Logan Slaughter (aka Logan Hardcore) Finds the Radiant Light (In Candles, That Is)

EDGE: How has performing drag prepared you for a career as a candle maker?

Logan Slaughter: I like to think I'm a people person, although I'm one of the biggest introverts I've ever met. I'm very good at being in a market; it doesn't feel like work. I don't force people to buy my candles. I enjoy talking to people and telling them about my story and the story behind each candle's name, but there's also a performative side to selling. To me, each candle has its own little character. It has a scent, and it has a name and its own personality. There's a visual to it. It's not going to dance around and do a split, but you're creating something that you can have a 20-minute conversation about. In the two years I've been doing markets, I've realized not everyone is a forward-facing business host. I have met many people who should be creative behind the scenes, and if you can't or don't want to be a part of selling your products, don't do it. I love sitting outside in the sun for seven hours on the weekends. I find enjoyment in it. I love people-watching. I love meeting all the other vendors. There are always people coming in and out. There's always a new crowd every night. Drag helped me be more comfortable with the in-person events.

EDGE: dedication to the LGBTQIA+ and substance abuse recovery communities.

Logan Slaughter: As male candlemakers, we're here, but not many of us. I've seen that there are some great male candle makers, but most do it as a project with their wives or girlfriends. My husband is not involved in my business. I do it for me. I created the It's Giving Pride Candle and partnered with Gay Pride Apparel, a small Arizona business. They did a collection with Broadway's Wicked. Being able to partner with them as another small gay business is fantastic. I love putting a gay voice behind something that wouldn't always have a voice, especially here in Westchester. It can be very conservative and very much like where I come from. When I display my indicted and Convicted candles, there are these moments when women and men have come to my booth and struck up a conversation. It may be the first time they've had a conversation with a gay person, and then after they walk away thinking I'm not gay or I didn't end up with Monkeypox, and what a normal moment that was. Plus, it helps that I have a fantastic product. I like normalizing the gay experience through conversation. When people learn that I'm a drag queen, I have a husband, I own my home, I have a daughter, and I own a business, they see that I'm just a normal human being just like them, but who enjoys attention and dressing up in women's clothes. With sobriety, I think it's so easily manipulated to what we see about sobriety and addiction on television. Everyone thinks that addicts are walking around with needles hanging out of their arms, and that's just not true. When I am asked about my Fellowship candle or the people who walk by see it and get it, it is lovely to have conversations enlightening them about it. I want everyone to know that there's a safe space for them with me. I love sharing my story with others. I was open about drinking and doing drugs while I was on stage. I want to be open about being sober off-stage. I love that my candles are starting conversations.

EDGE: Westchester Magazine named you "Best Candlemaker of the Year 2024." As a queer male in a traditionally female-dominated field, what does that honor mean to you?

Logan Slaughter: It was shocking. I remember when the envelope came, I almost threw it away because I thought it was junk mail asking me to sign up for the magazine, but it was thick, so I opened it. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't a public vote; it was the editor's choice. It was a big deal for me because it was a male editor, which I loved. I remember him coming to my booth at the holiday market; he smelled my candles and asked for samples. I usually do not have samples, but I gave him a few smaller candles and my business card. Five months later, I got notified that I was best of Westchester. It is gratifying to feel seen, heard, and validated. We all want that. Many might think making a candle is just pouring wax into a jar, but it is much more. It's hours of work and hours away from my family. It's nice to know that the products I deeply care about and stand behind are being recognized. As a gay male candle maker, it gave me a reason to say I'm the best, which I've always enjoyed.

EDGE: What message do you want to communicate to anyone who purchases one of your candles?

Logan Slaughter: I hope my candles bring you a feeling. A feeling to your space. Some candles are meant to relax you. Some, like the Nostalgia candle, are sweet and youthful and are meant to make you think about your childhood. I want my candle to make you feel something. I don't want it to be something you set and forget. I want it to be something that you look forward to. I look forward to coming home and lighting my candles because I know within 20 minutes, my house will have a different ambiance and vibe. I think that being able to provide that in people's homes, a sanctuary for many of us, especially in New York, where many people are dealing with smaller spaces, want to feel warmth and comfort from the busy world outside. The smells alone are amazing, and being a part of people's day-to-day, enchanting their space is incredible. I also like that they are not an eyesore. You can gift it without having to worry if it is going to fit into someone's home. They are classic, matte black, and beautiful heavyweight pieces.

For more information about Radiant Light Candles and to explore the entire collection,   follow this link.