A Pandemic-Era Business Venture

Ryan House Candles co-founders Jill Mitis and Dia Jones had faced recent layoffs and career transitions amid the COVID-19 pandemic when they found themselves in Fort Worth feeling isolated. The two met online, decided to meet up and make a candle. 

Ryan House Candles co-founders, Jill Mitis (left) and Dia Jones (right) have created a cleaner and more sustainable product by developing their own line of fragrances and reusable containers.

They never looked back.

 Mitis and Jones have since married and grown their small candle business into a brand with a passionate local following, focusing on clean, conscious ingredients.  

 The two coined their business name from the historic Ryan Place bungalow where it all began.

 They officially dipped their  toes in the public market in 2021 debuting at Christmas in Cowtown where they made 1,200 candles and sold out almost immediately. At Christmas in Cowtown, they met Ashley Davis, Special Events & Exhibits Manager at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, who saw how special their product was and insisted they come set up shop at the Rodeo. There they connected with Amanda Wear of The Market at Ridglea and set up as vendors within her store. Mitis and Jones began to realize that Ryan House Candles had true potential. 

Ryan House Candles just celebrated its third birthday and is now sold in 400-plus stores nationwide. The couple recently moved into a dedicated manufacturing space and intends to maintain the handcrafted quality that customers have come to know and love.

A Commitment to Health-Conscious Ingredients

Aside from nature-inspired scent blends, like rosemary and sage or honey tonka, Ryan House Candles prioritizes health and wellness. While many mass-produced candles contain phthalates, parabens and other synthetic chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled, Mitis and Jones are conscious of these effects, and this led them to develop their own line of fragrances, free of carcinogens and reproductive toxins.

“We started with a nine-fragrance round-up and focused on various scent profiles,” Mitis says.

 They believe what people breathe should be as safe and clean as the food they eat, making non-toxic ingredients a cornerstone of their brand. Mitis and Jones make their candles using sustainable practices like reusable vessels and cleaner ingredients that prioritize health and wellness for people and pets. 

“We believe in doing better where we can,” Mitis says.

 Mega Growth  

“We know we’re stronger together,” Mitis says, when describing how other Fort Worth small businesses’ support has been integral to their growth. While they don’t have any plans for a brick and mortar, they enjoy the dynamic of working with other small businesses as many of those businesses share environmentally conscious beliefs and are female-led businesses.

A Look Ahead

Moving forward Ryan House Candles plans to expand, albeit thoughtfully. They will continue focusing on wholesale and new product offerings. 

In addition to their Dallas showroom, the brand is opening a new showroom in Atlanta and expanding into Market Streets next year. 

Mitis and Jones are also researching new products such as a clean laundry detergent with sustainable aluminum packaging and refills. Additionally, Central Market will be introducing Ryan House soap and lotion combinations in glass containers toward the end of the year — moves intended to further reduce plastic waste and support conscious consumption.