Light my fire

Marlene Mansour had been a stay-at-home mom and volunteer and was ready for her next act when she wandered into an Urban Wick Candle Bar in Ohio, and she suddenly knew what she wanted to do. “I said I found my thing,” she asked. “Who doesn’t love a candle?” In early to mid-July, Mansour, along with her daughter Elise Mansour, will open Urban Wick Candle Bar at 172 N. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, allowing visitors to create their own scented hand-poured candles. She explained the location is not a franchise, but a partner store with the owner. In a friendly and calm setting, each person gets to create their own candle by choosing from 90 different scents, each from naturally derived fragrance oils. Moving along the candle bar, you choose your own jar to put the candle in from their selection, with scent designers guiding you as to what works best. Natural hot soy wax and a cotton wick is used. “You pour your own candle,” Mansour explained. While it sets for about an hour-and-a-half, she said it’s an opportunity for customers to browse other Birmingham shops, sip a latte or cocktail, or grab a bite to eat. “Then we’ll bring it over to you wherever you are, or you can come back and pick it up.” In addition, with a little notice, the shop can offer one-of-a-kind parties for five people or more. Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Lisa Brody. Send items for consideration to LisaBrody@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.