About On the Bright Side

You will often see me saying the word "us" but it's really just little ol' me. My name is Gina, I am 33, a partner to Corey and a fur momma to miss Myka, my nearly 13-year-old cat. I started creating candles back in 2016 because I couldn't find a candle that didn't give me a migraine!

The Journey Began

Around 2012 I started experiencing some debilitating symptoms that brought me to the hospital at least once a week. Every time they did a test everything looked ‘normal’, but I felt terrible!

When I first got sick, I was constantly being told, "Look on the Bright Side at least you don't have this... or that" and it got really annoying to be honest. When you have a chronic invisible illness, that doctors can’t even figure out, it’s very frustrating and quite scary.

Being home so much I started researching possible mold in the home and that’s when I stumbled across toxins in every-day household products! Lo and behold, one of my favorite things was FULL of toxins. Candles!

I took this as a sign and I started looking into creating my own candles. Candles were something that centered me. A day of candle creating was my therapy. The feeling of wax in your hands, the patience to watch it melt slowly, the organization of putting the vessels out and finally, the mesmerizing pouring of the melted wax. It's like nothing you can describe.

Candles, to me, became a gentle reminder that darkness fades, and the light always returns.

Trying to Cope

I graduated cosmetology school in 2016 with a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia, I was at the point in my illness where I could barely stand long enough for a salon service. I was using compression socks to keep my blood pressure up and a cooling towel to keep my body temperature regulated. There were so many things I had to do, just for my body to act ‘normal’. It was exhausting. With POTS, comes several other conditions and one being Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

I was in such denial, I hopped from one salon to the next hoping it may be different, but I could not tolerate the chemicals. It just kept getting worse. I was stuck. What do I do now? This is all I planned for...

It came time for the heartbreaking decision to end my dream career as an hairstylist, after just a couple short years. This put me in a very dark place because that was, what I had thought, my purpose. 

*I didn't even apply to college, I studied business, marketing, accounting and entrepreneurship to cosmetology while I was still in high school so I would be a step ahead, but I couldn't get school funding until I was no longer considered a dependent at 26 so I spent years working in management positions to get that business experience to run my salon.

I started brainstorming and it made me think of that annoying phrase, “Look on the Bright Side”. Candles are my Bright Side. Candles are what gets me out of the darkness and gives me hope again and again. Having a pure, chemical free, candle option is such a passion of mine and my health can’t afford to cheap out on ingredients. Guaranteeing only the best. I want to share what I’ve created with others that have sensitivities but still want to enjoy a pleasant candle!

My goal with this is to expand into bath soaps, lip balms, and room sprays. Making your home a little less toxic in every way. 

100% Natural & Transparent

The majority of candle companies will say they have a proprietary blend and will not tell you exactly what is in their products. Here at O.T.B.S. ALL Products will have every ingredient listed in the description. Everything is made with pure and natural ingredients. Phthalate-free & Paraben free. Cruelty-Free. Vegan. Sustainably sourced. SDS Certified. Allergens Declaration Certified. IFRA Compliant in the US, EU and Japan. Prop 65 Compliant.

Types of Waxes

Soy Wax - My Choice

Soy Wax is non-Toxic and clean burning, when you have the right supplier. (which I do) What many soy candle companies won't tell you is that it is not pure soy, as some manufacturers still include a small amount of paraffin! It is also most commonly sprayed with Pesticides. *I have put a lot of time and effort into finding a trusted supplier that has Pesticide Free & Paraffin Free Wax.

Coconut Wax - My Choice

Coconut Wax is also one of the cleanest burning waxes and often considered the best natural wax option, so we've actually blended this with our Pure Soy Wax to make the perfect candle.

Beeswax - A non-toxic option

Beeswax is non-toxic and clean burning as well. Especially when combined with a wooden wick. However, It's a hard wax that doesn't hold scent well. It also has a scent on its own, that I personally do not enjoy, making it hard to imagine mixing with other scents.

Paraffin Wax - What Most Store Brands are made from - BAD for your health

Most store-bought candles contain Paraffin Wax. Conventionally paraffin wax is derived as a byproduct of petroleum, coal, or oil shale and contains controversial and harmful chemicals such as benzene and toluene.

My Candle Ingredients

  • Pure & Organic Soy/Coco Wax: This sustainable wax is produced in some of the richest and best soil on the planet - in the plains of the Midwest, US. I also blend this with All-Natural Coconut Wax made in the USA.
  • Coconut Oil:
    My pure expeller pressed coconut oil is sustainably sourced from Malaysia, and is the perfect base to hold the essential oils.
  • Pure Essential Oils: My candles are primarily made using Pure Essential Oils. The quality of the distillation process is assessed as well as the integrity of the end-product. The essential oils used in my products are pure and unadulterated. I only source oils from suppliers that can prove their purity through documentation and GCMS testing.
  • Phthalate Free, Paraben Free, Non-Toxic, & All Natural Fragrances: I also only source fragrances from EU suppliers that provide documentation of their GCMS testing. EU has stricter guidelines than the US where they require extensive testing, ensuring I am getting the purest and cleanest ingredients free of all harmful chemicals. These fragrances are simply a blend of Pure Essential Oils with a Natural Fixative to increase the Hot Throw. Remember what a ‘Fragrance’ is considered? Reminder Here
    *If a candle is made with Fragrance- It will be noted in the description. There are only a couple. *
  • Sustainably Sourced Wooden Wicks Made in the USA: They crackle when they burn! Making a relaxing ambiance similar to a campfire or fireplace.

That’s it !

Read About Fragrances