Since 2017 － A Small Business Built With Purpose
Our Story
Thoughtfully crafted candles, soaps, and wood goods for gifting, gathering, and everyday living.
We’re Rob and Nicolette, the husband-and-wife team behind Holzer Handcrafted. Our story is rooted in craftsmanship, natural materials, and meaningful gifting.
Our surname, Holzer, comes from the German word for wood — a fitting reflection of how this journey began. What started with handcrafted hardwood cutting boards and custom wood furniture has grown into a cohesive collection of wood wick candles, natural soaps, and home goods that feel elevated, giftable, and thoughtfully made.
From our home to yours, every item is crafted in small batches with careful attention to detail, premium materials, and the consistent finishes that help our goods stand out. Our sun-powered home studio overlooking Lake Pocotopaug is based in East Hampton, Connecticut, a town known for its bell-making history and longtime nickname, Belltown. The place we call home finds its way into our collection, inspiring scent names like Relaxing in Belltown and Lakeside Spa Retreat.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself, choosing a heartfelt gift, or sourcing for your store or organization, our goal is simple: to create handcrafted goods that feel special from the moment they’re received.
Founded in 2017 and officially launched as an LLC in 2023, Holzer Handcrafted combines hands-on craftsmanship with over 40 years of combined business experience. Beginning with custom wood goods, the brand has grown into a cohesive collection that now includes wood wick candles, traditional soaps, and elevated home goods designed for both personal enjoyment and retail success.
Today, we continue to produce in small batches — blending creativity, careful testing, and real-world business experience to create goods that feel personal, perform beautifully, and help make meaningful gifting feel effortless.
Meet Rob & Nicolette
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Rob Holzer
Before officially launching Holzer Handcrafted as an LLC in 2023, I spent over 20 years in the corporate world developing experience in marketing, digital design, ecommerce management, website development, merchandising, and customer relationships. Today, I bring that same structured thinking and creativity into our business — leading marketing, product label design, digital assets, and brand presentation, while also designing and crafting our wood goods (and occasionally helping pour candles when needed).
My personal connection to woodworking began in 2001 when I apprenticed under a master finish carpenter. I quickly developed an appreciation for the skill, patience, and satisfaction that comes from working with natural materials — something that stayed with me for years.
In 2017, a home organization project brought woodworking back into my life. After building a custom closet solution that fit our needs perfectly, I realized how much I missed creating with my hands. One project led to another, and before long woodworking became the foundation of what would eventually become Holzer Handcrafted.
Favorite business-related activity: Designing and building custom furniture — projects that combine creative problem-solving, light engineering, and the occasional heavy lifting.
Favorite non-business-related activities: Being a Dad and playing drums. -
Nicolette Holzer
My 20+ year professional career included account management, customer relations, and financial services — roles that required strong communication, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of what customers truly value. I developed a passion for creating experiences that feel both meaningful and dependable.
My candle-making journey began in 2022. I set out to make a candle using leftover wax from candles I had burned, with no business plans in mind. As I researched the process, I became fascinated by how much science and testing goes into creating a candle that performs beautifully — from wax and fragrance balance to wick selection and burn consistency.
Around the same time, I began exploring cold process soap making. Creating matching scents across multiple products felt like a natural extension of the experience, even though it was still purely a personal pursuit.
When we experienced how well the candles burned and how beautifully the soaps performed, it became clear they could thoughtfully expand the direction of Holzer Handcrafted. What began as a woodworking-focused business in 2017 was already grounded in craftsmanship and intentional design. Wood wick candles and soap bars felt like a natural evolution — helping us build a more cohesive collection.
Today, I am responsible for production, fragrance curation, quality standards, supply procurement, fulfillment, and customer communication — ensuring our goods deliver both emotional impact and consistent performance while staying true to their handcrafted origins.
Favorite business-related activity: Making soap — every bar turns out a little unique, which keeps it fun… and it smells amazing.
Favorite non-business-related activities: Being a Mom and crocheting.
Holzer Handcrafted® Perks
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FREE PERSONALIZATION
Shop Personalized GiftsMake every moment special with a gift that's uniquely theirs.
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FREE SOAP SAMPLE
Get a free soap sample with every order!
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