Beckley shop is getting statewide and national recognition named the top candle store in West Virginia

RALEIGH COUNTY, W.Va. — A Beckley candle shop is gaining statewide and national attention after being named the top candle store in West Virginia. Scentister owner Devin Sawyers says he initially dismissed the recognition as a scam when he received a letter from BusinessRate naming his shop the best in Beckley. But when a second letter arrived announcing Scentister as the number‑one candle store in the state — competing against 18 other businesses — he realized the honor was legitimate. The company also ranked 75th in the nation.
Scentister began in Texas as a vending machine inside a car wash, where Sawyers created his own air freshener and eventually expanded into a full product line. Today, he designs and produces all of his items in the back of his downtown Beckley shop, offering candles, wax melts, room sprays, car diffusers, natural deodorant, body butter, and his newest product, a plant‑based cleaner called Mopman.
Sawyers says he hopes the recognition brings more people to downtown Beckley, which he believes is experiencing a revival. He plans to grow the business and eventually move into a larger space as demand increases.
Scentister is located at 303 Prince Street in downtown Beckley. More information about the shop and its products is available at scentister.com.