Ever caught a whiff of something that transported you to the past? That sensation fuels Jane Bleecker to create scents that capture a specific memory or experience. These might be personal – like the smell of her grandmother’s home in the “Pasadena” scent. Or they might reference pop culture, like the “Room 321” candle inspired by the popular (and provocative) novel “All Fours.”
There’s even a scent honoring music legend Prince. Why? “Because I love him,” explains Bleecker. “I had read somewhere that people said he always smelled so good and [burned] special incense that he had custom made. I was like, ‘I’ve got to get to the bottom of this.” That research birthed the “Weekend Lover” candle.
Bleecker started her career working in public health, but she was always fascinated by the link between mental health and scent and how those connections affect memory and emotions. She began dabbling in scent making in 2016, first selling products including perfumes and body care products at markets then diving into the endeavor full-time. Eventually, she focused on candles and air fresheners and in 2020 rebranded as Hazeltine Scent Co.
Today, the business runs out of a production space in Central City where Bleecker and a small team create scent blends and candles by hand, in small batches. Bleecker prides herself on using a high concentration of natural ingredients in her products and avoiding ingredients like phthalates and parabens to create scents that truly stand apart.
The public agrees. Hazeltine now ships its products to stores around the globe – to England, Australia, Hawaii, and Spain, among other locations (stockists are listed on hazeltinescent.co). Closer to home, just enter the lobby of the Hotel Saint Vincent, for which Bleecker designed a custom scent: “Any time I’ve been there for drinks or whatever, I’m like, ‘Oh, this whole hotel smells like something I made.’”
Next up, Bleecker plans to reintroduce perfumes and personal products (e.g., hand soap, lotion). But the distinguishing feature will remain the meaning behind each aroma: “That’s the whole reason I do it – I like the stories behind scents.”
