Catskills Candle Studio Illuminates Tannersville and Beyond

TANNERSVILLE – The Catskills Candle Studio has brought warmth and light to homes and hearts since its inception four years ago. Founded by Nicole Andrick and her husband Jason Pontillo, the business began humbly in their home but quickly grew into a thriving enterprise, now headquartered at 5977 Main Street in the Village of Tannersville.

Pontillo added, “She [Nicole] deserves all the credit. I was a bystander during the early days.” According to their website, "Our goal is to bring the natural experience of the Catskills into any modern setting by mixing contemporary design aesthetics with an artisanal approach." 

The couple's journey into the candle world began serendipitously. Andrick, a lover of candles, would often splurge on high-end candles during weekend trips to the Catskills. "She would spend $60 on one candle and feel guilty about burning them because of the price," Pontillo recalled. That guilt inspired a creative outlet. Andrick bought a candle-making kit from Amazon, and what started as a fun activity with her sister quickly turned into a passion.

Andrick began experimenting with soy-based wax, free of harmful parabens and phthalates. "She believed in creating a quality product that wouldn't be bad for you to inhale," Pontillo explained. During Christmas 2019, she gifted her handcrafted candles to coworkers, and their enthusiastic response planted the seed for what would eventually become the Catskills Candle Studio.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the couple left New York City for their weekend home on the mountaintop, purchased in 2018. With newfound time and space, Andrick perfected her craft. By late 2020, her candles debuted at Kaaterskill Market in Catskill, where they sold out within a day. That was the moment they realized they had something special.

After two years of home production, the couple sought a larger space to meet the growing demand. In 2022, The Hunter Foundation, according to Pontillo, “Was more than willing to help and offered several locations before they introduced us to Ryan Chadwick, who was renting the space at 5977 Main Street at the time, and subleased it to us.” Pontillo and his wife now rent the space directly from the owner, Dwane Legg. 

They secured the storefront on Main Street in Tannersville, and initially used the Main Street location as a production space; the store opened to the public by appointment only and later transitioned into a full-fledged retail shop.

"We had zero expectations but our growth has remained steady since day one," Pontillo noted. "We love meeting our customers and hearing their thoughts." In fact, some of their best-selling scents, like the popular Tomato-Mint candle, were inspired by customer requests.

Today, Catskills Candle Studio offers 34 custom scents, including 10 for diffusers, with customer favorites like Campfire + Fir, Blue Spruce + Snow, Black Pepper + Birch, and Teakwood + Tobacco. Their products, priced at $30 for nine-ounce candles and $50 for 16-ounce versions, strike a balance between luxury and affordability. "We've kept prices guilt-free because we want people to enjoy a quality product without the luxury price tag," Pontillo said.

Their diffusers retail for $26 and are available in 10 scent combinations, including White Sage + Lavender, Rose + Sandalwood, and Cedarwood + Patchouli.

The candles are crafted using U.S.-grown soy wax, blended with essential and fragrance oils to achieve rich, clean scents. Production Manager Casey Farrell explained that essential oils alone don't burn strongly, so they're carefully infused with fragrance oils. "Every scent goes through rigorous testing and certification," Farrell said.

The studio prides itself on collaborations with local businesses, such as Scribner's Lodge, which features its signature Teakwood + Tobacco scent in all rooms, and Hort & Pott in Freehold, where candles are poured into handcrafted concrete vessels. Their candles are also available at Sundry., a local business owned by Sydney Frazier. Pontillo explained that they were in just one other store in Tannersville because they didn't want to saturate the area with their products.

Their candles are now carried in 40+ stores across six states: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the State of Washington, Massachusetts, and Florida, with recent expansions in shops in New York City and beyond. During their best year, they shipped their candles to 44 states. "This year alone, we've shipped to 38 different states," Pontillo said, crediting their steady approach to growth. "We've seen businesses expand too quickly and fail to meet demand. We want to ensure we grow sustainably." Pontillo expects to ship to additional states due to the holiday season.

Beyond retail, Catskills Candle Studio offers candle-making workshops, providing a hands-on experience for locals and visitors. Participants learn the art of pouring soy wax, selecting scents, and crafting their own candles. "It's always fun to see the unique combinations people come up with," Farrell said.

Soy wax is delivered in flakes, which makes it easier to melt. The wax is heated to 187 degrees, and then the scented oils are stirred in until the wax cools to around 135 degrees, which aids the chemical reaction and infusion between the wax and scented oils.

Pontillo added that experimentation is a cornerstone of their work. "Not every combination works,” Pontillo said. Their preference for earthy tones like fir, cedar, and Teakwood continues to guide their creations.

Employing one full-time and two part-time staff members, the studio remains a family-driven business with the community at its heart. Whether through partnerships with local shops like Briars and Brambles Books in Windham or their presence at farmer's markets and events like Windham's Autumn Affair, the Catskills Candle Studio continues to light up lives. For more information or to shop their products, visit www.catskillscandlestudio.com or call (518) 203-3181.