Although there are countless luxury candles stocking the shelves of department stores and high-end boutiques, SAINT by Ira DeWitt (saintcandles.com) is a standout line, not only for its beautiful packaging and sophisticated scents, but for the deeper meaning behind each candle. Istanbul-born CEO and founder DeWitt—who is based in L.A. and Saint Louis—created her “modern prayer candles for a cause,” as she explains it, to offer a sense of comfort and spirituality to those going through big life moments. Here, DeWitt shares her story.
What was the impetus for launching SAINT?
I started SAINT when a friend’s son was sick. I wanted to gift them a prayer candle, but I couldn’t find anything that seemed thoughtful and elevated enough so I decided to make one myself—a modern prayer candle. I had to make 500, so I gave the rest away to friends and family. Everyone kept coming back for more and that’s when SAINT was born. When things became official, I wanted the candles to stand for something more and that’s when we partnered with St. Jude. Since starting SAINT in 2019, we have donated more than $200,000 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Were you always a candle lover?
I've always loved candles and fragrance. There’s beauty in the art of fragrance that is hard to articulate—something intentional. I brought that same idea to SAINT to create a luxury, modern prayer candle. Each candle contains a blessed Italian prayer coin and holy oil as part of the wax.
I love how SAINT candles have more to them than meets the eye. Can you explain how your candles are infused with spirituality and meaning?
The line truly has something for everyone. Each candle is named after a patron saint associated with a specific aspect of human life. For example, there is a saint of healing (Saint Raphael), saint of impossible causes (Saint Jude), saint of finding love and lost articles (Saint Anthony) and so many more. Each candle contains holy oil from the Saint Padre Pio center and a blessed Italian Prayer coin. The coin is intended for you to keep after your candle has burned down as a reminder of your prayers and intentions. I am always creating more candles that I know will resonate with our joys, struggles and everything in between.
What are some fan favorites? And, are there certain scents you personally gravitate towards?
Some fan favorites are Saint Jude, Saint Dymphna, Saint Benedict, Saint Raphael and Saint Anthony. Our Special Edition candles are also very popular. I can’t pick a personal favorite, I love them all! We have a collectors piece coming out in the Spring that I am very excited about that could potentially be a new favorite of mine.
I know that certain flowers are appropriate for certain occasions. Do scents/candles follow that same "rule"? If so, how does Saint candles apply it?
I think for SAINT candles, people gravitate more towards the meaning of the saint and not necessarily the fragrance. I created all our fragrances to help match the mood/intention of the prayer candle. For example, our Saint Jude, Saint of Impossible Causes candle is a very deep, intentional fragrance combining Turkish rose, geranium and oud. I want people to smell the candles and put that same intention into their thoughts and prayers.
How has the brand evolved over the years?
Since I started this brand by accident, we started off pretty basic. We launched with 15 candles and now have over 25 and plan to continue to expand. As its grown, we have gotten more sophisticated with the packaging, but the integrity and intention behind the candles has always been the same.
Where do you see SAINT candles ten years from now?
Hopefully at the Vatican! I am obsessed with Rome and would love to bring SAINT to Europe very soon. On a more local level I hope to make the brand more accessible in your favorite department stores.
What new launches are you excited about for fall?
We just launched two new Holiday fragrances, Saint Nicholas and Jesus Christ Nativity. These were fun to create and it’s the first season we have done a holiday-specific launch.
Lastly, what do you love most about what you do?
I love that we are partnered with St. Jude Children’s Hospital—it is a cause that is near and dear to my heart and I am honored to be able to contribute to their mission and see firsthand the miracles they make happen. I also love that we are helping introduce the concept of spirituality to new and younger generations—something I think is fading away but so necessary to cope in the world that we live in today.
Contact Info:
https://saintcandles.com/
1 747-206-5393
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