Can a candle company change the way people relate to themselves, each other, and the world around them?
For Harry Doull, co-founder of Keap Candles, the answer is yes. What began as a shared fascination with fragrance between two roommates has grown into a purpose-driven company that challenges conventional ideas about business, sustainability, and mindful living.
Featured on Humans of Fuzia, a global thought-leadership platform where founders, entrepreneurs, coaches, innovators, executives, women leaders, and changemakers share ideas that advance leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, business growth, and socially conscious innovation, Doull shares how building a company rooted in intention has required balancing craftsmanship, commercial reality, and long-term purpose.
Harry and his co-founder first met while working at Google during a period when the company was widely recognized for its unconventional culture and its guiding principle of “Don’t be evil.” As they watched the corporate environment evolve, they found themselves asking a larger question: How do you build a business that remains true to its purpose over time? At the same time, they shared an unlikely passion for candles—not simply as decorative objects, but as rituals that encourage people to slow down, reconnect, and become more present. Those two conversations eventually came together in the creation of Keap Candles in 2015.
Unlike most luxury candle brands, Keap chose to manufacture its products in-house rather than outsourcing production. While this decision created significant operational challenges and higher fixed costs, it also allowed the company to maintain exceptional quality, greater environmental accountability, and complete control over its craft. After years of navigating the difficult balance between growth and sustainability, the business has recently reached a more stable stage where its vertically integrated model is becoming financially sustainable.
One of Keap’s boldest decisions came in 2021, when the company chose to leave social media entirely.
Rather than relying on algorithm-driven marketing, the team invested in deeper storytelling through newsletters and direct community engagement. Although the transition required several years of experimentation, Harry describes it as one of the best strategic decisions the company has ever made—allowing Keap to build stronger relationships while remaining aligned with its values.
Today, the company’s regenerative vision extends far beyond candles. Its long-term roadmap imagines products that are increasingly compostable, ethically sourced, and environmentally restorative while creating positive experiences for employees, customers, suppliers, and the broader community. At the same time, Harry is exploring one of today’s most complex questions: how businesses can adopt artificial intelligence responsibly without compromising human creativity, connection, or trust.
For Harry, one of the greatest challenges of scaling has not been demand—it has been protecting simplicity.
As organizations grow, systems naturally become more complicated. His leadership philosophy centers on continually removing unnecessary complexity so that teams can remain agile, collaborative, and deeply connected to the company’s original mission.
Looking ahead, Keap is preparing to launch new fragrance collections inspired by nature while also exploring a future podcast dedicated to stories of regeneration, mindfulness, hope, and meaningful human connection—conversations designed to inspire people to imagine a healthier future together.
Execution Tip
Before adding another process, ask yourself: “Does this make our mission clearer—or simply make our business more complicated?” Sustainable growth often comes from removing complexity rather than adding more of it.
Harry Doull’s entrepreneurial journey demonstrates that businesses can succeed without sacrificing purpose. Through craftsmanship, regenerative thinking, and intentional leadership, he continues to show that meaningful entrepreneurship is not simply about selling products—it is about creating moments of connection that improve the lives of people and the world they share. Stories like his reflect why Humans of Fuzia continues to spotlight founders who are redefining success through authenticity, sustainability, and long-term impact.
