About Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Candle is an American home fragrance brand founded in 1994 by Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs Mei Xu and David Wang. The couple started making candles by hand in the basement of their Annapolis, Maryland home, naming their brand after the beautiful nearby Chesapeake Bay shoreline that inspired their nature-focused fragrances. The brand's entrepreneurial story is remarkable. Starting with wax poured into soup cans, Pacific Trade International (the parent company) earned $500,000 in its first year. By 1995, Xu's sister opened a manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China. The breakthrough came in 1997 when Target began stocking the candles, with sales reaching $8.4 million - nearly three times Target's expectations. Kohl's soon followed. In 2017, Yankee Candle acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million, bringing the brand into Newell Brands' portfolio. Despite the acquisition, Chesapeake Bay Candle maintains its distinctive modern, minimalist aesthetic that sets it apart from traditional candle designs. Founder Mei Xu stepped down as CEO in 2018 and has since launched new ventures supporting women entrepreneurs. British shoppers can find Chesapeake Bay Candle products at UK supermarkets. The range features nature-inspired fragrances with contemporary styling, offering an alternative to traditional scented candles with a cleaner, more modern design approach.























