From the UMD dorms to Midwest retailers: Lakehouse Candle Co.

Lakehouse Candle Co. “Lake Superior” Candle on Lake Superior. Photo by Hanna McGuire

The story of Lakehouse Candle Co. begins in Griggs Hall at UMD. Business partners Adriana Ernst and Hannah Knutson first met when they became college roommates. Both of them lost their jobs during the pandemic in 2020 and thought starting this business would be the right time to take a risk, so Lakehouse Candle Co. was created. What started out as making candles for family and friends turned into wholesaling and customizing candles for lake lovers all over the Midwest. 

“We started in 2020, so it was a pandemic company, and my business partner and I had both lost out jobs from the pandemic, and then that was in the springtime of 2020, and then I just had, honestly, thought of random business ideas and talked about them,” Ernst said. 

For the first five to six months, Lakehouse Candle Co. worked on finding their audience and brand. They knew they wanted to create a high-end product that had clean ingredients. Ernst knew making candles inspired by lakes was a no-brainer.  To make their product clean, the company opted for woodwicks, and soy based candle wax.

“Everyone in Minnesota just takes so much pride in their lakes,” Ernst explained. 

“We wanted it to be a more of a high end product, and we really wanted it to be clean product, so we tested with different fragrance oil and wax and wicks, so our products are made with all wood wicks, and is all natural soy, so it allows for a longer burn time and cleaner,” Ernst said. “We wanted it to be something that was a clean candle, behind just a lake based candle.”

Starting out during a global pandemic was no easy task, as it was hard to find suppliers and products. They had to do lots of research and make many adjustments to their product. As the business grows, it has gotten easier to get supplies from their online suppliers. 

The process of making the candles has also become easier over time. Ernst orders the jars by the palette and the fragrance in large quantities to get the price down. Before the wax is poured into the candles, each jar must get a warning label placed on the bottom and a woodwick put in. This process has come a long way. In the beginning, she would hand pour 20 candles at a time and now is able to pour 200 candles at a time with a wax machine.

The company was mentioned on Twin Cities Live only a month into the endeavor.

“Back in 2020, our former producer, Brittany, mentioned Lakehouse Candle Company on the show and here's what we call the power of TCL” , said Twin Cities Live reporter Kelli Hanson on an episode from November 13, 2023. “They moved into their own office space, but they also sold over 8,000 dollars in four days.”

A big moment for Ernst was when Duluth Pack started retailing Lakehouse Candles. “A huge moment for me, personally, was when I reached out to Duluth Pack and they responded and said that they wanted to carry our products, and it was just such a full circle moment for me because I’ve just always respected Duluth and absolutely love Duluth Pack,” Ernst said. 

Lakehouse Candle Co. has had lots of success in the stores they retail, including all eight Patina locations in and around the Twin Cities area. Woodbury Patina store manager, Amanda Rydberg said “Lakehouse candles are one of my favorite items to recommend to a customer looking for a gift. Especially when they are not sure what the person likes. The candles have a neutral scent and customers love the names and that they are Minnesota made.” 

The company has some big changes coming up as they recently relocated from Eden Prairie, MN to Waconia, MN, which is Ernst’s hometown. This change will give Lakehouse Candle Co. the opportunity to sell directly to their customers by having a small storefront in the front of their production facility. Ernst also hopes to go to more art shows and markets to have more face-to-face interactions with the customers, instead of being all behind the scenes. On Saturday, May 10, 2025 Lakehouse Candle Co. opens its storefront in downtown Waconia.