In 2018, Patrick Jones stood in his fourth-floor Manhattan walk-up, surrounded by DIY candle-making supplies. Living in the crowded city with limited access to nature, he had a simple idea: if you can’t get out to nature, bring nature to you.
“If you had told me in my twenties that I would start a home fragrance business from my tiny Manhattan apartment, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Jones recalled. But what began with a simple candle-making kit evolved into Outdoor Fellow, a growing family-run business now reaching homes across America.
Through trial and error, Jones developed unique fragrances that captured specific outdoor moments — from hiking in upstate New York to quiet walks in city parks. Using a natural coconut and apricot wax blend, his hand-poured candles deliver stronger scents than typical soy alternatives, each one designed to transport users to cherished outdoor experiences.
A simple candle-making kit evolved into Outdoor Fellow, a growing family-run business reaching homes across America.
Like many small businesses, Outdoor Fellow found its path to growth in the Amazon store, where more than 60% of sales come from independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses. Amazon has helped Jones expand well beyond his Manhattan roots, bringing his nature-inspired scents to customers nationwide.
The company maintains its founding values, with each candle still handcrafted in the USA using reusable rocks glasses.
“Our goal is to help people take a break from today’s modern distractions,” Jones said. “Whether through a walk in the park or the scent of a forest in their living room, we want to inspire people to reconnect with the natural world.”