About Candle-lite
America's original candle company. Candle-lite has long been recognized as the leader in the decorative candle manufacturing industry. We proudly celebrate over 180 years of continuous candle making.
Quality since 1840
Our history is as interesting as the depth and breadth of our current candle product line. Candle-lite's roots go back to the year 1840, when an English settler by the name of Thomas Emery traveled door-to-door selling candles and numerous other household items.
1840
Thomas J. Emery, Immigrant and Entrepreneur
In 1840, Thomas J. Emery, an ambitious English immigrant, started Emery Lard Oil and Candle Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. From humble beginnings, he opened a small workshop, hand-dipping tapers, using tallow excess of Cincinnati’s reign as the largest pork producing city in the world.
1850
Light Ushers Invention and Progress
By the 1850’s, Emery establishes US Market dominance – known for high quality candles and strong, sturdy tapers. Emery was the first to incorporate industrial and chemical applications that allowed candles to become an easily affordable commodity for the masses. Unfortunately, he falls to his death at the factory, through an open hatchway, while aiding an employee, in 1857. He is succeeded by his son, Thomas J. Emery, Jr.
1865
Thomas J. Emery, Jr
In 1865, Thomas J. Emery, Jr’s compassion led to developing low-income housing in downtown Cincinnati, saddened by the living conditions of the working-class poor. Linked to these efforts, he became an outspoken leader on labor reform efforts.
1917
Dr. Ernest Twitchell – Chemical Industrial Awards
Dr. Ernest Twitchell, a chemist, inventor, and philanthropist, joined Emery in 1886 and his long tenure resulted in the “Twitchell process” which elevated candle safety and excellence, earning him the prestigious Perkins Award in 1917.
1952
Big Move
As candles shifted away as being a source of light, the Emery family sold the candle segment of Emery Lard Oil and Candles in 1952. With a new name, Candle-lite Company moved manufacturing to the little town of Leesburg, Ohio. Driven by innovation, Candle-lite Company explored adding fragrance to candles to accent the décor feel. By the 1980’s, the fragranced candle becomes popular in the American household.
2016
Lighting the Way
In May 2016, Candle-lite Company merged with PartyLite, a direct to consumer sales brand, forming Luminex Home Décor & Fragrance, illuminating the market with new candle collections, fragrances and accessories.
2017
Candle-lite Invests in Expansion
Following the merger of Candle-lite and PartyLite under Luminex Home Décor & Fragrance, Luminex invests $12 million in the Leesburg manufacturing facility to combine operations. During this process, the Leesburg facility added 92,000 square feet to the plant's 1 million square foot floor space.
2020
Candle-lite Celebrates 180 Years
Humble Beginnings, Noble Values: Guided by dreams, discovery and “doing good,” Candle-lite Company continues to take pride in the Quality, Value and Service benchmarks that Thomas J. Emery and family founded the company on, more than 180 years ago. “The Emery family showed us that true wealth lies in kindness, compassion, and generosity.”
1840
Thomas J. Emery, Immigrant and Entrepreneur
In 1840, Thomas J. Emery, an ambitious English immigrant, started Emery Lard Oil and Candle Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. From humble beginnings, he opened a small workshop, hand-dipping tapers, using tallow excess of Cincinnati’s reign as the largest pork producing city in the world.
1850
Light Ushers Invention and Progress
By the 1850’s, Emery establishes US Market dominance – known for high quality candles and strong, sturdy tapers. Emery was the first to incorporate industrial and chemical applications that allowed candles to become an easily affordable commodity for the masses. Unfortunately, he falls to his death at the factory, through an open hatchway, while aiding an employee, in 1857. He is succeeded by his son, Thomas J. Emery, Jr.
1865
Thomas J. Emery, Jr
In 1865, Thomas J. Emery, Jr’s compassion led to developing low-income housing in downtown Cincinnati, saddened by the living conditions of the working-class poor. Linked to these efforts, he became an outspoken leader on labor reform efforts.
1917
Dr. Ernest Twitchell – Chemical Industrial Awards
Dr. Ernest Twitchell, a chemist, inventor, and philanthropist, joined Emery in 1886 and his long tenure resulted in the “Twitchell process” which elevated candle safety and excellence, earning him the prestigious Perkins Award in 1917.
1952
Big Move
As candles shifted away as being a source of light, the Emery family sold the candle segment of Emery Lard Oil and Candles in 1952. With a new name, Candle-lite Company moved manufacturing to the little town of Leesburg, Ohio. Driven by innovation, Candle-lite Company explored adding fragrance to candles to accent the décor feel. By the 1980’s, the fragranced candle becomes popular in the American household.
2016
Lighting the Way
In May 2016, Candle-lite Company merged with PartyLite, a direct to consumer sales brand, forming Luminex Home Décor & Fragrance, illuminating the market with new candle collections, fragrances and accessories.
2017
Candle-lite Invests in Expansion
Following the merger of Candle-lite and PartyLite under Luminex Home Décor & Fragrance, Luminex invests $12 million in the Leesburg manufacturing facility to combine operations. During this process, the Leesburg facility added 92,000 square feet to the plant's 1 million square foot floor space.
2020
Candle-lite Celebrates 180 Years
Humble Beginnings, Noble Values: Guided by dreams, discovery and “doing good,” Candle-lite Company continues to take pride in the Quality, Value and Service benchmarks that Thomas J. Emery and family founded the company on, more than 180 years ago. “The Emery family showed us that true wealth lies in kindness, compassion, and generosity.”
Our values
We always use the best quality ingredients and strive to continuously improve our products to always meet our high, high standards. No parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or animal testing, ever!
Cruelty Free
No Phthalates, No Parabens, No Sulfates
100% Natural Wick
