When Arielle Ricci started Nellamoon back in 2015, her mission was simple: help make the world a better place to live.
Fast forward five years to a time when we can all use a little extra light, and Ricci is continuing to bring those values to fruition, one candle at a time.
Growing up watching her father build his own businesses, Ricci caught the entrepreneurial bug at a young age. By the time she was five years old, Ricci was venturing into a business of her own—selling bunnies made out of hand towels in her neighborhood. Both creative and savvy, she knew she wanted to use her talents to make a positive difference in the lives of others. When Ricci and her husband both lost their mothers to cancer, honoring their legacies through candles felt like a perfect fit and Nellamoon was born.
“I wanted to do something that would bring tribute to how they lived their lives with such love, grace, and kindness,” says Ricci. “They dedicated their lives to helping people shine, and our candles serve as a reminder to let your light shine and live your best life each time you light them.”
The production of Nellamoon candles began just as close to home as the inspiration behind the business. In fact, when Ricci created Nellamoon in 2015, she was making candles in her own kitchen. After about three years she scaled up to her garage for more space; and as the demand for candles continued to grow to the point where she couldn’t fit any more material in her garage, she moved into her current Nashville warehouse space. There, each candle is hand-poured using all-natural soy wax with no chemicals, dyes, or irritants. The process also ensures a clean burn and the heavenly signature scents for which the company has become known.
Though Nellamoon has grown tremendously since its kitchen-era infancy, Ricci continues to be incredibly involved in all aspects of the business; especially when it comes to finding creative ways to uplift others.
“I get inspired by nature, traveling, art, music, and really just being present and loving life's little moments,” she says. “I love to create meaningful and joyful experiences for our customers. When a candle's unique name and beautiful aroma can make you feel uplifted or at peace with any situation you may be going through, I think that's a job well done.”
Ricci is also passionate about honoring the legacies of her lost loved ones and extending the company’s philosophy beyond the candles themselves by donating a portion of profits to several charities that align with Nellamoon’s mission.
“We believe giving is one of the most powerful things you can do, so we strive to give back daily. Our mothers dedicated their lives to giving back and we promised them we would do the same,” she says.
Ricci believes that giving back happens in various forms. Nellamoon recently teamed up with a local organization that supports women in need, and Ricci cherishes the opportunity to provide jobs for them. She never stops searching for new ways to make the world a better place, especially when the necessity for inspiration is at an all-time high.
“During uncertain times we really need to dig deep and find ways to see the light in the dark,” she says. “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of that candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared; in fact, it increases and multiplies. We want to spread positivity and watch it exponentially grow.”