The story behind Orlando’s Homestead Candles

Every great business has a beginning, and for Orlando’s Homestead Candles, that beginning was an unexpected discovery in the aisles of a craft store.

Founded by Samuel Orlando, Orlando’s Homestead Candles is a small business built on creativity, determination, and a passion for handcrafted products. What began as a simple search for a new hobby in May 2024 eventually grew into a candle company with a growing community of customers, local partnerships, and opportunities beyond its hometown in Northeast Ohio.

From an unsuccessful first attempt at candle making to sold out vendor shows, collaborations with content creators, and its first retail partnership, the journey of Orlando’s Homestead Candles is a story of finding inspiration in unexpected places, learning through experience, and turning a creative idea into something meaningful.

Where It All Began

In May 2024, Samuel Orlando visited Hobby Lobby at the Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio, looking for a new hobby. Candle making was not something he had originally considered. While browsing the woodcraft aisle, however, he happened to come across a candle making kit that caught his attention.

Thinking it might be a fun activity to try, Samuel purchased the kit, brought it home, and attempted to make his first candle.

Unfortunately, his first attempt was unsuccessful. Discouraged by the experience, he put the kit aside and moved on to exploring other hobbies. At the time, he had no idea that this simple purchase would eventually inspire an entirely new business.

Several months later, that inspiration would return.

A Spark of Inspiration

In October 2024, Samuel traveled to Erie, Pennsylvania, to attend EERIE Horror Fest. At the time, he was working on a video game company and had purchased an advertisement in the festival’s official program. He attended the event to see the advertisement in person and enjoy the festival.

After spending several hours at the event, Samuel visited Millcreek Mall to grab dinner and explore the shopping center. While browsing a candle store, he found himself thinking about candle making again.

The idea of starting a candle business had not yet fully developed, but his interest in the craft was beginning to return.

During another shopping trip that October, Samuel visited IKEA in Pittsburgh before stopping at The Mall at Robinson. While walking through the mall, he discovered a store that featured products from local vendors.

As he browsed the merchandise, a display of handcrafted candles caught his attention.

Seeing those candles being sold by independent makers gave Samuel the inspiration he needed to revisit his original idea. He returned home and began developing concepts for a business of his own.

This marked the beginning of what would eventually become Orlando’s Homestead Candles.

The First Chapter: ScentSational Wax Bakes

Samuel’s first business concept was called ScentSational Wax Bakes, a collection of scented wax melts designed to resemble pastries.

With his first product idea taking shape, Samuel reserved a vendor table at the 2024 AMS PTA Craft Show in Austintown, Ohio. It would be his first opportunity to introduce his creations to the local community.

Preparing for the show was a learning experience. Without enough time to order a professionally made banner, Samuel purchased fabric and used a Cricut machine to create his own logo, which he ironed onto the material.

Everything seemed to be coming together until the night before the event, when an unexpected problem threatened his entire inventory.

Every pastry shaped wax melt had cracked.

With only hours remaining before the show, Samuel had to find a solution. Rather than canceling his appearance, he remelted the products, cut them into cubes, and packaged them in small pouches.

He worked until 3:30 in the morning preparing the new inventory before waking up at 7:00 a.m. to attend the craft show, where he spent the day selling his products from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Despite the challenges and very little sleep, Samuel had successfully completed his first vendor event.

That experience became an important turning point in the development of the business.

After returning home, he began looking for ways to improve his products and their presentation. He decided to use traditional wax melt clamshells instead of pouches and began producing the melts in their new packaging.

As he continued experimenting with different products, Samuel decided that he wanted to expand beyond wax melts and introduce candles as well.

With that decision came the need for a new name and a new direction.

The Birth of Orlando’s Homestead Candles

As Samuel began developing his candle collection, he initially considered the name Orlando’s Farmhouse Candles, with plans to offer three wick candles.

However, his vision soon changed when he decided to use mason jars as the signature containers for his candles.

He wanted a business name that reflected not only the products he was creating, but also his family name, personal values, and approach to candle making.

Orlando was the natural choice for the first part of the name. As the first member of his family, to his knowledge, to establish and own a business, Samuel wanted to incorporate his last name into something he could build and take pride in.

The second part of the name needed to represent what made his products special.

That was when the word Homestead came to mind.

A homestead traditionally refers to a family home and its surrounding land, often associated with a farmhouse or rural property.

For Samuel, the word represented something more personal: the warmth of home, traditional craftsmanship, and the value of creating something by hand.

This meaning reflected the way he wanted to operate his business. Rather than relying on automated production machinery, Samuel wanted to personally hand pour and hand mix his candles, maintaining a hands on approach to the products he created.

By combining his family name with a word that reflected his values and craftsmanship, Orlando’s Homestead Candles was born.

The name became the foundation of a business dedicated to handcrafted candles, inviting fragrances, and products designed to bring warmth and comfort into the home.

Building a Brand From the Ground Up

On December 1, 2024, Samuel created the official Instagram account for Orlando’s Homestead Candles.

The account began with just one follower.

That number soon grew to 10, then 20, and continued increasing as Samuel introduced his products to the community.

During the early days, he had limited access to professional editing tools and was still learning how to promote his business through social media. His content was simple, but it provided an important way to connect with customers and share his growing passion for candle making.

His earliest followers were primarily members of the local community, including residents of Northeast Ohio, local businesses, and news personalities.

Over time, the account began reaching a wider audience, attracting the attention of YouTubers, influencers, and other content creators.

What started as a small social media page was gradually becoming a platform for introducing Orlando’s Homestead Candles to people beyond its local community.

An Accidental Signature Piece

In March 2025, Samuel decided it was time to upgrade his vendor display with a professionally printed banner.

However, a mistake with the measurements resulted in the arrival of an eight foot banner that was much larger than he had originally intended.

He ordered a second, smaller banner for his vendor table, but decided to keep the oversized one.

What initially seemed like an ordering mistake eventually became one of the most recognizable pieces of the company’s outdoor event display.

Today, the large Orlando’s Homestead Candles banner seen at outdoor vendor shows is a reminder that sometimes the unexpected parts of a business journey become part of its identity.

Finding Success in the Local Community

In June 2025, Samuel attended his first vendor event under the Orlando’s Homestead Candles name in Austintown, Ohio.

The event did not produce the results he had hoped for, but he remained determined to continue growing the business.

The following month, he reserved a table at the Vienna Farmers Market in Vienna, Ohio.

That event became a major turning point.

Customers began discovering his handcrafted candles, and the positive reception from the local community helped introduce Orlando’s Homestead Candles to a much wider audience.

As interest in the business increased, Samuel began receiving invitations to additional events and opportunities to participate in more vendor shows throughout the region.

During that same week, Orlando’s Homestead Candles also completed a collaboration with Youngstown Pizza Reviews, marking another important milestone in the company’s growing local presence.

What had started as a small business with one unsuccessful attempt at candle making was now developing into a recognizable local brand.

Growing Beyond Northeast Ohio

As Orlando’s Homestead Candles continued to grow, Samuel began exploring opportunities to introduce his products to content creators and influencers outside the local community.

In August 2025, the business completed a public relations collaboration with Yawi Vlogs by Tannerites.

This opportunity helped introduce Orlando’s Homestead Candles to a new audience and represented another step in expanding the company’s reach.

Then, in November 2025, Samuel returned to the AMS PTA Craft Show in Austintown, the very same event where he had first introduced his original wax melt business one year earlier.

This time, he returned under the Orlando’s Homestead Candles name, with a developed brand, an expanded product collection, and a growing customer base.

The event was a tremendous success, with Orlando’s Homestead Candles selling out of its inventory.

For Samuel, returning to the event where everything had started and experiencing such a different outcome was a full circle moment.

The following month brought even more opportunities.

In December 2025, Orlando’s Homestead Candles completed a public relations collaboration with actress and figure skater Kylee Levien.

On Christmas Eve, the company also completed a collaboration with influencer Misty Okes.

The momentum continued into January 2026 with a public relations collaboration involving Jennifer from Key Elements PR.

Each new opportunity represented another milestone in the company’s journey from a local startup to a growing candle brand reaching audiences in different communities.

New Milestones and Opportunities in 2026

As Orlando’s Homestead Candles entered 2026, Samuel continued working toward expanding the business, introducing new products, and bringing his handcrafted candles to more customers.

In March 2026, the company reached another exciting milestone when Orlando’s Homestead Candles established its first retail partnership with Maison de Savon in Warren, Ohio.

This partnership marked the first time customers could purchase Orlando’s Homestead Candles products at a retail location outside of vendor events, creating a new opportunity for the business to reach customers and establish a stronger presence in the local community.

Although 2026 presented new challenges, particularly with unpredictable weather affecting outdoor vendor shows, Samuel remained determined to continue growing the business.

Another significant development was the introduction of a new online storefront powered by Shopify, allowing customers throughout the United States to browse the collection and purchase Orlando’s Homestead Candles products online.

With nationwide shipping, the company is no longer limited to reaching customers through local events and retail partnerships alone.

In December 2026, Orlando’s Homestead Candles is scheduled to reach another exciting milestone by attending its very first Comic Con as a vendor at Mahoning Valley Comic Con at the Metroplex Expo Center in Girard, Ohio.

This event represents an important step in Samuel’s vision of expanding the business beyond traditional craft shows and farmers markets into larger conventions and specialty events, introducing Orlando’s Homestead Candles to new audiences and communities.

As the company continues to grow, both online and in person sales play an important role in supporting new inventory, seasonal collections, retail opportunities, and participation in larger events.

Throughout every stage of the journey, Samuel remains committed to the same hands on approach that inspired the Orlando’s Homestead Candles name.

From its first craft show to its first retail partnership and upcoming convention appearance, Orlando’s Homestead Candles continues to grow through creativity, determination, and the support of its customers and community.

A Small Discovery That Changed Everything

Looking back, the story of Orlando’s Homestead Candles is about much more than simply starting a candle business.

It is a story of discovering a new passion, overcoming unexpected challenges, taking chances, and continuing to pursue an idea even when the first attempt does not go as planned.

From its earliest days as ScentSational Wax Bakes to a sold out craft show, collaborations with content creators, its first retail partnership, and preparations for its first Comic Con appearance, every experience has helped shape Orlando’s Homestead Candles into what it is today.

What makes the journey especially meaningful is that none of it was originally planned.

Samuel walked into a craft store in May 2024 looking for a new hobby. He had no intention of starting a candle company, developing a product collection, or building a brand that would eventually reach customers across the country.

Today, Orlando’s Homestead Candles continues to grow with every new customer, every new collection, and every opportunity to share its handcrafted products with the community.

And while the future holds exciting possibilities, the story of Orlando’s Homestead Candles will always have one very simple beginning.

It all started when Samuel Orlando accidentally came across a candle making kit.