Conversations with Katherine Longmuir

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Longmuir.

Hi Katherine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
After an ER visit in 2020, I was diagnosed with asthma as an adult. It suddenly became more important to me to know what I was breathing in. To keep myself well, I educated myself on the fragrances I was constantly putting into the air at home. I became passionate about creating a safer alternative for one of my favorite things: candles! My candles are formulated with 100% natural soy wax, 100% cotton wicks, and oils free of carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, acute toxins, and organ toxins. They are also pet-friendly, allergy-friendly, and asthma-friendly (obviously)! 

I started out by making the scents that I enjoyed the most (the Aromatherapy collection). Pleasantly surprised by the candles I had poured, my family and friends began requesting their favorite aromas to purchase. The small business slowly grew from there and really took off in the Fall of 2023. I now offer wholesale, retail, event pop-ups, and more! 

I believe that a candle makes a house feel like home. My desire is that every household can choose a non-toxic alternative, so I strive to keep my candles as affordable as possible while still providing a luxury feel. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with anything rewarding, there are bumps in the road. As an entrepreneur, you have to be ready for high highs and low lows. I think the main struggle with small business is that growth does not always happen at the pace you wish it would. I was very blessed to have orders coming in online from the very beginning. It is not common to have great sales online when your product is a scented item. Most people want to smell a candle before they buy it! My customers are so confident in the products on my website that they know they will love each candle prior to smelling them for the first time. 

Social media can also be incredibly challenging at times. Keeping up with trends, algorithms, and marketing tactics is difficult when you also work another full-time job like I do. My candle business is my side hustle (for now!), and so I do not have as much time to dedicate to my social media as I would like. It is very easy to compare myself to other small businesses. It has been so helpful for me to remind myself that I get to determine what success looks like for me… and it does not have to look like everyone else! 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Noteworthy Candle Co. specializes in non-toxic, high-quality, asthma-friendly candles, and Room & Linen sprays. We prioritize the coveted luxurious feel at an affordable price. 

A lot of name-brand candles are expensive, have poor ingredients, and do not perform well in the home. Many candles that claim to be non-toxic are really lacking in the “hot throw” department. A candle’s hot throw is how well the scent fills the home or space when it is lit. Not only do Noteworthy Candles have an excellent hot throw, but they also have an amazing cold throw (how well the candle fills a space when it is not lit). Many customers review that they can smell their candles before they even open their package. That always brings a smile to my face! 

As the owner of Noteworthy, I have my hands in every step of the process, ensuring that everything is up to my standards. I am quite the perfectionist when it comes to aesthetics and performance of my products. I want every step of ordering from me to be a delight, from ordering online to opening the package to lighting the candle. I strive for the same experience at local pop-ups. When potential customers come to the table, we lead with conversation, ask good questions to direct them to the best scent for them, and always vocalize appreciation for any form of support… even if that is just following on Instagram or taking a business card with them! 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
In 2020 and again in 2022, I was diagnosed with severe Covid pneumonia that sent me to the emergency room. I developed asthma from that time in my life. From that health crisis, I realized that so much of my struggle with asthma was connected to the products I was using in my home. I always try to educate others on the toxins that we widely accept because we are all too familiar with them. We will never live in a toxin-free world, but there are a lot of changes that you can make in your home to help keep your body and immune system as healthy and strong as possible! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://noteworthycandlecompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noteworthycandlecompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214309891359959/

Image Credits
Canady Media