About Us

Our Mission 

Our mission is to bring joy to others through olfactory senses (while celebrating being the unique beings that we all are). 

Life is evolution. Life is learning about yourself and from each other on our own individual journey.  The mission of this shop has changed over the years as I have changed as a person. Serpent & Flame started as a hobby almost a decade ago: something to do to fill time and to celebrate all these fandoms I adore with people who also love them as much as I do. 

Thanks to the inspiration, knowledge and passion you all have given me, I've learned more about myself and what my ultimate goal is with the shop. The goal? Simply put, to bring joy.

Through your stories over the years, you made me realize that you are the reason I do this. I've be told accounts of our products bringing comfort through hard times, being an inspiration in creative times and reminding you of the things you love whether it's a book, tv show, movie or character.

The fact that I know our products send a few more kernels of happy into the world makes this job the best job ever and I'm honored you choose S&F to join you on your journey.

Love to you all!
Keep being your beautiful selves!
-Andi

 

 

Our History

You know the drill! Once a nerd, always a nerd. Amanda ("Andi") started her love for fandoms like many of you: as child being introduced to the likes of Star Wars, Star Trek, the X-Men and books, books, books. She also has always had a love of artistic and crafty endeavors which has helped created a perfect storm of inspiration, ambition and determination to make art a living.  (It also didn't help that she had wanted to own her own business since graduating high school.)

After moving to the Chicago-land area in 2013, Andi needed a hobby and started putting her designs online.  As interest grew, she started bringing her designs to local comic cons and branching out to various cities including the Supernatural convention circuit. The SPN fandom family helped propel things forward allowing her to quit the corporate world in 2016 and turn Nerdtastic into a full time job.

2017 also brought a small re-naming. "42 Nerdtastic Place" was chosen because it sounded like a place that you would go to celebrate those things you were passionate about. To help build community, we also opened our Facebook group to bring like minded individuals together.  (Later in 2022, we launched our Book Club as well.)

As the shop expanded and found it's niche, candles, Andi started thinking about what she really wanted from the business.  It was no longer a hobby: it was her livelihood and career.  After many months of pondering on what to do, the decision was made to make one final rebrand. In 2020, "Serpent & Flame Candle Co." was born. The mission is to create scents for the wayward, witchy, weird and wondrous people we have met on the road and those we have yet to meet on the path forward.

Gratitude and Thanks

Thank YOU! This shop is a work of love and passion for those interests that excite us.  Your constant support whether it's at comic cons or on social media keeps things going.  Without you, Andi could not be a work at home mom to three amazing children: Noelle, Livia and Killian.  Time is precious when it comes to kids and we appreciate everything you let us do daily.  These kiddos thank you too.

I also want to say thank you to our team who help me behind the scenes.  Yes, Serpent & Flame is 80% a one woman show; however, that other 20% is crucial to our success as things have grown.  So if you see any of these helpers at a convention, live streams or on our social media, be sure to give them a high five and let them know they're awesome.

-Kaelyn, my virtual assistant/booth brains/facebook mod/sounding board/keeper of my sanity
-Nicole, my order pulling and packing guru/occasional kid taxi
-Liv, my favorite middle child/candle jar finisher/sometimes quality control/junior booth brains
-Noelle, my favorite oldest child/convention gopher/safety sealer
-Bianca, the yin to my yang during live streams/facebook mod/sounding board
-Bianca, Deanna, Jami & Kaelyn: The Mod Squad who keeps the Facebook Group & Book Club running
-Ashley, Chrystal, Tiffany & Wendy: The OG Instagram brand rep squad & all around cheerleading section for S&F on social media

You are all appreciated and loved. 
G'journey, my candle friends. We hope to help light the way.