Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Cortazzo.
Hi Heather, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started when a friend gifted me a candle. I’ve always been a creative and a seeker of beauty, and that little gift sparked something. Candle making began as a hobby, and I quickly fell in love with the alchemy of it: the way a few notes come together into something that feels entirely its own, and the way a flickering flame can change the mood of a whole room. What really hooked me, though, was seeing the joy these little creations brought into other people’s homes.
That’s how Feather & Coco was born. I launched in May 2025 from my home in Santa Cruz, California, with a simple idea: little luxuries that brighten your every day. Everything is clean (phthalate-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free) and poured and labeled by hand, by me.
I started out at local California markets, meeting customers face to face and learning what they loved. From there it grew into wholesale, and today Feather & Coco is carried in more than 50 independent boutiques across 12 states, alongside my own online shop. The line has grown from coconut soy candles into reed diffusers, room sprays, car diffusers and perfume oils.
I’m still a one-woman studio, and my favorite part is dreaming up new scents each season, most recently Little Places, my fall and winter collection inspired by the cozy spots that make you smile.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t call it perfectly smooth, but I’d call it joyful. Most of my struggles have been expensive lessons. I once ordered hundreds of labels, and when the box arrived I was so excited that I put every one on by hand and had the whole collection photographed. Only then did I discover there was an issue with them. My excitement got away from me, and it cost me thousands of dollars. I had to scrap the labels, start fresh, and reshoot everything. I also invested in a vessel and later realized it wasn’t the right direction. When you’re a small business, those mistakes sting, and they take time to recover from. But each one taught me to slow down, soak it all in, and trust my eye and my vision.
The other challenge has been more personal. I’m a homebody and an introvert at heart, so walking into shops and boutiques to introduce my work has pushed me far outside my comfort zone. It’s still a stretch every time, but it’s become one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
And honestly, the daily problem solving is part of the fun for me. No two days look the same, and along the way I’ve met so many talented artists and incredible women running small businesses of their own who inspire me every single day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Feather & Coco, I hand-pour candles and home and body fragrance inspired by memory, beauty and the feeling of home. My line includes candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, car diffusers and perfume oils, all made in small batches in my Santa Cruz studio. What began as a simple creative outlet has become a ritual of intention, and every piece is crafted with care.
For me, it’s never been just about making candles. It’s about creating experiences. Each fragrance is rooted in emotion and evokes a place, a moment or a state of mind. Much of that inspiration comes from California living: the coast, the mountains and the desert. Our core Oasis Collection carries that sense of wanderlust, Vintage California celebrates surf culture, and each season I release a limited collection, like this fall’s Little Places, where every scent is a tiny world to step into.
I think what sets Feather & Coco apart is the balance we strike. The brand is playful yet grounded, modern yet warm, and designed for the beauty seeker, the cozy minimalist and the soulful wanderer. I’m also deeply committed to clean ingredients. We use sustainable, plant-based coconut soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks and clean, non-toxic fragrance oils. We’re Leaping Bunny certified, 100 percent vegan, and always free from phthalates and parabens. Every candle comes in its own custom-designed box, because I want it to feel like a gift the moment you hold it.
What I’m most proud of is how far this little dream has come since launching in May 2025. Today Feather & Coco is carried in more than 50 boutiques across the country. Nothing makes me happier than knowing something I poured by hand is inspiring someone to slow down and savor their everyday.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories are of summers spent camping with my grandparents. My grandpa was an elementary school teacher, so every summer they would load us up in their RV and take us exploring. We visited national parks, the desert, the redwoods and, of course, the California coast.
Those trips shaped so much of who I am. They gave me a deep love of nature and an appreciation for the beauty of each place we visited, from the open desert to the towering redwoods to the salty ocean air. Looking back, I can see how much those summers still inspire Feather & Coco today. So many of my scents are little love letters to the California landscapes I first fell in love with in that RV.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://featherandcoco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/featherandcoco/
