The Hundredth Acre Candles Provide a Bright Light and a Fresh Start
Kirstin (Kiki) Montgomery found herself in Laguna a decade ago. She was settling into a new life after a divorce, and laughs as she says she hit the town with a vengeance (aka: a purse full of cash and no responsibilities).
She’d always been a social person and soon settled into a routine: a grapefruit basil martini at Tommy Bahamas, a glass of Justin at Watermarc, tequila at the Marine Room, and a Popo at the Saloon. She was unofficially named the “Mayor of Laguna,” certified by her status as a constant fixture on the party scene.
However, as the years passed she felt more and more unfulfilled, always feeling that something was missing deep down. Her life wasn’t sustainable, and she knew she needed to make a change.
But, as is the case often when someone is deep in the throes of their vice, those changes kept getting postponed, and the destructive bad habits remained.
When COVID hit and suddenly the town that she loved shut down, she found herself holed up in her beach bungalow, alone. Social drinking turned to isolated drinking, and by December she had hit her rock bottom and was ready to make the pivot her life desperately needed.
She had her last drink on December 16.
With her new free time and clear headspace, Montgomery turned inward. “I would redecorate my house over and over again…” she remembers, still searching for that missing link.
She lit candles around the house to help with her reflection... the different aromas generating different feelings, memories, and passions.
And then suddenly it clicked — what she needed was light.
A friend from the past, Robert Brink, had created a candle company in 2013 which he named The Hundredth Acre: Things for Thinkers, based on the Winnie the Pooh books.
These were candles with a playful vibe, based on influential stories from your childhood that made you smile.
Montgomery had always liked the idea, so when she heard rumors that he was eager to sell, she reached out. After their first conversation she knew she had finally found her purpose.
It was a kismet fit for the both of them. Brink wanted to keep the business local, determined to maintain the sense of integrity the brand had garnered throughout the years, and Montgomery had a passion and vision for the brand that Brink trusted. He took her under his wing and spent time teaching her how to hand pour 100% natural, clean-burning soy wax derived from soybeans grown in the USA. He taught her the importance of using recyclable glass containers, phthalate-free fragrance oil never tested on animals, and the difference between all the various types of wicks.
Today, Montgomery is honored to continue the legacy from her second floor art studio located in the canyon. It’s a space that has been passed down through generations of artists doing different types of art, and she can feel the magic every time she steps through the door.
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of this artist colony… a part of the history of Laguna,” she explains with deep gratitude.
Each candle is a tribute to Laguna, named after something that will make you feel good: “Petrichor (the Smell After Rain),” “A Walk in the Woods,” “Sitting by the Fire,” and “Used Bookstore.” In fact, each candle cover is hand-cut from vintage literature books purchased from the Laguna Beach Library used bookstore with proceeds helping to fund local children’s reading programs.
As The Hundredth Acre candles get into more stores, Montgomery hopes to pay it forward by also donating proceeds to donation-based detox and sober living homes for women throughout Orange County.
Currently, Montgomery’s candles are sold in multiple shops throughout Laguna including Bushard’s Pharmacy, Twig, Beach House, Areo, and Pearl Street General. She’s also done collaborations with Salt Optical in Costa Mesa, and just signed her first international contract at 3 Singing Birds in Whistler, Canada.
For Montgomery, The Hundredth Acre candles symbolize much more than a new career direction — each flame burns with change, reflection, and the rebuilding of strength and determination.
“I always knew I was a hands-on girl. Now I am finally able to take something from start to finish knowing there is a smile at the end of the process.”
For her, candles are a sense of purpose and calm. “Candles are a different kind of light for me now; an inspiration to get up every morning, be grateful, and move forward, because, as we have learned over the past year, life is all but ours to live — at this very moment, at this very place, and at this very point in time.”
Check out The Hundredth Acre’s candles (and other things that will make you think) on thehundredthacre.com. And because she’s Kiki (and still the Mayor of Laguna at heart), she’ll even hand deliver your goods locally! *New bestie alert!
Lindsay DeLong is the Editor-in-Chief of Laguna Beach Living. A brand strategist and web designer who specializes in a quick 2-week start-to-finish process, she is well-versed at building brands from the ground up, establishing online identity, and re-living Winnie the Pooh episodes. (They are SO sweet!) Reach out to her at lindsay@lagunabeachliving.com or on her personal site, iLikeLindsay.com.
Photos by: Tiffany Perry Photography.