Meet Scent & Psyche

Do you have a story behind your company name?

The emotional experience of scent, occurs in the right side of the brain, often referred to as the "psyche". The psyche, another word for "soul", is the realm of emotion and imagination.

When olfactory stimulation engages the total brain, a mental dance begins between feelings, thoughts, associations, and desires. Our brand's purpose is to bring this joyous experience to life through our candles and carefully curated fragrance collections.

Very cool, how did you get your start?

My candle making journey began in 2020. What started out as a stress-relieving diversion, became an all-out obsession within weeks. Prior to this time, I had been working in product development for 20+ years with a focus on apparel. The experience of building brands from the ground up, and being an expert in project management, has been key in creating my own brand.

I will be the first to admit that I do have a candle addiction. I am drawn to scents that are inspired by nature and the more complex and layered, the better. I really do not care for fragrances that smell, in any way synthetic, fake, or plastic-like. I could not find these candles in a price range that I was willing to invest in, so I started creating them myself. I spent months experimenting with fragrances, materials, and vessels. In January of 2021, I founded Scent and Psyche, LLC. and applied for the brand trademark.

That is very admirable. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

I love the creation of scents and the blending of fragrances to get something unique and true to the experience I would like the user to enjoy. The process takes multiple iterations of testing and refinement, but I love every minute.

That sounds fun.What inspires you to create?

The overall end experience is what inspires me. I love to create scents that will brighten and enliven living spaces, inspire memories, and sometimes even change your mental state. I am also inspired by unique scents. I gravitate to fragrance blends that are grounded in nature, with earthier tones but have a refined complexity. I love to find the notes that really pull me in and grab my interest and then blend them to create

Candles are great for evoking emotions. Do you have a favorite item you have made?

I’m really excited about my Fall candle collection and some new signature scents that I will launch this Fall. One of those scents I am totally addicted to is Heirloom. A mixture of sandalwood and black cardamom, very earthy and woodsy yet feels very elevated. I’ve been burning that in my home on repeat. Another scent that I’ve worked on for over a year is called Embers. A new take on a Fireside or bonfire feeling scent with notes of charcoal and black pepper, grounded with creamy woodsy notes. It’s really cozy warm, like sitting by a fire.

That sounds amazing. What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

I am usually creating or making early in the morning or later at night…which I find the most relaxing time of day to work. During the lunch hour, you can also find me around lunch time running to UPS with a stack of square boxes artfully balanced. On the weekends I’m usually at markets or getting ready for them!

What do you love most about living in Minnesota?

I’ve called Minnesota home for 16 years. I love raising my kids here. I love the variety of everything to do throughout the state, and especially the change of seasons. I think what I love best is the unique community of creative artists and the amount of local support we receive, it’s amazing.

The seasons are the best, and I bet there is a candle for each! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I’m excited to be bringing some amazing new fragrances that I feel are some of my best yet. This is my official kick-off to candle season!

Anything special you would like to add?

I’m opening up more opportunities for private, in-person, candle making workshops for groups of 10-16 people. It’s so much fun to connect with others and share my passion of candle making!

Awesome! We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Scent and Psyche:

Website | https://scentandpsyche.com/

Instagram | @scentandpsyche