A Dream That Came True
By Sandy Balayan
April 2025
Lighting candles always gave Megan Kaiser a sense of peace. She found calmness from the ambience of lit candles that really resonated with her. Especially during the winter, her house would fill with the low warm lighting and fragrances of the many candles she would collect. Unfortunately, she also noticed that her eldest child’s asthma seemed to be affected by the candles. Making this connection spawned a deep dive into the ingredients of the candles she was using and the thought of breathing in any toxic substances made Megan immediately discard every candle she owned.
Megan pouring a candle - Photo: Kara Dempster
After some research, she became acutely aware of the effect toxins have on the endocrine system, hormonal and respiratory systems of humans and animals. The research gave her a small flicker of hope. Could she actually make her own candles that would be totally natural? Was there “clean” wax and natural oils that could be used to make candles that would not trigger her son’s asthma? An idea was born and Megan was off and running.
What started as concern for her family’s health has now become a successful business. The entrepreneurial side of Megan ignited a passion that was about more than just making money. It was about creating a difference in this world and helping to reduce the carbon footprint. Providing a clean, toxin free burn was her goal and she has reached it in spades.
“I created a luxury candle the healthy way, by using all natural coconut-soy wax and non-toxic phthalate free fragrance oils, making a safe candle for people and pets. What started as a dream is now reality and I love doing what I do. I work out of my home which is on the small side but my family is totally involved and very tolerant of my space needs. It truly is a family affair as everyone chips in to help,” says Megan.
That family includes her husband and four children and they are building a new house that will have dedicated space for the business. Besides the natural product of the candle itself, the packaging is all recycled materials down to the peanuts for shipping, a biodegradable peanut that minimizes the footprint. “It is not a one person company. My family is involved at every level. It is something we do together and enjoy. Something that wasn’t supposed to be anything became something bigger than I could have ever imagined. When a cancer patient thanks you for creating natural candles you know you have attained your original goal.”
Megan was born in Greenfield, but grew up in Maine. Coming back to her family’s roots in Amherst and finding love in the area led her to the community of Otis. Her husband, Ryan Chaffee, always loved the area and one certain house, and when it came up for sale he jumped on it and the rest became history. “We love where we live and raising our kids in this area with all the nature, the safe environment, no worries and no crime. The area is like paradise and our roots are firmly planted here,” says Megan.
Her aim to make healthy candles for her family grew to a successful business that now involves online sales, sales from her home, through word of mouth and candle workshops all over western and central Massachusetts. She helps people create a candle that holds meaning for them that they will enjoy burning. She has a presence in many area stores and on social media where people can go directly to learn more about her vegan candles. She does wedding and party favors, communion candles, parties and loves every minute of what she does.
Candle - Photo: Kara Dempster
The candle making process is quite involved, but Megan guides each participant in her workshops through a step-by-step process of weighing out the oil mixture and wax, taking the time and patience to be sure the wax is air free (usually about three minutes of slow stirring), pouring and cooling the candle for a half hour and then picking the “décor” of dried petals or wax melts she prepares ahead of time. The candle cures for one week after to allow the molecules in the wax and oil to bond to get the full scent of the oil. Then it is complete.
To contact Megan, go to her website www.brookmancandleco.com or find her on Facebook and Instagram under the company name. Let Megan illuminate your life!
