Meet Elizabeth Kautz: Candlemaker- Fleur de Liz Candles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Kautz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, why did you pursue a creative career?
As a former elementary school teacher, I have always had a creative knack and entrepreneurial spirit. I started making candles over 20 years ago and now offer a variety of pillar, votive, tea light, wax tart, container candles, as well as private labeling. It’s not just making the candles that I love- For me it’s the creativity! Things that you wouldn’t think go together and they do! Developing new scents is so much fun! It’s like being a scientist when I create my own concoctions! I also love that candles are a self-care thing and I can create a candle that makes people feel good! If someone has a bad day or they just want to feel good- they light my candles! It’s so therapeutic! I can even “ZEN OUT” just making a candle!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create my custom recipes in my kitchen by mixing the finest oils from different scent companies. Mostly oils from flowers, plants, trees, and grasses. I still hand make each of my candles in small batches with ingredients that are completely U.S. sourced and safe for you and your home. I’m always trying something new and trying to stay on top of industry knowledge, “What’s Trending”, fresh marketing ideas and environmental efficiencies. By using the finest oils, lead free wicks, and clean burning soy blended wax, my candles can compete with the most expensive on the market. It’s hard to compete with the big retailers though. Typically, their jar costs more than the ingredients. I’m so opposite of that. I create and pour the “Cadillac” of candles! My candles are very strong, but that’s how I want them! Finest wax, most expensive oils, and most amount of scent per ratio for the best scent throw. I don’t like buying a candle and it doesn’t smell like anything. SCENT is everything! I want my candles to fill a whole room within 5-10 minutes. You’re paying for the scent and you’re paying for the smell. Mine are just the right amount of fragrance where you walk into a room and you’re like, “It smells good!!!” I could talk endlessly about mood improving scents for your home. Especially at a time like now, when we have been quarantined for months. I have had an overwhelming response for my Quarantine Calm candles and how my customers love having them in their space. After all, it is scientifically proven that candles play an essential role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, working capacity, and overall mental health. The soothing effect that candles have is based on how the brain process smells. It’s fascinating but most of all I love hearing from customers that my candles helped them maintain a positive outlook and brought comfort during the COVID-19 Pandemic. My candles speak for themselves but there is so much thought behind my candle concoctions! I just love seeing the pleasure that my candles bring to people. When people come to me for candles they are happy! My candles make them feel good and that is essence of my business! It’s been fun to see my business grow with Legal Draft Brewery. Collaborating with Sheri McCarthy, we have created unique scents for each of their different beers! How fun! You can purchase these candles, which are hand poured in their labeled ‘can’ glasses at the brewery! I want the world to know you can do anything if you have passion for the idea, are willing to put in the time and deal with the inevitable setbacks! You can’t do it alone: You need a solid network to be there for you through the ups and downs!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
DFW has so much to offer! When they get to town we are going to Legal Draft for a few pints in Downtown Arlington. There are a number of great places to eat within 2 blocks including Babes Chicken, Hurtado BBQ and Tipsy Oaks! The Texas Live area between Cowboys Stadium and Globe Life field is a great place to watch a game and have dinner. We would visit Dallas Uptown the next day and catch some shopping and dinner at Las Palmas on Routh St. Their fajitas and ribs are out of this world. The also make a magical Margarita!!! Heading up the tollway toward Frisco, The shops at Legacy are amazing as are they myriad of restaurants. Union Bear Brewery has really good food….and the beers not bad either. Fort Worth is another amazing place to visit and West 7th St, breweries like Rahr & Sons ( I make candles for them in beer cans!), Magnolia St. is a really fun hangout and a new favorite, the Clearfork area! You cant go to Ft. Worth without a stop at the Stockyards, catch a great show at Billy Bobs, or eat on the patio at Joe T. Garcia’s! There are also wonderful array of museums in both Dallas and Ft. Worth!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thanks my dad for his entrepreneurial instincts as well as my family for their constant help and support! I also want to make a shout out to Legal Draft for their collaboration, interest and support of my product. Lastly, you can never keep this type of endeavor moving forward without the support of your friends! I would like to acknowledge Letatia Teykl, Executive Director, Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, Tx.

Website: www.fleurdelizcandles.com
Facebook: Fleur de Liz, Inc.