Scent-Sational: Hand-Crafted With Love by LOL's Candle Co

by Sarah Barr

Staff Writer

For some folks, Christmas is a passion. Some celebrate the holiday spirit in the off sea-son through music or movies. Stores might run a “Christmas in July” sale. But for Lori Lynn Ouellette, it’s what she calls “a problem.”

“I have over 45 Christmas hats. Very odd, strange hats. But it brings people to my booth,” said the Cromwell resident and owner of LOL’s Candle Co.

Made in Cromwell is a big selling point. Photo submitted by Lori Ouellette.

For the record, LOL is not shorthand for “laugh out loud.” It stands for her initials as if they appeared on a monogram, where the last name is in the middle.

Words like “confess” and “record” are used purposefully. Ouellette’s day job is with Cromwell Police Department. She works in the Records Division dealing with alarms, accident reports and permit applications. She also processes court paperwork and she’s been very busy doing it for 23 years.

Making candles is not an outlet. Crafts are her passion – or perhaps one could say anoth-er one of her problems – one she’s skilled at solving.

“I’ve always been a crafty person. I’ve always loved to do crafts. I’m Christmas obsessed but I do things for Mother’s Day, an Easter Egg hunt,” Ouellette said.

“I love to make things and give to others. That’s where the candles came from. I started by making them for my mother, my family, and soon more people were asking for more candles.”

The gift of giving grew bigger and her candles grew brighter and into a business. She started it with her oldest son over five years ago.

“But when he went a different way, I rebranded,” she said.

Lori Ouellette takes great pride in her candles and her Christmas obsession.

All her items are available online and at craft fairs. There’s no brick-and-mortar store. Her house serves as storage and was “booming” before Christmas with easy “grab and go” gifts.

Forest City Merchants in Middletown also carries a few of her fragrances. She wishes she could do more farmers’ markets but they are difficult to do because candles don’t react well to the heat.

Customers, however, respond well to the distinctive aromas they produce.

“I think they’re [the scents are] on the stronger side” is how she describes “mango co-conut,” “fresh laundry,” “a wintry walk in the woods” and “around the Christmas tree.”

Her website doesn’t shy away from the potent bouquet. It reads “stick your nose in my business … I sell soy candles. They’re scent-sational.”

Ouellette understands that preferences are personal. Her best sellers are lavender and fresh laundry, while her personal favorites are mango coconut and apple maple bourbon.

She feels that if everyone liked the same thing, it would be a boring world. She just hopes whatever scent they choose brings joy, just like Christmas.

“I hope they burn them and have a good memory that goes along with it. Smell the vanil-la and think about baking cookies with the kids around. I hope it sparks a memory, that it goes along with something. That’s how I think of it,” she said.

Then that Christmas cheer came forward again. She couldn’t help herself.

Candle delights on display.

“I love giving. I’ve always loved giving. The spirit of giving, the reason for giving. I love the spirit of Jesus and receiving presents,” she said of her passion.

“We give to each other. That’s what happens with candles. They are gifts and they make people happy. So, enjoy burning my candles. Everybody’s got their own scents,” she added. CL

For more information log onto https://lolscandleco.square.site, call 860-221-5985, email lol’scandleco@gmail.com or find her on Facebook @lolscandleco.