As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mary Winkenwerder.
Mary Winkenwerder is the founder of BON LIFE, Premium Wax Products, a brand dedicated to creating high-quality, artfully crafted wax goods that elevate everyday moments. With the tagline “It’s time for a new flame,” Mary blends craftsmanship, style, and sensory experience into each product, delivering candles and wax creations that burn beautifully and transform any space.
Her vision is simple yet powerful—to reimagine wax products as more than functional items, making them a source of comfort, atmosphere, and personal expression. Whether for relaxation, celebration, or gifting, Premium Wax Products embodies Mary’s passion for quality, design, and the subtle luxury of a perfect flame.
In this interview, she discusses her entrepreneurial evolution, from early struggles to the achievements that shaped her online business success.
What inspired your leap into entrepreneurship, and what sparked the idea behind your current venture?
At the age of 12, I launched my first business to finance my art studies. Coming from a military family with three active-duty military parents forced me to think outside the box given to me to accomplish goals. I resided in central Europe, where my stepdad served in the military. We were not wealthy, but we micromanaged our finances and optimized the currency exchange rate to live a quality life regularly. My stepdad’s family lost everything due to WW2 and relocated to the USA; my bio father, who lived very well, had a similar situation returning from Mexico to the USA growing up, and my mother was raised in extreme poverty. I fully understand the value of money and situations to the point it’s almost neurotic for me. Nothing is wasted. Up to a certain point, my parents paid for all the art study trips, allowing me to travel and study with friends and other familiar faces I felt safe with. The one trip that turned the tide and changed everything was Vienna. I pitched the trip to my dad, who told me that they were saving for our return trip to the US, and I could go to Vienna and study or not have something I needed when we got back to the States. I did not express my frustration overtly; however, informing my school friends that I would not be participating in the trip was quite disheartening. Instantly, I got to work coming up with ideas that could generate money and made an inventory of my working assets. I had an awesome 10-speed bike with basket connection hardware. I had clean baskets and flip-top jars and parchment paper. I had a captive schoolmate clientele who loved German sour gummy candy they could not get on the base. It was the first sunny day of a long, wet German spring, and I asked my mother for $20 and told her what it was for. She gladly handed it over, and off I went to my supplier to purchase $20 worth of German sour gummy candy. When I got home, I reviewed the daily exchange rate from German marks to US dollars and set my price. School was busy with studies and selling candy the next day. The next day I sold the entire stock at a 100% profit, then paid my mother back her $20. She was amazed and congratulated me. We did not share the story with Daddy until we were halfway through dinner. He too was amazed.
From that point, I continued my process while diligently monitoring the currency exchange rate for any fluctuations. After about two months of solid diligence, I was prepared to resume my art studies with local and out-of-country trips to study some of the outstanding artistic masters in Europe. I recall studying Albrecht Dürer, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and others. In addition, I developed an affinity for Indonesian spring rolls that, to this day, I cannot shake! That spring I clearly remember my mother being in Paris with a friend, Daddy was in England and then Italy with the military, and I was in Amsterdam studying art. What an incredibly long dinner conversation when everyone returned from their adventures! In summary, necessity was the driving force behind invention.
Fast forward to 2023, 2024. Both my dads passed away after incredibly full lives, some could only hope to live. Wading through the shock of back-to-back deaths, I found solace in the fact that I come from a multicultural family, grew up with extensive multicultural surroundings in daily life, experienced flavors, scents, and textures from various parts of the world, enjoyed candles and cosmetics, have been a wellness enthusiast from the beginning, and have wonderful childhood memories involving various members of my family. For me, these events were marked by scent and light. I had so much to be grateful for. As the layers of despair peeled off, I found myself recounting scents in relation to experiences throughout life. These were the moments that defined certain points in life that stood out boldly from most others. After surviving a pandemic and losing both my dads, I still have so much to be grateful for; this gratitude includes heritage, endless culture, food exploration, an incredibly solid work ethic, a quality life, their time investment developing my life, and their caring. Looking through relics tying me back to my dads, I remembered my biological dad calling me Bon, which means good in Spanish. He always told me that most times, I was a good kid and did not give him grief.
Up to the point I had to start helping my mother take care of my dad before his death, and more so the house and property, I was ramping up my press presence to launch a different type of consumer product line. Consistently for an entire year I engaged in press opportunities as a contributing writer and blogger, totalling over 40 collaborations for the entire year. This number includes syndication in the US and internationally. Out of nowhere, my dad’s health worsened to the point he could not walk on his own. I had to face the fact that this may be the beginning of his end, and it was. This break in time forced me to realize that a different route may be better in terms of a product launch, one that pulled together all the good times in my life experienced with various members of my family. If I enjoyed positive moments in life associated with scent and light, others may do so as well. The more I researched, the more information I found to support my theory. For the time being, the other business is still an entity, just one on hold. After undergoing grief and loss therapy, changing my direction significantly helped me heal from the loss of my two dads.
There are many candle and wax products in today’s consumer market. In fact, the market is skewed to meet the various needs of a well-defined, multi-tiered, and highly diverse financial consumer demographic; in other words, there is something for everyone, and in candle offerings, people buy candles of all price points in exploration of what they truly desire. This genre of consumer tends to form bonds with certain scents and wax blends. These scents are measured by the value of fragrance and wax quality versus price, and then there is the layer of emotional connection involved. Understanding these facts and knowing what I sought, it was time to get busy. Producing quality natural wax products that retain their original scent (if scented) and burn a long time was my goal.
Candles hold special meaning for each person who experiences them. Scented or unscented, they mark moments in life that amplify positive emotional experiences. Candles are the one product in life that draws perfect strangers together in heightened agreement or pleasant disagreement. Openly discussing candle and wax product experiences is a space where people provide insight into their character without saying much. These simple wax and scent experiences place us all on equal footing almost instantly. Candle and wax product experiences are good intentions brought to life in real time.
What core problem does your business solve, and how does your approach stand out from others in the space?
We are a premium natural wax products company. I love the idea of natural wax products, but I was unable to connect with products that allowed for longer than normal burn time and enhanced fragrance experiences. It took almost a year to develop a wax combination that would allow this to happen in vessel use. My time spent in skincare, cosmetic, and spa spaces is a vital part of this new business makeup. Yes, we offer customization!
What were some of the toughest obstacles you faced early on, and how did you navigate through them?
Paying for extra educational expenses led to starting my first business at age 12. Connecting with quality sourcing leads to creative discovery; spending extra time in discovery yields many viable results. Creating a wax blend I could present to the general public that performed up to the standard I set took a while longer than anticipated. Right when I thought I had it all figured out, the official launch date was pushed back another 1-3 months. By diving into the middle of the problem and thoroughly testing my ideas, I developed a product that I like and believe others will appreciate as well.
- Unofficial mentorship and honoring what exists. Manners matter and be reasonable where you can.
While exploring my way through videos to learn about my chosen industry and how I want to move in this space, I came across one particular mentor. They, like some candle producers, have incredible media platforms that serve educational purposes on many fronts. The founder said they weren’t good at marketing and wish they had been from the start. Throughout my career, marketing has been a strong suit of mine, yielding great rewards, so I watched a few videos to obtain a fix on all they offered in terms of information. Connecting with an unofficial mentor from a different and younger media source helped me better understand that I was on track in a positive way. My self-assessment revealed that while I wasn’t always perfect, I was consistently on track and generating powerful results. As I further explored the offerings of this unofficial mentor, I discovered that we both had a candle called Brunch or something similar. Out of common courtesy I changed my candle name to BRUNCH THINGS, end of story. Sincerely, I hope that one day I can do something solid to help their business. Another similar situation involved a media publisher who published me twice over the past 5 years up to that point. They interviewed a book author with a book of the same name as one of my candle names. Without hesitation, I mapped out how I could legally change my product name while retaining the meaning of the name as it pertained to the experience one may have when enjoying the candle. The new name is similar but so much better for my product and brand. Will I do this for everyone? No, not at all. I am prepared to hold the line where it concerns my brand. Will I do it for someone I have worked with successfully? Possibly. In these two cases, I acted without hesitation because the media sources had previously elevated my profile in positive and beneficial ways. Again, manners matter, and be reasonable where you can.
When the going gets tough, what keeps you grounded and motivated to keep pushing forward?
I have a pure passion for my projects. Understanding that consistency is key on all fronts. Meeting personal needs. My flexibility. Making my bed. Breaking out of my mainstream to enrich my thoughts from time to time. Nature walks. Engaging scent. Yoga. Recognizing unhealthy or toxic noise and avoiding it completely is crucial. Educational pursuits: having a solid business background does not prepare anyone for today’s business climate. This being said, I am in business school learning about the educational basics as well as more about today’s business climate from an educational POV. The collective experience places terms with actions in order to better communicate needs in general. Developing this common language is priceless.
What daily habits or non-negotiable routines help you stay productive, focused, and creatively energized as a founder?
Exercising. Tea, coffee, and electrolyte water, not in this order. Experiencing essential oils regularly. Eating well while understanding I can try new flavors and textures. I diligently adhere to non-negotiable lists. Setting reasonable goals. Meditation. Nature walks. Observing and feeding wild animals at times. Understanding that sometimes doing the laundry is considered a vacation from the work norm. Courtesy and good manners? Yes, always!
What’s been the most powerful growth lever for acquiring new customers or expanding your client base?
Affiliation and referrals, in addition to consistent forward-moving productivity on all fronts, have always been mainstay practices in my movements. Bending before breaking for balance. Good service is always in style.
What branding or marketing move made the biggest difference in elevating your business?
In terms of making the biggest difference, understanding the core communication components of public relations and general online amplification, consistency is key here. Understanding that while I can do some of it, I cannot do all of it and need help from time to time.
How do you personally define success, both as an entrepreneur and as a human being?
As an entrepreneur, there are various ways to define and measure success. Emotional intelligence is important.
As a human being, maintaining a belief system you can live with that does not include hurting others is a good place to start. This is a must in any wellness and wellness product space. Always keep moving forward. Always pursue personal and other interests.
Can you share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you still carry with you today?
Always research everything pertaining to your business, even if it does not seem important at the time. This gives a fully comprehensive insight into your industry and everything encompassing. When I started my candle business, I skipped one crucial research element. This one element forced me out of an accidental one-track mindset and into better understanding offerings and positioning. As I dove deeper into market demographics and psychology, it became clear to me what I needed to offer.
What’s your best advice for someone just starting out—especially first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or uncertain?
- Create an organization system and stay organized.
- This simple movement phases out miscommunication while moving your projects forward.
- Learn to bend and how before breaking.
How do you approach risk and innovation in your decision-making process?
Understand that a product costs money to manufacture. Micromanaging the numbers is paramount for overall success. Start mapping things out immediately when the idea strikes. If you produce consumer products, sourcing is paramount; sourcing costs are equally important; always keep your eye on the ball and understand that costs shift from time to time. Adjust accordingly. You can create that product you crave, but you may have to do it in a different way according to sourcing and market need.
If you lead a team, how do you foster a strong culture of trust, collaboration, and growth?
Consistency in acceptable common courtesy and solid forward productivity actions is a fantastic way to start. Right now, I’m a one-person shop. Maintaining these consistencies is important for my brand across the board.
What are the top 5 mindset shifts or practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and grow your confidence as an entrepreneur?
- If you’re producing, keep moving forward. Do it quietly if you must, but keep producing.
- Always revert to something positive in your collective life in order to ground you; my steady date is connecting with Shel Silverstein poetry, usually! Yes, I read other authors, too!
- Be open to trying new things that do not force you out of your value system.
- Learn how you can bend so you don’t break.
- Live like no one now so you can live like no one tomorrow.
If you could spark a global movement or mission through your work, what would it be—and why does it matter to you?
Focus on what’s important, not on all the noise around you; burn the noise of life away with a simple flame! Focus on becoming centered and solid. A nurturing product is a powerful and inspirational company; find your scent(s) and don’t let go! Safety first! When we connect with ourselves, we do more ; we produce better in life.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding belief that shapes how you lead and live every day?
Good manners, always. Solid work ethic and gratitude, always. All three of my parents came from extremely unique socioeconomic backgrounds. Both my dads educated me on the rigors of living well, then losing it all at some point due to changes in the world as they knew it. Sometimes changes in world history are not kind to those within reach. They also told me that we should be grateful for what we have: the food on our table, the clothes on our back, the roof over our heads, and our satisfactory health. My biological father was born in Texas and raised in Mexico in an oil villa with his family. His mother, at one time, was given a courtesy title from a European royal court based on her father’s service to that country. Excellent manners kept them in good graces with those around them, while service (A.K.A. work) kept their titles current. My stepfather and his family were refugees approaching the end of WW2 and relocated to the US under a sponsorship program through a Protestant denomination church in Virginia. Courtesy, good manners, and gratitude, coupled with a solid work ethic, pulled the family out of extreme poverty after war loss into self-sufficiency and a better quality of living. Later in life he joined the military and became a decorated war hero.
In my opinion, he’s a total ninja with one heck of a backstory. My mother, from the southern US, was raised in extreme poverty. Being from the South, manners and courtesy are a mainstay in daily life. This, coupled with her gratitude, tireless work ethic, and constant curiosity, led to her elevation, first academically, then professionally in publishing, and in other spaces. I am fully convinced based on her personal background that there is nothing this woman cannot do! I’ve seen her rewire an Italian onyx telephone for immediate use one morning while cooking a three-course German meal from scratch throughout the day for dinner that evening.
Yes, the phone worked well, and dinner was fabulous. My son, who worked summers through high school in addition to his school work and activities and who worked two jobs through college, fully understands the value of working hard, consistently, and smart. While excellent manners are not always heralded in the mainstream, my son manages to keep them in style; he is courteous wherever he goes and grateful for the support he has and the life he has created. Sometimes I drive the first used truck he bought and paid for on his own because it reminds me of how solid he is in his values and how proud I am of him for upholding these values. Me, in part, I’m grateful to be from such a diverse family, a culturally enriched family with many worldly experiences. When my family members are polite and respectful, we are just being ourselves, not flirting.
Where can our audience connect with you or follow your journey online?
You can follow me on Love Bon Life or connect on Instagram.
