OLATHE, Kan. — A candle shop is working to save your nose from foul smells. It's also working to save lives.
After nearly three years of burning the midnight oil, Brandon Love’s Crumble Candle Company is plugged into the community.
“I just stayed busy making candles and I kept evolving that into things,” Love said.
With unique scents like Frootie Loopers, Maddy’s Naughty List, You Are So Loved, and a host of others, the company has grown to more than 300 scents.
“When they melt down, they explode in iridescence too. It’s mixed in with the wax,” Love explained.
Business has been so good the online retailer has sold out for the month. It’s a vision Love said almost didn’t happen.
“Depression hit me on top of some breakup stuff. I was in a really dark spot. I was still in the closet shoveling for a gun to end my life because I was like I don’t want to do this anymore,” Love said. “When I was in that closet and thinking about committing suicide, what helped me is a gentle reminder from my friend Clarissa. And it was to stay busy and keep my hands busy. I had fifty bucks to my name.”
Love’s mom matched the $50, and together they helped create Crumble Candle Company.
“Now we’re the anti-suicide candle company.”
Workers at the candle factory are also seen wearing T-shirts bearing the hashtags #REACHOUT and #ENDSUICIDE.
“I realized there are so many people in this world going through a lot of heartache, a lot of pain and they don’t know how to handle it,” Love told 41 Action News.
In addition to candles and shirts, Love and his team work to help others battling depression and contemplating suicide with live chats, encouraging messages, and more.
The company’s Facebook page has more than 60,000 followers. Love’s mom, Darlene Troutner couldn’t be more proud.
“When he reaches out to other children that’ve gone through what he’s gone through and he’s saved a life, then he’s done a good job,” she said.
