EcoScents Candles

Remember the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade"?  Today, I met a family who took that bit of wisdom to heart.  My visit to the EcoScents showroom and warehouse was a breath of fresh air - and not just because of the candles.  (Though the candles did smell wonderful.)

The company was founded in November of 2009 by husband and wife team Chad and Erin Kampschneider.  They didn't have any previous experience in making candles.  In fact, Chad was a hedge fund manager.  But with the stock markets plunging, they knew they had to do something different.  A candle burning on the table as they talked gave Erin an idea.

It took a lot of research and a thousand unsuccessful attempts before they got the recipe figured out, but all of that hard work has paid off.  EcoScents candles are making a name for themselves, and with good reason.

The candle making process is a family affair done completely by hand.  They start by adding hydrogen to pure soy beans and melting them down to a liquid.  Soy burns longer and at a cooler temperature than paraffin wax without leaving soot behind in the jar - or on your walls.  It's also good for the economy since the soy beans come from American farmers.

 

Next, dye and scent are mixed in.

Then the candles are poured. The recipe has to be adjusted depending on the time of year.  A five-degree difference in temperature can impact the consistency of the candles, but after two years, they've gotten it down to a science.  The cotton wicks are also environmentally friendly and never need to be trimmed, and the jars are recyclable.

Finally, each jar is labeled.  Custom labels can be ordered for businesses or special events.  They will even make custom labels for weddings that can include an engagement photo.

You can stop by their warehouse/showroom on 156th and West Center Road to see the candle making process for yourself.  They're hosting a holiday open house on December 10, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It will be a great chance to find some special gifts for the people on your list this year.

Doing some Christmas shopping at EcoScents was definitely a win-win situation for me.  I got to support a local business and buy a special product that is good for the environment and very affordable.  An 8 ounce candle burns for 50 hours and costs $11.25.  A 16 ounce candle burns for a 100 hours and costs $14.25. 

I wasn't planning to shop for myself, but when I saw the new aroma lamps, I couldn't help it.  They are beautiful.  Some are "night light" style in that they plug directly into the wall, which is great for kitchens and bathrooms.  Others are more for a table top.  All have dimmer switches to control the amount of light and fragrance given off.  (If you notice the picture of Oprah on the lower shelf - it's because EcoScents was voted one of Omaha's Favorite Things in conjunction with the farewell Oprah show last May.)

The lamps burn soy squares, which are available in packages of 6 for $3.99.  Each cube burns for about 35 hours.

After two years, EcoScents has really taken off.  You can find their candles at many local HyVee stores, or you can buy them online at http://www.burnecoscents.com/ORDER.html as well as at the showroom at 2528 South 156th Circle; Omaha, NE 68130.

With all the bad news about the economy and various protests happening around the country, it was such a pleasure to meet the Kampschneider family and see their courage, creativity, and hard work in action.  I'm glad they're a part of my hometown.

Not NoDo Anymore

At her show at the Slowdown a few months ago, Ingrid Michaelson commented on how great the area was and how you could find anything you need right there - "Like Urban Outfitters, which is a really great place to shop for clothes!" 

Really?  Hmm.  I hadn't given it much thought.  So the next day, I drove back to the Slowdown with my camera to see what she was talking about.  I should have worn sunscreen, because when I started walking around the area, I found a lot more to explore than I'd expected.  

 "Old Things New" is a theme I keep coming back to, and I found that phrase coming to mind again.  North Downtown used to be a booming business district, but things dried up after the Hilton Hotel was built on top of 16th street in 1966, cutting off the major traffic artery that connected north downtown with the rest of the central business district.  (The DoubleTree Hotel is in that location now.)  The move was probably motivated by racial and religious tension; the majority of the businesses impacted were owned by members of the African American and Jewish communities.

The area picked up the unfortunate nickname of "NoDo," a moniker that was sadly accurate.  But after several decades, things are starting to change.   North Downtown is becoming a cool hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment again.

 

As I wandered around in full tourist mode, shamelessly taking photo after photo of things most "natives" walk by without a second glance, I ran into one of the friendly employees of Greenstreet Cycles.  I thought I should explain myself after he walked by me twice, probably wondering why this weirdo was taking pictures of the building, so I gave him a Hometown Tourist card and explained the blog.  Like me, he's an Omaha native who had to move away for awhile to really appreciate what's here.  We had a nice chat about Greenstreet and the North Downtown area in general.   

 

I think this would be a fun date night.  Dinner on the patio at Goodnight's Pizza Bar...

 

...followed by a movie at Film Streams...

 

...or a concert at the Slowdown or the Qwest Center.  They're all in easy walking distance of each other. 

The T.D. Ameritrade Stadium is going up next to the Qwest Center, so we'll have another entertainment option soon.  

Notice the mix of old and new - shiny buildings in the background, and the railroad crossing sign in the foreground.  Trains have been an important part of Omaha history since the 1860's, bringing goods and growth to the city since it was chosen as the eastern starting point for the first transcontinental railroad.  A series of murals on a building facing the Qwest center explores Nebraska's past and present, focusing on our roots...

The old and the new, co-existing peacefully side by side.  I like it.  It has character.

 

The more time I spend being a tourist in my own hometown, the more I find to appreciate about it.  The irony is that sometimes it takes a visitor from out of state to make me see what's right in front of me.

Oh - and I found a really cute sundress on sale at Urban Outfitters for $10.  Thanks for the tip, Ingrid!