Hudson Valley, NY

Meet the Maker

When Chelsea started The Brass Bee Mercantile in 2022, she wasn’t planning to launch a business — she was simply following her creative spark.

“I’m a mama to an amazing six-year-old boy who is the light of my life and the inspiration for everything I do,” Chelsea shares. “I’m also a full-time graphic designer, and The Brass Bee began as a passion project that took off like wildfire in my heart.”

What started with one scent — No.22 Cinnamon and Vanilla — quickly grew into a full candle line beloved across New York State. Each fragrance is tied to a memory or moment that helped shape Chelsea’s story, creating a collection as personal as it is beautiful.

“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them. If you love something, it will work.”

From Passion to Purpose

The Brass Bee was co-founded by Chelsea and her lifelong friend, Angela, who shared a love for timeless home décor and meaningful design. Together, they wanted to create something beautiful that was accessible and affordable for everyone. “Creating a beautiful space to spend time with loved ones should be easy, accessible, and affordable,” Chelsea explains.

From the very beginning, community has been at the heart of The Brass Bee’s story. A portion of proceeds from their local pop-ups goes toward planting native pollinator gardens, supporting the bees and local ecosystems that inspired the brand’s name.

When Angela stepped back after the birth of her second child, Chelsea leaned even deeper into her creative roots. “I decided to bring custom décor to my community,” she recalls. “I started with simple zipcode labels and then created my pride and joy — my Hudson Valley label, inspired by a project I worked on years ago. It’s a love letter to the place I call home.”

The design struck a chord with locals, and The Brass Bee soon became known for its custom illustrative candle labels, blending artistry and authenticity with a personal touch.

Clean Ingredients, Honest Craftsmanship

At The Brass Bee Mercantile, craftsmanship and wellness go hand in hand. Each candle is hand-poured in New York and made with care, intention, and transparency.

“Burning candles or melting wax in your home should never be harmful to your body.”

The fragrance oils used in The Brass Bee’s candles are free from phthalates, carcinogens, mutagens, and toxins, and the line is created without dyes or UV stabilizers. Nearly every material is USA-sourced, with only the vessels imported from India. Chelsea’s goal was to create something people could feel good about — candles that are clean, long-lasting, and beautifully fragrant. “All-natural fragrances often get a bad reputation for not being very fragrant or long-lasting,” she explains. “We were determined to make something that smells incredible and is still safe to burn. And we did just that.”

Balancing It All

Like many small business owners, Chelsea juggles multiple roles — full-time designer, full-time mom, and full-time maker. “The hardest part, to this day, is balancing it all,” she admits. “The Brass Bee is truly brought to you by way of my heart and soul. Being employed full time and a full-time mama — it’s a constant struggle to be everywhere, all at once.”

Still, she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “Even though it’s difficult — don’t stop,” she says. “Almost four years in, I can honestly say The Brass Bee is one of my greatest accomplishments. I’m so glad my thoughts of self-doubt didn’t win.”

Her advice to other entrepreneurs? Stay consistent, even when progress feels slow. “It won’t happen overnight. There will be struggle, time, and money invested,” Chelsea says. “But when the reviews start rolling in, when your first repeat customer comes back and brings friends — it all makes sense. You’re making a difference.”

A “Pinch-Me” Collaboration

In 2025, The Brass Bee Mercantile reached a major milestone: a partnership with TasteNY with a special feature at the New York State Fair in Syracuse for the launch of the New York State Regions Candle Line.

“It was a total ‘pinch-me’ moment,” Chelsea recalls. “I was honestly in shock when we first talked about it. The idea of encapsulating everything our home state has to offer was intimidating — but incredibly exciting.”

Each candle in the collection represents one of New York’s unique regions — from the Finger Lakes to Long Island — each with its own story, scent, and sense of place. “The stories people have shared about why each candle resonates with them have been so heartwarming,” she says. “Especially those who’ve moved away. They tell me that lighting their hometown candle helps them feel like they’re home again.”

Love Letter to New York

When asked about her favorite regions, Chelsea says “I have three favorites. The Hudson Valley & Catskills, New York City, and Long Island.”

Each one represents a piece of her story — her roots, her creative spirit, and her favorite place to reset. “The beach has always been a place to reset for me — the sand, the air, the lighthouses — everything about it just feels right.”

“Every candle has a story. And when someone brings one into their home, it becomes part of theirs, too.”

For Chelsea, The Brass Bee Mercantile is more than a candle company. It’s a celebration of home, artistry, and connection — a reminder that the simplest things can hold the deepest meaning.

Interview by Ashley Masopust
Click here to see The Brass Bee products we have in stock.