Essentially Charlie started in 2018 with a deep-rooted eco-friendly vision that prioritized environmental sustainability and our well-being. Essentially Charlie is based in Brooklyn, NY, and is owned and operated by Charlie Ferrusi and Nick Ursiak.

For years, Charlie was frustrated with the chemical fragrance industry, “greenwashing,” price gouging, and corruption in the agricultural sector. He entered the candle market offering something unique, safe, and affordable. Charlie is a public health professional with a deep passion for environmental justice, consumer product safety, health policy, and human rights. He holds a BS in Health Education from SUNY Brockport and an MPH in Community Health from New York University.

With a health-conscious nature, love for candles, and desire to protect the environment, Charlie developed a durable and environmentally conscious wax blend made with coconut oil and beeswax and scented exclusively with pure essential oils. Essentially Charlie started selling candles on Etsy, and to date, we have proudly fulfilled over 6,000 orders. Essentially Charlie has since branched out, offering wholesale candles to restaurants, coffee shops, yoga studios, plant shops, salons, and gift shops. We have also accepted select bulk orders for weddings, college events, and company parties. Still, the most rewarding opportunity to sell our candles has been through flea markets and events throughout New York.

In 2019, Charlie teamed up with his partner, Nick Ursiak, to support product photography and enhance our graphic design capacity. Nick is an illustrator and designer and develops every candle label with colorful and minimalist elements. As the business grew, Nick became instrumental to the continued success and growth of the company, and he later joined as a co-owner. Nick and Charlie live together and operate Essentially Charlie out of their apartment in Brooklyn while also maintaining full-time jobs in their respective fields. Nick and Charlie proudly hand-pour and ship every candle and take full responsibility for all operations.

Essentially Charlie has launched distinct collections of candles in five years, including a signature, Winter, citronella, coffee, crystal, LGBTQ, and political line. To date, we have sold over 18,000 candles to customers in every state and multiple countries. We believe our success is attributed to the quality and affordability of our product, the positive social and environmental impact of our business model, and our unwavering communication of our mission to customers.

Charlie’s first candle was made with coconut oil, beeswax, and essential oils. This vision holds to this day, and every candle has been made the same ever since. Essentially Charlie candles are affordable and made solely with sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. We do not use soy, paraffin, or synthetic fragrances in our candles. Our company values complete ingredient transparency, which is why we detail every essential oil used to make up our blends. Standardized labeling of candles is not enforced or regulated, resulting in candle companies participating in the act of “greenwashing,” which is the process of deceptively marketing a product as environmentally friendly, conveying a false impression of the product’s actual environmental impact.

Curating a candle with coconut oil, beeswax, essential oils, and wooden or hemp wicks results in a candle that is expensive to produce. Regardless, we are committed to offering our candles at a reasonable price point and refuse to engage in the unfair act of “price gouging.” We believe that all people should have access to non-toxic and healthy candles in their homes no matter their financial circumstances.

We have used our company to uplift local communities, progressive causes, and non-profit organizations. We have had the opportunity to collaborate with Plant Kween (feat. in InStyle Magazine), Welcome to the Jungle Home, Junior Mintt, Pisces in Orbit Crystals, Diana Davis, Supernatural Coffee, and Lil' Deb's Oasis (feat. in Bon Appétit Magazine). Our collaborations were unique opportunities to co-design labels and curate new scents while also building community and supporting our friends and neighbors. Proceeds from candle sales have supported progressive political campaigns and black and LGBTQ-led organizations such as Audre Lorde Project, Familia:TQLM, GLITS, In Our Own Voices, and Fair Fight Action.

After five years, Essentially Charlie made its mark in the candle industry. We have received over one thousand positive reviews on Etsy and continue to hear through messages and in-person experiences about how our candles have impacted our customers’ lives. We are excited and lucky to be able to share a piece of our creations with you. Thank you for supporting Essentially Charlie.