As we step into another Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we at Heyday are honored to continue a tradition that means so much to our community. For the fourth year in a row, we’ve teamed up with local makers to create our limited-edition boob candles. This year’s collaboration holds an even deeper meaning for us, as we share the story of our beloved Lori, owner of Uncommon Scents, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. Through her strength and resilience, she reminds us of the critical importance of early detection and mammograms—something we hope to raise awareness for through this project.

Lori has always been health-conscious, leading a lifestyle focused on wellness and balance. Breast cancer wasn’t even on her radar—there was no family history, and she didn’t consider herself high-risk. But as she learned firsthand, cancer doesn’t always fit into expected patterns.

Lori has dense breast tissue, a condition affecting 42% of women over 40 years of age, which makes detecting abnormalities more challenging. In fact, the FDA now mandates that women with dense breast tissue be informed by their physicians of the need for additional screenings. For Lori, routine mammograms were just a part of her health journey. Over the years, she’d had multiple biopsies—always precautionary, always benign.

This year was different. When Lori went in for her annual mammogram, a closer look revealed something concerning. A needle biopsy confirmed what Lori hadn’t expected: breast cancer. In the moment, she felt denial. She had no symptoms, no family history, and had always taken care of her health. Yet there it was, and suddenly, she was plunged into a whirlwind of meetings with surgeons, oncologists, and discussions of treatment plans.

Fortunately, Lori’s cancer was caught early, thanks to her regular screenings. She underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. Since her cancer was considered hormone-fed, she is now on medication to suppress estrogen. While the physical journey has been challenging, it’s the emotional waves that have been the hardest. Lori describes it like a ‘W’—grateful one moment, devastated the next. But through it all, she remains strong and committed to raising awareness about the importance of early detection. For Lori, the message is clear: without a mammogram, her cancer would not have been caught. Mammograms save lives.

In honor of Lori’s journey and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re excited to continue our boob candle project—a heartfelt collaboration between two incredible local makers: Lori Palmer of Uncommon Scents and Lauren Woods of Inner Alchemy.

Lauren, a talented ceramicist, handcrafts each vessel at her studio in Downtown Bozeman. Every piece is unique, just like the women they’re inspired by. The vessels are then lovingly filled with Lori’s signature soy wax blend, a scent profile that evokes warmth, comfort, and strength. With marine, lavender, bamboo, and cedar notes, these candles offer both beauty and purpose.

All profits from the boob candles will benefit the Bozeman Health Mammogram Project, a vital initiative that provides no-cost mammograms and diagnostic services to women in our local community. Since 1997, the project has helped hundreds of women access life-saving screenings, regardless of income or insurance status.

With breast cancer being the most common cancer worldwide, early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against it. Nearly 1,000 women in Montana alone will be diagnosed this year, but thanks to projects like this, we can help ensure that more women have access to the care they need. The Bozeman Health Mammogram Project partners with Bozeman Health to provide mammograms and necessary follow-up services, making a real difference in the lives of women in southwest Montana.