Chloe Adams
Original Man Candle, a company that sells masculine-scented candles, appeared on Shark Tank Season 2 in 2025. The company's founder, Johnson Bailey, sought \$50,000 for 25% equity in his business. Despite a spike in sales following the episode, Original Man Candle ultimately walked away without securing a deal with the Shark Tank investors, who felt the company offered little upside and lacked potential for growth. As of 2022, the company's website showed all products as out of stock, and there have been no recent updates from the founder, leading to uncertainty about whether the business is still operational.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Johnson Bailey |
| Year founded | 2010 |
| Unique selling point | Masculine-scented candles |
| Scents | Bacon, Football, Fart, Sawdust, Coffee, Fresh Cut Grass, Campfire, Grandpa's Pipe, New Mitt, New York Style Pizza, Dirt |
| Initial investment | $300 from Bailey's savings and family |
| Additional investment | $65,000 from P. Nathan Thornberry in exchange for a 35% stake in the company |
| Shark Tank appearance | Season 2 |
| Outcome of Shark Tank appearance | No deal |
| Sales | $53,000 in the past year |
| Current status | Unclear; the website is out of stock, but the products are still available through online retailers |
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What You'll Learn
Original Man Candle's appearance on Shark Tank
Johnson Bailey, the founder of Original Man Candle, appeared on episode 207 of Shark Tank seeking $50,000 for 25% equity in his candle company. The Original Man Candle features unique scents like Bacon, Football, and Fart. These candles were designed to cater to men who wanted to rid their spaces of feminine scents like vanilla-lavender. Bailey, who was still in college at the time, developed the candles as a project for his entrepreneurship class.
Bailey's pitch to the Sharks was energetic and passionate. He presented the various scents and handed out samples to the Sharks, giving Robert Herjavec "New Car," and Barbara Corcoran "Beach Babe." Bailey demonstrated his business acumen by smoothly transitioning between presenting his scents and discussing sales figures. At the time of his appearance on Shark Tank, Original Man Candles were being sold in 400 stores, with $53,000 in sales in the past year.
Despite Bailey's enthusiasm and the strong sales figures, the Sharks were not convinced. Mark Cuban wanted to know about re-order patterns, and Bailey's response that his average shop re-orders 6-7 times a year did not impress them. Kevin O'Leary called the product "crap for tourists" and was the first to opt out. Barbara Corcoran liked the Fart Candle but didn't think the business was large enough to invest in. Daymond John told Bailey he had a "vitamin C deficiency: not enough cash, credit, or customers." Robert Herjavec didn't believe the company would make money.
One by one, the Sharks rejected the opportunity to invest, and Bailey left the Tank without a deal. However, the appearance on Shark Tank boosted sales and created a buzz around the product. Following the episode, an investor, P. Nathan Thornberry, offered Johnson $65,000 in exchange for a 35% stake in Original Man Candles. Unfortunately, the partnership ended badly, with Thornberry filing a breach of contract suit against Bailey. Despite this setback, Original Man Candles continued to be sold nationwide, with sales of roughly half a million dollars per year.
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Johnson Bailey's entrepreneurial journey
Johnson Bailey, the founder of Original Man Candle, sought $50,000 for 25% equity in his candle company on Shark Tank Season 2. The company offered unique, masculine-scented candles with fragrances like bacon, football, and farts. Despite a positive update in episode 302 and a spike in sales following the show, Bailey walked away without a deal. The Sharks felt that the company, being a one-product business, offered too little upside and not enough cash, credit, or customers.
Despite this setback, an investor, P. Nathan Thornberry, contacted Bailey after the episode and offered him $65,000 for a 35% stake in the company. Thornberry's investment gave Bailey's company a boost, with sales of roughly half a million dollars per year and the candles being sold in over 150 stores. However, their partnership ended in a lawsuit, which Thornberry won, and Bailey left the company.
As of 2022, Original Man Candle's website was still up and running, but all products were out of stock, indicating that the company might have ceased operations. The company was facing competition from bigger names like Yankee Candle and Mandle, who offered similar testosterone-fueled scents.
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The product's unique scents
When it comes to unique scents, companies like Dude Candle, Harlem Candle Company, and Goose Creek Candle offer a range of options for their "man candles". These candles are designed to have bold, masculine fragrances that are anything but ordinary, reflecting a sophisticated, rugged style. Here are some of the distinctive scents you can expect from these brands:
Dude Candle:
Dude Candle crafts their candles with full-bodied scents, aiming to create truly masculine fragrances without any hint of floral or feminine perfumes. Their candles evoke various adventures, from hiking trails to off-road races. While specific scent names are not listed, their candles are said to be aged to perfection in oak barrels.
Harlem Candle Company:
The Harlem Candle Company offers luxurious masculine scents. One of their candles, the Langston, features a unique blend of vintage leather, aromatic tobacco laced with clove, and vanilla. This candle is inspired by the jazz poet's creative vision, recalling the smells of his favourite armchair and the neighbourhood men's pipes.
Goose Creek Candle:
Goose Creek Candle's collection includes a variety of bold, masculine scents. Some of their candles feature rich, earthy notes of cedarwood and smoky leather, while others offer fresh, invigorating aromas of tobacco and spices. They also have candles with deep, smoky notes of oak moss and the spicy warmth of amber. These fragrances are designed to fill large rooms with robust scents that create an inviting atmosphere.
Manly Indulgence:
The Manly Indulgence collection features long-lasting candles with rich, masculine scents. While specific scent names are not listed, their candles are praised for their subtle, sophisticated fragrances that are uncommon in mainstream candle brands. One of their candles is described as having a mild "woodsy-ness" with a comforting and inviting aroma.
Across these brands, common themes for masculine candle scents emerge, including woody, earthy, and spicy notes. These fragrances are often associated with traditionally "manly" activities and complement the natural body odours of men. Whether it's the adventure-evoking vetiver, the sensual vanilla and dark chocolate, or the robust cedarwood, these unique scents cater to those seeking bold and masculine fragrances for themselves or as gifts.
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Competition in the market
Original Man Candle, a company that sells masculine-scented candles, appeared on Shark Tank Season 2. The company's founder, Johnson Bailey, sought $50,000 for 25% equity in his business. While the episode resulted in a significant boost in sales, Original Man Candle ultimately walked away without securing a deal with any of the Shark Tank investors. The investors believed that the company offered little upside as it was a one-product business, and they couldn't envision the potential for growth and expansion.
Following the show, Original Man Candle faced intense competition from larger companies in the market. Yankee Candle, for instance, introduced a range of testosterone-fueled scents, including '2x4' and 'Football'. Another company, Mandle, also dominated the market for male-oriented candles. These bigger players in the industry posed a significant challenge to Original Man Candle, which was already struggling to maintain its foothold.
In addition to these established brands, Original Man Candle encountered competition from emerging businesses with similar concepts. ManCans, founded by 14-year-old Hart Main, offered a range of manly scented candles, including sawdust, bacon, and coffee, fresh-cut grass, and campfire. Main's innovative approach and unique scents attracted customers, both men and women, and his products were stocked in various stores across the country.
Despite the challenges posed by these competitors, Original Man Candle managed to secure an investment from P. Nathan Thornberry, who invested $65,000 for a 35% stake in the company. However, this partnership ended in a lawsuit, with Thornberry winning a $71,647 judgment. As of the latest updates, the Original Man Candle website is functional, but all products are listed as out of stock, leaving the company's future uncertain.
The competitive landscape for Original Man Candle was intense, with established brands, emerging businesses, and innovative product offerings vying for market share. The ability to adapt, differentiate, and create unique value propositions was critical for success in this dynamic market.
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The future of the business
Original Man Candle, the company founded by Johnson Bailey, appeared on Shark Tank Season 2 in 2025. The company offered unique, masculine-scented candles with fragrances like bacon, football, and fart. Despite the product's novelty, Bailey walked away from the show without securing a deal with the Sharks. The investors felt that the company, being a one-product business, offered little upside and lacked the potential for growth.
However, the exposure from Shark Tank did give the company a temporary boost in sales. Following the episode, Bailey received an investment of $65,000 from P. Nathan Thornberry in exchange for a 35% stake in the company. Unfortunately, this partnership ended in a lawsuit, with Thornberry winning a $71,647 judgment. As of 2022, Thornberry has taken over the company, and Original Man Candles are available in over 150 stores, with sales of roughly half a million dollars per year.
Despite this apparent success, the future of the business remains uncertain. The Original Man Candle website has shown signs of inactivity, with all products listed as out of stock, and there have been no recent updates from the founder, Johnson Bailey. It is unclear if the company has ceased operations or is simply experiencing inventory issues.
Bailey, who hand-poured each candle himself while also attending college, faced competition from larger companies like Yankee Candle and Mandle, which offered similar masculine-scented candles. These competitors may have contributed to the challenges faced by Original Man Candle in maintaining its market presence.
Moving forward, the key to the company's survival and growth may lie in expanding its product range and differentiating itself from competitors. Developing new, unique fragrances that appeal to a broader audience could be a strategy to regain market share and attract new customers. Additionally, leveraging online retailers and social media platforms for sales and marketing can help the company reach a wider audience and boost sales.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear if Original Man Candle is still in business. The company's website was offline for a while, but it is now up and running. However, all products on the website are currently out of stock. The company was taken over by investor P. Nathan Thornberry, who invested $65,000 in exchange for a 35% stake. As of August 2022, revenue climbed to over $1 million.
Johnson Bailey walked away from Shark Tank without a deal. He received an Entrepreneurial Award from Oklahoma State for his work with Original Man Candle. Bailey has since worked for Stupid.com and is no longer in the spotlight.
Despite an initial spike in sales following the Shark Tank episode, Original Man Candle struggled against big-name competition. The company was also sued by investor P. Nathan Thornberry, who won a $71,647 judgement.
