Melissa Buesing-Glick loved scented candles and lotions, but she didn’t love the fragrance headaches she got from many mass-produced brands. Environmentally conscious and a curious DIYer, she began researching and testing various ingredients for fun. The result was a line of eco-friendly, hand-poured soy beeswax candles, Lucky Honeybee. Nearly 10 years after those first experiments, Lucky Honeybee has branched out from artisan candles to natural handmade soap and apothecary goods.

Buesing-Glick opened Lucky Honeybee Goods + Gifts last summer, in the Heights section of Jersey City. It features the Lucky Honeybee line as well as a selection of apothecary goods, eco-friendly items, greeting cards and handcrafted wares by local makers, including tote bags, incense and housewares. Among the most popular candles is Japanese cherry blossom, blended with hints of magnolia, sandalwood and sweet tonka, she says.

Last month she added something new to the shop: a liquid soap refill bar. “Customers can refill their containers with eco-friendly hand soap and dish soap, two of the biggest culprits of household plastic waste,” she says. “We’ve got an eye for the environment on every aspect of our practice. From domestically produced wax, to ethically sourced oils, to choosing recycled content for our packaging, we pay attention to the details so you don’t have to. We know life is hard; we make stuff that makes you feel good.”

Location: 487 Palisade Ave., Jersey City, NJ. For more information, visit TheLuckyHoneybee.com.
For information about wholesale candles or apothecary goods, email [email protected] or call 551-233-9030.