A Guelph-based company is one step closer to a provincial award.
The Scented Market is a finalist for the retailer spotlight award at the second annual Ontario Made awards, a celebration of Ontario manufacturers and retailers.
The Ontario Made program is a branch of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
After being initially nominated late last year, over 17,000 votes were cast to determine 12 finalists in four award categories.
Scented Market made the top three in the retailer spotlight category, along with Newmarket-based International Safety and Woodslee-based Sauve's Country Market.
Scented Market began in Guelph in 2018 as an eco-friendly candle company, wanting to find an alternative to candles containing toxic properties.
"I started out making healthier food choices for my family and buying healthier body products," owner Kristy Miller told GuelphToday in 2019. "I love home décor so I figured why not make a healthier candle as well."
It has grown into a brand selling products such as sprays, bath salts, bubble bath and more.
She has also expanded into four storefront locations, including Guelph and Fergus, while products are also available online.
Miller appeared on the show Dragons' Den in November, where she accepted an offer for $250,000 for 15 per cent of her business, with Arlene Dickinson and Michele Romanow.
She told the dragons from selling candles, she made $2.3 million in sales in 2021.
The Ontario Made awards will be held virtually Feb. 22.
