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November 1st is Scented Candle Day and what better way to celebrate than to shop with Black women-owned candle brands. Here are 10 brands selling candles that will permeate your space and set the vibes that you need!
1. The Whitney Collection
if you are looking for scents that can transport you across the seas from your very own home, go with The Whitney Collection.
The brand was born during COVID by LA native Whitney Brooks, who commonly used traveling as a means to escape reality. But when traveling became restricted because of the pandemic, Brooks had to use methods like daydreaming and visualization meditation to take her where she wanted to go. So she created a candle line inspired by the scents from areas she’s traveled to. Her candles are $39 each and feature scents like, “Rose Pepper,” “Desert Gypsy,” “Montauk Linen,” and more.
2. Harlem Candle Co.
The Harlem Candle Co. is a candle brand that pays homage to…you guessed it, Harlem.
The founder, Teri Johnson was a longtime fragrance enthusiast who has memories dating back to her childhood of falling in love with scents. In 2014, she started her candle collection inspired by the aura of Harlem and her love for jazz. Ranging from $48 to $98, each of Johnson’s candles has a touch of Harlem history on it. A few are named after Harlem Renaissance legends like Josephine Baker and Langston Hughes. She’s even got a collection called the “Nightclub Map of Harlem” paying homage to the prominent nightclubs and speakeasies in Harlem.
3. CTOAN Co.
Jodyann Morgan’s handmade candle business called CTOAN Co. is a product that is a cross between candles and decor.
Morgan takes the unique approach of crafting her candles to make them resemble a human body form. CTOAN Co. are gender-free candles and have various colors – some of which often mimic the skin tone of real people. Morgan’s candles range from $14 to $39 and she keeps the scents limited and light giving customers options to choose, lavender, sandalwood, unscented, and for limited time, “Gingerbread Latte.”
4. Kobi Co.
This next candle line was created by a mother-daughter duo in Minneapolis.
Kobi began Kobi Co. in 2020 at the age of 17 to get her through anxiety and depression during the pandemic. At this time, she initially turned to music to help her cope which eventually evolved to her making candles. Now her candles are inspired by different curated playlists and she leaves a soundbar to link to the playlist on the candles. Her mother, Tasha Harris, came into the fold to help Kobi expand and grow her business. They’ve also used part of their proceeds to give back. Kobi and Tasha have created an annual scholarship fund to give to BIPOC women. The cost of the candles range from $33-$35.
5. Ignite Your Peace
If you are someone who thrives off of quick pick me up quotes, Ignite Your Peace is the candle brand for you.
Founder Kierra intertwines the impact of aromatherapy with affirmations to create candles that bring customers peace and empowerment. The brand is affordable with candles costing between sale price at $16 and full price at $19. She’s got a collection created especially for mothers along with a Black Label collection.
6. The Glory Candle
Up next is The Glory Candle. This brand was created by Johane Herard and was produced with careful intention.
When creating her candles, Herard was mindful with her ingredients making sure that they were sustainably sourced, vegan and cruelty free. She also wanted to make sure the candles could be used for a greater good so a portion of the sales goes to Delmas Community School in Haiti – a school for underprivileged children. Herard’s candles fill the space up with yummy scents like “Citrus Prosecco,” “French Lavender,” “Island Paradise,” and “Coffee n’ Cream.” Her full size candles are $28
7. Petty Candle Co.
When candles come to mind initially most people would probably think of relaxation and calming feelings.
But Joy Bell’s Petty Candle Co takes a different and fiery approach to candles. Bell created a line not only to bring pleasurable scents but to also bring a little humor to the lives of her customers. Bell hilariously racy wordplay like “Thicka Than a Snickadoodle,” “Fresher Than a Motherf-cker,” and “Sexy A- – Beach” serves as eye catchers on the labels. Her candles are also affordably priced at $16.99.
8. Winding Wick Candles
Winding Wick Candles brings more than just scents, it also brings innovative presentation to candles.
Tiana Coats blended her love for coffee with her love for candles and began designing the candles to resemble lattes. She has since expanded those designs to now making candles that mimic her take of a strawberry shortcake, a blueberry pie, and even one that looks like a bubble bath. Coates has been able to grow her business so much that she was able to open a store front in Ferris Texis in 2021. Her candles cost between $16 and $24.
9. Forvr Mood
Jackie Aina’s Forvr Mood was the perfect segway for the social media influencer to take her brand to the next level.
Besides being known for starting her empire as a beauty influencer, Aina has also made her followers aware of her deep love for fragrance. From perfumes, all the way down to candles. At the height of the pandemic, she partnered up with her husband Denis to create a candle line that would remind customers of the importance of self care. Some of her scents include “Champagne Showers,” “Matcha Bes-Teas,” “Cabin Fever Candle,” and more. Candles range from $32.99 to $42.
10. Cavo
Cavo is a candle brand that was created by co-founders Naomi and Femi Adeyemo who were searching for clean candles that held eclectic styles.
As first generation immigrants from Nigeria and Ghana, Naomi and Femi felt the space for eco-friendly candle brands lacked representation. They like to create candles to take customers to a space or moment and they come up with scents that pair well with the moment. Candles range from $24.99 to $40 and have names like “Direct Deposit,” “Wash Day,” “After A Good Cry,” and more.
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