Nearly five years ago Rebecca Stanton was looking for a creative outlet.
Struggling with postpartum depression after the birth of her youngest, Stanton was told to find something to motivate and inspire her, something to keep her hands busy and clear her mind.
“I had always had a love for candles and I thought I’d try it,” she said. “My first scent was Flannel Blanket and it was made in my kitchen, at my stove, with a double boiler. I was making them one at a time and made a lot of mistakes.”
Still, she got the hang of it and began making candles for friends and family under the name Ulen Candle Co., the name of her street in Lebanon.
Things picked up from there.
“Little by little, more people were requesting candles. It started to take over every room of the house and there just wasn’t enough space. It was time to take the next step,” Stanton said.
When Stanton opened her first brick-and-mortar location, she named it Fire + Fern Apothecary.
“We have plants, tea, self-care and self-help items,: she said. “For me, it’s coming full circle. If you knew me five years ago, I would never have imagined where I am today. I’ve come a long way and we have three daughters. Hopefully, it motivates and encourages them.”
In addition to the carefully selected items to help women and men care for their bodies and mental health, Stanton is still making candles with more than 100 scents and counting.
“I make candles, wax melts and room sprays at the store, and when you come in, you can watch me making the product,” Stanton said. “There are core scents like Flannel Blanket, Warm Cashmere and Saturday Morning and then a seasonal selection. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you can order online and I’ll have it ready for you.”
She opened in March of 2024 and quickly realized she didn’t have enough space. By the end of November, Stanton moved into a new location and says she’ll never leave.
“We hopped over one block to Lebanon St.,” she said. “The new location is five times bigger. My original vision for the store was to host candle pour events. It was really too tight for more than six to 10 people and that wasn’t what I had in mind.
“In the new space, we can have up to 24, so we’re focusing on events with 12 to 18 people,” she said. “We don’t want it to feel overly crowded. This new space is just perfect.”
Stanton hosts birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more at Fire + Fern.
The new location has her creative juices flowing and she has plenty of ideas for the new year.
She’s hoping to continue to grow and collaborate with other small businesses in the area and recently joined the Heart of Lebanon’s events and planning committee.
Other workshops are on the horizon too.
“I plan to offer a few other workshops in addition to candle pouring, maybe a terrarium building or painting a flowerpot,” she said. “To me, that’s all mental health and wellness activity and just makes us feel good.”
Fire + Fern Apothecary by Ulen Candle Co. is located at 106 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon. Visit for more information.
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