The Origin
The CandleTree Story
From a Concord basement in 2016 to a downtown storefront — the story of Ross Mingarelli and the candle that started it all.
It started with a simple question: "How hard could it be to make a really good candle?"
Ross Mingarelli
Founder · The Candleman
The Man Behind It
Meet Ross — The Candleman
In the winter of 2016, Ross Mingarelli—now affectionately known around Concord as "The Candleman"—began experimenting with soy wax in his basement. Like many great things, it started small.
He wanted to create candles that burned clean, smelled incredible without being overpowering, and actually lasted. What followed was months of obsessive testing: finding the perfect pour temperature, sourcing the right cotton wicks, and blending fragrance oils that felt authentic rather than artificial.
Today Ross still pours every candle by hand, using the same meticulous approach he developed from day one. That commitment to the craft is what sets CandleTree apart.
Chapter One
The Workshop
This is where it all began — the original CandleTree production space. Steel tables, fragrance oils lined up on shelves, jars cooling in rows. Every batch was mixed and poured by hand, with every step monitored for quality.
During those early days, Ross discovered something unexpected. By pouring the wax at a very specific temperature and introducing color dye at just the right moment, the wax would cool into a beautiful marbled pattern. No machines, no molds — just the natural physics of soy wax cooling.
That marbled look became the signature of CandleTree. It meant every single candle was unique. Even two candles of the same scent would have entirely different patterns — a true mark of a hand-poured product.
Chapter Two
Main Street Bound
What started as a basement hobby quickly outgrew the house. Local craft fairs led to wholesale accounts, and the demand for Ross's marbled candles skyrocketed.
In 2019, CandleTree Soy Candles officially opened its storefront at 44 North Main Street in downtown Concord — 44 North Main, right in the heart of the city.
Today, CandleTree is a staple of the Concord community. Every candle sold in our shop is still poured by hand, using the exact same meticulous methods Ross developed years ago in that original workshop.
44 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 748-0767
"We believe in the warmth of a local business, the quality of a handmade good, and the power of a great scent to make a house feel like a home."
— Ross Mingarelli, Founder