Mark Towns and Stephen Pearlman started Edgewater Candles in 2016 and today it’s grown into a full-fledged, prospering small business with three full-time employees – and abundance of pride.
Mark and store manager Allie hold down the fort at their boutique in Edgewater, where they also teach candle-making classes. Stephen runs production, shipping and receiving out of a loft workspace in Evanston. Their third “location” is none other than, brace yourself, a 1969 VW Candle Camper that hits street festivals, craft shows … and parades.
Including the 2025 Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29.
“We’re thrilled to be part of the Chicago Pride Parade, to share our queer joy with thousands of paradegoers,” Towns said. “We deck out our VW Candle Camper with two giant flags: one that says “TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS” and another that reads “YOU ARE LOVED,” both beautifully designed by Transpainter.
“This year, we’ll be handing out thousands of cedar lavender-scented bubble wands and rainbow hand fans. The air is going to smell like a dream.”
Towns added: “Pride Month is pure joy – a celebration of authenticity, love and unity in all its vibrant forms. Being in the parade and feeling that wave of love from the crowd is pure magic. For hours, we’re celebrated, cheered and seen — that feeling is unmatched. To everyone clapping, dancing and shouting love from the sidelines: we feel it, we carry it and we love you right back.”
Towns has “cherished memories” of walking in past Pride Parades from 20-plus years ago. He’s also watched the June tradition from the sidelines.
“Our team is small but mighty: Stephen, Allie and I will be joined by a few family members and friends from the Floriography Fellows. We’re partnering with Free Mom Hugs, one of the most heartwarming groups, a joyful crew of moms giving out hugs and love to anyone who needs it,” Towns said.
The Pride Candle Series from Edgewater Candles raises funds for The Trevor Project, and the company debuted a new line of mixtape pride pins. “We also make neighborhood pride shirts, available in 100+ Chicago neighborhood names,” Towns said.
“We began with candles, but our obsession with scenting life has led us into new territories: soaps, incense, car diffusers, wearable fragrances and more. If it can smell good, we’re into it. Each month we release a new scent in our Vault collection, so there’s always something fresh and unexpected to experience.”
In 2020, Edgewater Candles was recognized as an Illinois Made Maker by the Illinois Office of Tourism. Since, the company has collaborated on candle projects with such partners as Del Sur Bakery, Shea Couleé, Feld Restaurant, The Happy Hour Shop, and more.
“People might be surprised to know just how DIY we are: we take all of our own product photos, design our t-shirts and enamel pins, built our website from scratch, and even did all the renovations for our storefront ourselves. We’re always laser-cutting a new sign for the store or self-producing a new video,” Towns said. “We’ve become known for some delightfully-specific scents, such as Tomato Leaf, No. 2 Pencil, Champagne and Honeycrisp. People constantly tell us how shockingly true-to-life they are.”
For more information: edgewatercandles.com
Article written by Ross Forman
