This Little Light of Mine is bringing the Scents of fall to the Space Coast

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

Arguably, the best part of Fall is not the pumpkin spice latte that you can buy on your way to work in the morning, nor the falling leaves – sadly, those of us on the Space Coast do not get to experience this phenomenon – but the scents of cinnamon and pumpkin that don the shelves of home good stores. In a state where the two seasons are Hot and Less Hot, candles are key for those wanting to feel a change of season. With that in mind, though the Space Coast may not be home to sweater weather, we are now home to a candle bar, which is just what we need to get our spirits high this Fall.

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

Nestled between Downtown Yoga and Get Fired Up Pottery, This Little Light of Mine is bringing something unique to the area: hands-on candle making workshops. Different from a Yankee Candle or a White Barn, TLLOM’s main goal is not to send you home with a pre-made candle, but to get you involved in the experience. Here, you choose from one of the 50+ scents (current Fall scents include: Pecan Pie, Spiced Sangria and Dulce de Leche), pick the handmade vessel that best matches the overall aesthetic of your home and create. It may sound daunting, but it’s easier than you think. And, the workshops are incredibly fun.

“You can bring a bottle of wine, friends, food … it’s a good time,” shared Kristina Gilmer, store manager. “We also hold social media competitions at the beginning of each class, and they get to take home a vessel if they have the most likes [on their picture] at the end of class … it’s just a really great time.”

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

The vessels – along with the rustic wooden tables on which you work – are all handcrafted by the owners, Meagan and DJ Lappen. The vessels come in a variety of sizes, colors and materials and are multi-functional. “They can be used as planters, holders for makeup brushes, whatever you need them for,” continued Gilmer. Gilmer shared that, once your candle reaches the end of its lifespan, you can bring back your vessel, and the instructors will clean it out and give you a discount on your next workshop.

The store is open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, with workshops running throughout the day. TLLOM is very flexible with its guests, and Gilmer shared that you can either book a class ahead of time or drop in. You can also come with a group of friends, your partner or come by yourself! “We have a lot of people who come in after work and make a candle who aren’t ready to go home quite yet,” shared Gilmer. Gilmer and I agreed that candle making is a great way to relax at the end of a long day.

To better understand the experience, Gilmer held a mini candle-making session with me on a Monday afternoon. The tools were easy to use, and the smell of my chosen scent hitting the wax was heavenly. (For inquiring minds, I decided on cinnamon chai.) Though all workshops are led by trained instructors like Gilmer, TLLOM provides a guide for you that clearly states the amount of wax and scent you need for each type of vessel. As there are vessels in a variety of sizes, the amounts of wax and scents necessary for each is different. Having this guide on the table is great if you’re like me and forget a number the second it enters your head.

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

The workshops are typically an hour long, and the candles take four hours to cure. So, if you’re making a candle on a weekend afternoon, you can shop around, get drinks or go to a yoga class while you wait to pick up your candle. If you can’t stay in the downtown area too long, that’s okay. You can pick up your candle later in the week.

Apart from being a great place to relax and try something new, TTLOM is a place that emphasizes community, and is doing its part to “get people around the table again.”

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

“The owners made this because they wanted to bring people back together again, and it doesn’t have to be through hardcore drinking,” shared Gilmer. “It’s a just a fun, good, wholesome activity to do with your friends.”

Photography By Anton Nikollaj

The candle bar also boasts its own boutique, with jewelry, tee-shirts and tote bags made by local artisans. “We allow small boutiques to come up here if it fits the vibe and then we just charge commission instead of a monthly rental, because that can be hard on small business,” said Gilmer. “We try to help out everyone in the community.”

As previously mentioned, because the handmade vessels are multi-functional, you can buy the vessels without a candle, and you also purchase wooden tables made by DJ Lappen. So, your home will not only smell like brown sugar and pie, but also become a unique collection of clothing and décor that can’t be found anywhere else.

This Little Light of Mine is welcoming and fun, and the overall atmosphere of the store, from the rustic, wooden tables, to the tree-covered window from which the sun shines through, helps you feel as though you’re in a state where leaves turn to orange and the temperature drops below 80 degrees. I can’t wait to take family and friends back to make fun memories and add new candles to our respective collections.