to be myself, make friends everywhere I went, and find my place within the artistic community. After so many years there, though, I felt that I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone and live somewhere new.
My partner of a year and a half at that point is from Sandy, UT, and so I made plans to live in Steamboat Springs, CO with my cousin, and ultimately settle down in Salt Lake City– a place I had only visited once and had no other connections in beside her.
A few months after moving, she got into grad school in Illinois and I set out on the task to make SLC as much of a home as I had in Saint Louis. As an introvert, taking risks for me is more on the level of going to a class in something I’ve never tried before, pitching my writing, and being an advocate for social, political, and animal rights.
Contact Info:
- Email: livgreenecandles@gmail.com
- Website: livgreene.org
- Instagram: @livgreenecandles
