Our Story

Hi! I'm Amanda, I'm the one woman show behind BLACKBIRD.

BLACKBIRD was created in my small Evanston kitchen in 2016. I started making candles after experiencing major burnout working full time in retail management! Lighting candles at the end of a long work day became a ritual I looked forward to, and it became even more exciting when I started testing fragrance mixes and vessels to match whatever aesthetic I had going on at the time. I sold the candles at my mom's boutique, Raven & Dove, and produced whenever I found the time. As fate would have it, I was laid off in early 2020, and the day after getting laid off I made candles nonstop. I was totally devastated at the time, but once I devised a business plan, made short term goals, and spent a LOT of time thinking about you, the person that I wanted my goods to speak to, everything came together. I wanted to create something perfectly unique albeit olfactory; a lingering reminder of a fleeting moment in time, romance, a song that brings you to a specific memory, a story by the sensory. It was also important to me to pay homage to some part of my hometown--Chicago. If you know, you know, this is a pretty cool place. 

I strive to ensure each candle is perfect down to the last detail. They are made in small batches and hand-stamped with a wax seal, then placed in your hands. I use midwestern + sustainably grown soy wax, fine fragrances and natural essences. A cotton-paper wick provides a clean, toxin-free burn. 

I hope you love your candle as much as I've loved making it for you.
From me to you, thank you for supporting my dream.