Behind the Name, Behind the Work

I’m Brendan, and I started making candles in 2019 under the name Pure + Refined Essentials. What started as an interest in creating something of my own quickly became something I wanted to share with others.

I’ve always been drawn to creating things and turning an idea into something real. There was a lot of trial and error — finding the right balance between the amount of fragrance and the amount of soy wax, and testing different fragrance percentages to get the scent strength where I wanted it without overpowering the candle. Wicks aren’t one-size-fits-all, so I tested different wicks with the wax and vessels I was using until I found what worked and gave each candle a consistent, even burn. I took the time to research and understand the materials I was using because I wanted to know exactly what was going into each candle. I didn’t want to just throw together a handmade candle with whatever ingredients were easiest or cheapest and call it finished. I wanted there to be a standard behind what I was making — something I could actually feel good about putting in my own home and eventually putting my name on.

That process is really what shaped the way I look at what I make. I’ve never wanted Jeffrey + Jean to be just another handmade candle with a label slapped on it. There are plenty of those, and that was never what I wanted to create. I wanted there to be a consistent standard behind what I made — something I could be proud to put my name on and genuinely stand behind. If I’m going to spend my time making something, I want to know that I took the time to do it right and that it’s something I would actually want in my own home.

That’s also why I’ve always preferred making in small batches. I like being able to take my time with each batch rather than trying to produce as much as possible at once. It gives me the time to pay attention to the pour, the fragrance, the wick, and the finish of each candle, and to make sure everything meets the standard I’ve set for what I make. I don’t want making more to ever mean doing less.

As the business grew, I took a short break to step back and think about what I wanted Jeffrey + Jean to become. I knew I didn’t want to move away from candles — they’re where everything started — but I wanted more room to create and explore ideas beyond them. That’s when I started experimenting with cement and making my own vessels. What began as an idea for something I could pair with my candles quickly became something I was just as interested in creating on its own. Cement was completely new to me, and there was definitely a learning curve. I had to figure out the materials, the mix, the molds, the finishing, and all the little things that come with making something from scratch. There was plenty of trial and error, but I enjoyed figuring out how to take a simple material and turn it into something functional and lasting.

Making the vessels also got me thinking about what happens to the things we create after their original purpose is over. I liked the idea of making something that could have a life beyond its first use — something that could be reused, repurposed, and carried forward instead of eventually becoming something disposable. That became an important part of why I wanted the vessels to stand on their own, rather than simply being another part of a candle.

Candles are still a huge part of what I love to make, because that’s where all of this started. The vessels just gave me another way to create and another direction to explore. I don’t see the business as moving away from candles. I see it as giving me more room to create collections and make things that can exist beyond a single product.

I want that same standard to carry into everything Jeffrey + Jean becomes. The collections may evolve, and I’ll continue finding new things to make, but I don’t want the standard behind them to change. Whether it’s a candle, a cement vessel, or something I haven’t thought of yet, I want it to feel like it belongs here — made with the same care, thought, and attention to detail.

For me, the best part is taking an idea and figuring out how to bring it to life. I’m constantly learning, usually through a lot of trial and error, and there’s always something I want to try next. I think Jeffrey + Jean will probably always be evolving, but the things I care about won’t. I want to keep making things thoughtfully, keep learning, and keep finding ways to create things that are worth using, keeping, and giving a second life.