Who we are:
Oak Lane Candle Co. is a candle studio and pour bar located in the heart of Ames, Iowa at 121 Main Street. We use all natural soy wax to hand-pour all of our candles and melts, and naturally derived and synthetically safe fragrance oils in all of our products.
We believe in hospitality—creating a space where people feel welcomed, loved and included. We hope our candles can be one part of that.
How we began:
2017, Jinja, Uganda
In 2014, we started an adoption process of adopting our son and daughter from Uganda. Two years of pinching pennies, fundraising events, and countless grants, there was still money needed to pay for court costs and travel fees. After a soft nudge to try candle making, Stacy began researching how to make candles and went through numerous rounds of testing.
The Oak Lane Candle Co. Etsy page with 3 candles listings was created and had an overwhelming response. Within hours, the amount of orders warranted the shop to close in order to keep up. Eventually all of the orders were fulfilled, and a new found love of creating was born.
In 2017, the adoption process came to a close and the Negrete family grew by 2. Our products have expanded and our labels have changed, but we still believe in giving back to adoptions and supporting Uganda.
The Oak Lane Candle Co. Etsy page with 3 candles listings was created and had an overwhelming response. Within hours, the amount of orders warranted the shop to close in order to keep up. Eventually all of the orders were fulfilled, and a new found love of creating was born.
In 2017, the adoption process came to a close and the Negrete family grew by 2. Our products have expanded and our labels have changed, but we still believe in giving back to adoptions and supporting Uganda.
2022
Where is Oak Lane?
I grew up on an acreage in southeast Iowa with a long driveway that lead to the home my parents renovated from the inside out. I remember helping my dad plant the oak trees as little seedlings down our long, gravel lane when I was about 12 years old. He told me that oak trees take decades to be fully grown, and that while we were doing the work now, it would be enjoyed for for years and years as a canopy on the driveway.
After losing both parents in 2008, I left the home that built me. When I started my business in 2015, it only felt right to pay homage to that very place.
After losing both parents in 2008, I left the home that built me. When I started my business in 2015, it only felt right to pay homage to that very place.
