Meet Travis York of Strange Gent Candles in West Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis York.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Travis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s a story of love and theft. By happenstance, I read an article about the best artisans of LA, and there was a blurb about a candle maker. Thinking these candles might make great presents for the special people in my life, I looked the company up online, and saw that they had an option to create a custom made candle, as well as take a candle making class. I thought, ‘Why not skip the middle man and make bad ass presents for the special people in my life?’ I charmed my way into doing just that, and my ideas seemed to be on point because I was asked to apprentice for this person and come up with scents and such for them. My ideas were so well received that after a certain point they were taken – stolen, to be blunt, – without my consent and without credit or compensation. I thought that this was just another in a long line of near misses, second bests, and flat out lies (I’m an actor.) So I walked away, crestfallen.

That all went down during a particularly rough time in my life and I missed the creative, hands on aspect candle making provided. Making something that immediate, something that wasn’t going to be dismissed for reasons I couldn’t control. So, after some major pep-talks from my friend Jenn Fox of Death Valley Nails (who has a very similar story to mine) I did an online start-up campaign and was fully funded in less than a month! I’m beyond grateful to the people who contributed, and I’m indebted to them in more than just financial terms. Knowing that someone believes in you, sight unseen? That’s powerful stuff. Six weeks later, Strange Gent was open for business. So here I am now, eight months later, making it up as I go along, but beyond grateful to have gotten this far. And most definitely none of it would’ve happened without those dual aspects of love and theft.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. Since I officially opened the shop right before the holidays, there was that immediate rush of business, and I was very grateful for the support. After the new year, things settled down into a more normal ebb and flow. Some months have been all tumbleweeds, but around the holidays there’s definitely an uptick. Finding a voice in the social media world has probably proven the most difficult aspect of trying to stay relevant. I’m bad at all the metadata stuff, you know, the tagging, the the tweeting, all that mess. Like anything, it’s all a learning process. One I’m doing totally naively.

Nothing anyone does is ever truly on their own, though. I do have a tremendous graphic designer, Laura Pardee, who helps with implementing all my visual ideas for Strange Gent, and a super great photographer friend, Troy Blendell, who has been very generous with his time. I’d be totally lost without their help. Knowing it’s ultimately all on me, though, can be overwhelming. Finding the time to make Strange Gent the best it can be, and not half-ass it, while still having to make rent and such, can be anxiety inducing. Not to mention trying to stay sane amidst the tidal wave of insanity and cruelty that our government hits us with every day. That jive ass turkey is gonna give us all broken hearts and aneurysms. That takes a toll.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Strange Gent Candles – what should we know?
Strange Gent Candles is a handmade, all natural soy wax candle company that combines elements of nostalgia, longing, lust, joy, regret, heartbreak, and the molecules between two people to create one-of-a-kind scents that each have an individual story to tell. In doing so, it is my goal that these candles stir up something inside you and you’re able to recall something poignant and powerful in your life because of them. We are primarily online at the moment, but can be found in several purveyors of fine goods and services like Rehab Salon in Hollywood, Queen Bee Salon & Spa in Culver City, and Manly & Son’s Barber Co. in Echo Park.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Besides what I know is a superior product – I truly know that – the thing I feel that is most essential to the idea or world or narrative of Strange Gent is that it’s completely, nakedly, honestly ME.  Even the name is a play on something personal. The candles are as much a representation of my beliefs, my values, my inspirations, my pain, my loves – who I am, as they are quality candles that bring enjoyment to the customer. In a way, it’s the most vulnerable and transparent I’ve ever been. It took having something I loved and created being stolen from me to make this happen, so there’s no half-assing anything.

A friend recently told me that I was the most ‘heart forward’ person they’d ever known, and that floored me. I try to do every single thing in my life with love and kindness, and can only do it the way I know how. All out. And if that’s not for you, that’s okay. I’ve been told “no” more times than I’d like to admit, but if I made or did something that wasn’t me, that I didn’t 100% believe in, I wouldn’t feel right. It would feel fake. I hate fake and I really hate ‘nice.’ I don’t want something nice. I don’t want to make a ‘nice’ candle. I want to make something unique that transports you. I want Strange Gent to be something singular, for better or worse. Something that was clearly made with love and intent. Lead with your heart, you know?

Pricing:

• All regular size candles (8oz) are $28, and The Victor travel tins are $14 online.
• Strange Gent is now doing custom candles! Inquiries welcome.

Contact Info:

• Website: strangegentcandles.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com./strangegentcandles
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/strangegentcandles
• Twitter: twitter.com/strangegentcan

Image Credit:
Troy Blendell took all the photos, except the two of the candles in process, which were taken by Zach Birns.

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