When purchasing your weekly haul of fresh produce, meats, cheeses and delicious baked goods from Detweiler’s Farm Market in Venice, a delightful aroma may catch your attention. You will discover a Caribbean Coconut Candle that will instantly make you feel like you are in the tropics. Upon further investigation, you realize the candlemaker is located a quick drive up the road. You’ve just stumbled upon the stand for “Scentsational”, a Venice-headquartered soaps and candle company, and entrepreneurial success story that will make Sarasotan’s proud.
In 1998, Steve and Amy Morrison began making and selling fragranced handmade soaps out of their garage. Based on the success of their soaps, the couple expanded into candles, using the popular fragrances from their soap line to create high-quality, scented candles made with cotton wicks and wax blends of soy, coconut, and beeswax. By 2000, they had outgrown the garage, hired a small staff, moved into a new space, which was incorporated as Scentsational Soaps and Candles, Inc.
Still privately owned and operated, they now produce 30,000 candles per day and employ more than 170 local people. Their product line is available on their website, in local stores and in national stores such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods. In addition, the company creates private labels for a variety of large national brands.
This South Sarasota County gem is now currently undergoing a major expansion which will almost double their 50,000 square foot manufacturing space and create more job opportunities for residents. Congratulations, Scentsational!