After living in Florida for the last 28 years, Michelle Brazzeal relocated to Copley, Ohio in 2013 to be closer to her family and enjoy the cooler climate. Being an avid candle burner, Michelle was forced to stop burning standard, store bought candles because they left a black, soot trail in the air after being extinguished. This pollution affected her young son’s chronic asthma condition. In sear
ch of a clean burning, healthier type of candle she discovered soy wax. Michelle & Kenny met and realized they both had a passion for recycling and candles! They started making candles together in their small kitchen and immediately fell in love with soy. The wax burned extremely clean, emitting white and not black smoke when the flame was extinguished. Much to their delight, they also discovered soy wax burned three times longer than candles that were not soy. Paraffin, as well as mixed wax candles commonly sold in stores, always left dirty soot lingering in the air, on walls and ceilings. The duo started crafting soy candles for friends and family members and they too fell in love with their art. Focusing on ways to incorporate their love of candles with their love of Ohio wine. What resulted are beautiful hand cut and polished wine bottle vessels to house the clean burning soy wax. With a focus on using recycled and upcycled vessels, They included vintage glass, vintage tea cups and hand blown glass to the candle collection. The result was a stunning collection of unique, eco-friendly candles from a bygone era. A Vintage Bee's candles & home decor is featured at several stores and galleries in the North East Ohio area and participates in many local art and wine festivals. Whether designing new vessels or creating new phthalate free scents, Michelle & Kenny are never too busy to take on custom projects involving wine bottles or unique repurposed containers.