Candles for a Good Cause with Calm Me Company
Our sense of smell is evolutionarily unique and extremely special. Its connection to our cerebral functions is direct and powerful, driving to parts of the brain like the amygdala (the experience of emotions) and the hippocampus (the formation of new memories and learning).
It’s why when you catch a whiff of lavender you feel your nerves relent, or when the scent of citrus hits your nose your eyes widen with awareness.
When Rammy Streit, the founder of Calm Me Candles and Cosmetics, thinks about scents, she delights in the nuances of each fragrance with certain aromas infusing her life with positive, restorative feelings that have translated into a candle obsession -- one that has comforted her through multiple careers, including that of a clinical psychologist, investment banker, and corporate insurance advisor.
However, when she dove deeper into the composition of her favorite products, she unearthed details that were anything but appealing. “I was frustrated with the supply on the market -- they were either a bad value, had too many unhealthy ingredients, or they didn’t perform as advertised,” Rammy explains.
The entrepreneur took matters into her own hands, and when her daughters, Dagny and Athena, were old enough, an excited mama brought them into the mix. “We use 100% soy wax,” Rammy shares, “the highest percentage of oil-to-wax ratio with only the highest-quality fragrance oils -- not essential oils (which are toxic to burn).” They avoid chemical additives, such as Vybar (an amplifier that enhances scents artificially), and carefully wick-test each vessel to make sure it burns evenly to the bottom.
The same care goes for the products Rammy prefers to use on her skin. After a graveyard of opened and abandoned beauty supplies piled up because of irritation, her husband encouraged her to make her own cosmetics. She went for it as wholeheartedly as she did with the candles, going further to infuse all skin and body products with 24K Colloidal Gold, best known for its high antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory effects.
The family business began sharing their homemade candles as gifts for teachers, friends, and family, but when COVID-19 hit and they saw how hospitals and staff were overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as the number of patients grew, they decided they wanted to help.
The mother-daughter team decided to share their coveted candles with essential workers on the front lines, conveying an important lesson: regardless of whatever obstacle we face, we must focus on the positive and use our skills and persistence to move forward.
“When you give back, the act of generosity goes beyond the action -- it’s the psychological power of showing a person or a group that someone in their community cares about them,” explains Rammy. “Maybe it’s the mother in me, but I just want to make people’s lives better in any way I can.”
The Streit trio hand-delivered and donated hundreds of tranquility-inducing candles to local hospitals and other entities that felt the weight of COVID on their shoulders.
As COVID eased, Rammy decided it was time to put her business acumen to the test by officially launching Calm Me Candles and Cosmetics, therefore turning a family bonding activity into a full-time gig. “Working on building something of their own is a great learning opportunity for my daughters because they see the sacrifices, work, planning, management, and other skills that go into growing a successful business.”
And while the family will continue to give back to the community, Rammy is ready for the rest of the world to enjoy the benefits of Calm Me Company. Expect new candle vessels and customizable spins on favorites, as well as new treats like a snake venom eye cream that boasts a result similar to Botox. Rammy adds, “Overall, I plan to experiment and continue evolving.”
When it comes to picking your ideal whiffs, Rammy says it really is up to your unique nose. She recommends blends like The Ritz, Eucalyptus + Peppermint, Lavender, Yuzu + Hinoki, Palo Santo + Sage, and Salt Air + Honeydew for calming vibes, while energizing scents like Blood Orange, Tropical Citrus, Lemon + Lilac, and Bergamot + Ambergris can give your day a much needed boost. Not to mention mixtures to the tune of Cinnamon, Gingerbread, Pumpkin + Persimmon, Hot Toddy, and Rose + Spruce just in time for the holidays.
For Calm Me Company and the greater community, the future looks -- and smells -- a lot brighter.
Shop Calm Me Company’s candles and cosmetics here or at a local farmer’s market, and be sure to join their Instagram giveaway until November 10th.
Charlotte Farrell is a writer and editor who loves nothing more than a piping hot matcha latte and rambling on about topics to the tune of wellness, self-care, food, climate change, sustainability, clean beauty, fitness, mental health, and travel. She is based in NYC where she enjoys reading, writing, exploring, and hunting for gluten-free pastries.
Photos by Cay + Kai Photography.