Exploring Life & Business with Jada Stratman of Brite Candle Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jada Stratman.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The idea of Brite Candle Co. started in 2018, when I first became interested in making candles. I’ve always loved candles, my mom burned them in every room growing up and while I loved the cozy feeling they created, they always gave me horrible migraines. For the longest time, I thought it was just the strong scents, but later I learned it was actually all the harsh chemicals in most store-bought candles. When I switched to clean, 100% soy candles, everything changed for me. That’s what sparked my interest in making my own, and it became something really therapeutic and personal.

In 2020, I officially turned Brite into a business, working out of a tiny bedroom in my parents house. I worked full-time jobs during the week and spent my weekends doing pop-up markets, hoping one day it could become something more. But those jobs were draining, and I felt like my business wasn’t going anywhere. In 2023, I felt called to take a leap, I quit my job with no plan, no savings, and no funding… just faith. I signed up for as many markets as I could, sometimes 3–4 a week, even running two booths at once.

Less than a month later, an opportunity opened to become a vendor in a small retail plaza that I had no idea would end up becoming home for my business. I opened my storefront there in Tempe in April 2024 and I’ll be honest I was out of my mind opening a storefront after just quitting my job with nothing to back me financially. I didn’t have the funds or a real plan, but I felt so strongly called to do it. I just knew I had to.

I turned that space into a studio-style experience bar where people could come make their own candles but with a twist. It was something that hadn’t been done before in Arizona: a fully self-guided space where you can come in anytime, work at your own pace, and make a candle from scratch using your own melter, choosing reusable vessels, colors, and designing your own scent. And from the start, I knew I wanted it to be more than just candles, I wanted people to also be able to create soaps, perfumes, lotions, diffusers, and more using clean, natural ingredients at an affordable price.

Today, Brite has grown into a true community space, a place where people come to connect, celebrate, and make memories. It’s been a wild, beautiful journey of faith, risk, and figuring things out as I go. I’m still learning every day, but I’m beyond grateful to be doing what I love.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, not at all, it’s definitely not been a smooth road. I think from the outside it can look like everything has been perfect and seamless, but there’s been a lot of struggle behind the scenes. When I quit my job in 2023, I had no savings, no funding, and no real plan, just faith. I was working nonstop, doing 3–4 pop-up markets a week, sometimes two booths at once, just trying to keep the business alive. There were plenty of moments where I wasn’t sure if I made the right decision or if I was completely crazy for taking that leap. Financially it was extremely hard. I invested everything back into the business and there were days where I didn’t know how I was going to cover supplies, rent, or even just take care of myself. Opening a storefront without the security net of savings or investors was terrifying. I felt like I was constantly trying to figure things out while in motion, learning as I went, making mistakes, and trying again. There were emotional struggles too. Entrepreneurship can feel really isolating, and there were many nights where I cried thinking I might have to walk away from something I loved so much. But every time I wanted to give up, something small would happen, a kind customer message, a great market weekend, or someone saying the experience changed their day and it reminded me why I started. It’s been messy, risky, scary, and overwhelming at times but it’s also been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. And I’m proud of myself for betting on me when it didn’t make sense to anyone else.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Brite Candle Co. is a self-guided creative experience bar in Tempe, Arizona, where people can come in anytime and create their own custom candles, soaps, perfumes/colognes, diffusers, and more completely from scratch using clean, natural ingredients. While there are other places in Arizona to make candles, Brite Candle Co. offers something truly different. Instead of a traditional instructor-led workshop, we provide a relaxed, self-guided studio environment where you can work independently and at your own pace. Every guest gets their own individual melter, selects a reusable vessel, chooses colors, blends fragrance, and creates something completely one-of-a-kind.
It’s more than just making a product it’s an experience designed for creativity, connection, and peace of mind. Come with friends to celebrate, or come solo to reset and unwind. Our space is designed to be cozy, welcoming, and uplifting, where everyone feels supported, inspired, and free to create.

We also have a full handcrafted product line that I’m incredibly proud of. Outside of the experience bar, we offer clean home and body fragrance products including soy candles, wax melts, room sprays, reed diffusers, car fresheners, and body soaps, all vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and made with intentional ingredients. Because of my own history with migraines, clean ingredients are something I take seriously, and every product is designed to be safe, high quality, and beautifully made.

And something a lot of people don’t know is that I’m a one-woman show. I do everything from making every single product by hand, managing the storefront, hosting private events, pouring and labeling inventory, handling marketing, design, packaging, finances, branding, cleaning, admin… all of it. It’s a lot, and it’s not always glamorous, but I’m really proud of the work and the grit it’s taken to build this from the ground up. Every detail of Brite has my fingerprints on it, and I think people feel that when they walk through the doors.

What I’m most proud of is the community that has formed around this business. People come for the experience, but they come back because they feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger. Brite has become a space where people show up as themselves, create something meaningful, and leave with a memory and that’s the greatest reward to me. I want readers to know that Brite is more than candles, it’s connection, creativity, and heart. It’s proof that betting on yourself is worth it.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are the moments I spent with my grandparents, especially around the holidays. My grandma always made the season feel extra special, she was the one who hosted every gathering, always baking, decorating, planning movie days, and finding little creative things for us to do. We’d go to museums, drive around to look at beautifully decorated homes, and get inspired by all the interior design.

I lost my grandma this year, so those memories hold an even deeper place in my heart now. The holidays feel different, but they also remind me of the love, joy, and creativity she poured into everything. I carry that with me every day.

Pricing:

• Our retail products range from $8-28
• Our experience pricing is $22 for Soap Making, $27 for Perfume Making, and $39 for Candle Making

Contact Info:

• Website: http://britecandleco.shop
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/britecandle.co
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/britecandleco

Image Credits
Jessica Scott Photography, Angelica Petryshyn