Candle store blazes onto Sandusky's scene

SANDUSKY — The flame burns bright for one business recently relocating to Sandusky. Previously operating from Port Clinton, Island Sham Farmhouse now does business out of a downtown storefront, 136 E. Market St., in Sandusky. It's across from the Marketplace Downtown. "This is a better location for us and what we do," owner Julia Nickell said. Nickell began her hand-poured candle business in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "It started due to sheer boredom," she said. "But I have always been an avid candle purchaser, especially from small businesses, and then I started doing research into what was put into candles and finding out there were a lot of toxic things without much disclosure or information." So, in opening her own company, Nickell fully stocked Island Sham's shelves with many candles — 75 different varieties, in fact, ranging from sea salt and sage to seasonal scents — with tons of insight into each item. Among the more notable types: Lemon Cake Memory, which Nickell recreated to smell exactly like lemon cake a dear family friend made for her relatives dating back 80 years ago. "We tell people what is in our products. You can read the labels," she said. "We are very transparent in what we do, and we make sure to be as non-toxic as possible. Every wax product here, we pour ourselves." Island Sham sells only soy-wax candles, "which is a natural element derived from soybeans," said Nickell, noting all candles she offers come from the U.S. Plus she only uses American-based fragrance oils. "It's just way better than paraffin," Nickell said. "Paraffin candles are known to cause cancer, birth defects and other horrible ailments." Beyond selling candles, related products, accessories, flowers from Sweet Pea Flower Truck and jewelry, Island Sham also offers in-person candle-making events. People can pop in when a neon light flashes in a window or schedule a private party with friends. "You can make them from scratch just like what we do," Nickell said. "I want people to feel that they are part of a family. We are not just selling candles and candle products. We are about creating camaraderie and friendship and family. It's important people connect, come together and bond." People can visit Island Sham seven days a week: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. "Candles are really special, and we hope to create a special feeling with people here," Nickell said. What's in a name Regarding the name Island Sham Farmhouse: • The part "island" — It refers to Catawba Island, where Nickell lived for 12 years and started the business. • The part "sham" — It refers to Catawba Island not truly being an island anymore. • The part "farmhouse" — It refers to, at the time when creating the business, Nickell living in a home some called a farmhouse, but it really wasn't, hence another "sham."