A Message From Our COO; Amy Bennett

Northern Lights is excited to celebrate National Women's History Month with a special message from our Chief Operating Officer, Amy Bennett. Amy has been Head of Product Development at Northern Lights Candles for the past six years, having been responsible for product design and development, tradeshow design, sales presentations, manufacturing operations overseas, quality initiatives, and import purchasing.

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There is a moment from my upbringing that I now consider to be an important lesson during my personal journey to becoming a woman. I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mother’s car, watching her apply make-up in the overhead mirror.  The unzipping of her make-up bag released a poof with a floral, perfumy aroma.

Like an Indian Spice Rack, a harmony formed from the small variety of bargain store products.  The engine was off, the wet hot Arkansas heat was penetrating, and beads of sweat were forming over fresh powder. I watched a woman at record speed, “armor up.” 

When it comes to make-up, she invested little time or money. After all, this routine application happened in the car (sometimes while in motion.) It was quick, distracted, we always talked through it, and then she was off.  The message I received was “show up to play, but keep in mind that there are more important things on which to focus your time, talent, and money.” 

Sometime in late middle school, my mom took me to the mall to buy make-up. She never shopped for mall-quality make-up, so it was a treat to stop at Clinique and get powder. 

Fast forward to summer 2020, when I found the ‘free with purchase’ Clinique bag from that trip with my mother.  Over the years, I had been storing graphite and charcoal from art classes. The old perfume smell was now sharing a home with pencil shavings and old erasers.  Created from the combo was a rich, sophisticated, earthy base with light florals. It was not at all a traditional fragrance combination but it struck me as being “strong feminine.”    

The reason I share this personal story, is because fragrance is personal.  It embodies culture and fashion, time, and memory.  It encapsulates its environment and overtakes the air.  When wax is imbued with fragrance a whole new purpose emerges.   With the marriage of these ingredients, we immortalize moments of personal experience.   

Bringing something so magical together from rather humble ingredients, like soy wax or cotton wicks, is remarkable considering the role candles and home fragrance can play in our daily routines.  I burn a candle at my desk every day.  I use room spray to freshen up linens and rid me of garage smells.  You can change a mood in an instant, create intimacy and companionship, you can reminisce about your 2020 beach vacay that got canceled, focus and re-center, pamper, and bring light to a friend in need.   

Light and flame are also powerful elements.  Light can be reassuring, positive, clarifying. Flame is active, hypnotic, warm.  A good friend of mine (and mommy) started lighting a taper candle with every dinner when she was training her toddler to eat solid foods. She describes the experience as creating a moment for rebalancing her reality: she is a woman.  She is a teacher. She is a wife. She is not just a food shoveling, clothes washing, diaper checking machine.  With a candle, she created a singularly quiet space during dinner, and a moment of breath and joy.    

I don’t write these words to simply speak about how meaningful candles and home fragrance can be in your life.  I also wanted to commemorate Women’s Month and acknowledge the power of role models and their influence.  I would also like to share some exciting news:  It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you from a new position in the company.  In October of 2020, I became the Chief Operating Officer of Northern Lights.   

You might not know this, but you and I have been working together for many years.  You have seen my influence in the design of many of the products you purchase.  I have helped bring to life products like Windward, Spirits, Sill, and many more.    

I make pottery (and collect it,) cook (sometimes its breakfast for dinner,) and read (sometimes trashy novels--I am not going to lie,) and I wear make-up.  I raise a red-headed daughter with my artist husband in the small town of Wellsville, NY.  Candles and home fragrance are an integral part of my personal life, where I aspire to be a positive force. 

Thank you for your support.  We greatly appreciate your business.   

Together, We Brighten the World. 

Sincerely,  

Amy