Meet Lindsey Douglass, a graduating senior who plans on changing the world one candle at a time! She is proud owner of a new startup candle company in Madison called Sefa. The candles she produces are made with all natural fragrances and essential oils.
What inspired your company Sefa?
Growing up, we didn’t have any synthetic fragrances in the house – my mom is allergic – and we always focused on how to be more kind to our earth by recycling, composting, etc. When I came to college and everyone was burning candles all the time, I wanted a way to do so without using paraffin wax, producing so much waste, or releasing so many chemicals into my environment. I started experimenting with scents by making oil infusions with Chai Tea, buying my own essential oils, and adding herbs. It’s been really fun coming up with new scents and making new infusions! It was my mom who pushed me to start Sefa, and I’m so glad she did. It has been really rewarding.
How was starting a new company during your senior year, right before graduation?
Starting a new company during my senior year of college has been intense. At first, it was really overwhelming to deal with all of the legal and licensing aspects of starting a small business, so I designed the website and Etsy page while I was doing all of that, which made it fun! I had my first craft show in April; it’s super weird planning for a craft show and making a ton of product while going to class and being a student.
What’s your biggest challenge?
Honestly, the hardest part was completely mental for me. I’d freak myself out about all of the things I had to do to make everything perfect, which is just not a realistic goal. It would have been really hard without my friends and their motivational memes. It was so exciting when I would tell people what I was doing and they’d get excited about it as well; I definitely needed that reassurance while I was starting up.
Where do you see Sefa going in the future?
In the future, I’m hoping Sefa can make an impact on the way companies do business. Part of Sefa’s business model is sustainability; we use 100% recycled paper products, have a recycled container line, give discounts for bringing containers back to us, and continuously review our business practices to find more sustainable ways to do business.
The candles smell great, the company is owned by one of the most kind-hearted people in Madison, and overall deserves 5 stars! If you’re interested in her candles, click here!