We recently connected with Qualan Faloye and have shared our conversation below.
Qualan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents gave me balance. My father, a jack-of-all-trades, always told me, “As long as you apply yourself, you can do anything.” That discipline pushed me to explore my interests and build a versatile career in advertising. It also helped me build my confidence to launch my own brand. My mother, on the other hand, showed me the power of resilience and charisma – how to connect with people and build meaningful relationships. Although I’m more introverted, I carry both lessons with me: the drive to apply myself fully, and the ability to connect authentically and deeply with a room.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Qualan, a Harlem/Bronx-raised creative entrepreneur and DJ. I’ve always been drawn to the intersections of music, wellness, and design. My professional journey (in an official capacity) started in advertising and digital marketing, where I’ve spent a decade helping global brands efficiently scale and tell their stories. But before that, I was a young girl toting her DSLR around the city and working in retail since she was 14. I’ve always paved my own lane, which eventually led me to launch A Flare of Home, a home and wellness brand.
A Flare of Home curates more than just candles and décor – we design experiences that blend scent, sound, and storytelling. Each candle is paired with a curated playlist, transforming any space into a safe haven. At its core, the brand is about helping people cultivate harmony at home and within themselves. Our goal is to give back – whether that’s through community events, collaborations with other creatives, or supporting housing and mental health initiatives in New York City.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see my work as just products on a shelf. Whether I’m designing a room, or pouring candles, it’s about creating moments that people can feel. That balance allows me to build things that are both intentional and human.
What I’m most proud of is the way I’ve been able to fuse my passions – music, design, and community – into something tangible that resonates with others. I want potential clients and supporters to know that when you experience my work, you’re not just buying a candle or listening to a set; you’re stepping into a story, one that’s rooted in creativity, resilience, and the joy of being.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
For me, resilience has been about turning my challenges into opportunities for growth. Growing up in the Bronx, space and circumstances weren’t ideal, but I learned how to make even the smallest corners my place to dream, reset, and stay creative.
As I’ve moved through school, work, and living in New York City, I’ve continually had to rebuild and redefine what “home” means for me – even when it meant starting from scratch. Those moments taught me adaptability, grit, and the importance of maintaining peace within.
That’s why my work means so much today. Everything I create is about giving others that same sense of comfort, expression, and connection I worked so hard to build for myself.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
All of my products are handmade by me – it’s more personal. I started my business by taking a risk and investing in myself to get it off the ground. I also didn’t come into it with any formal training. I learned candlemaking through ClassPass workshops and plenty of “YouTube University”. From there, I spent countless late nights after my 9-5 testing different formulas, experimenting with waxes, fragrances, and vessels until I got the quality just right.
Finding the right suppliers and materials was another journey. I gave out samples, gathered feedback, and kept refining the process to make sure everything felt intentional and elevated. And of course, there were challenges – especially during COVID, when shipping delays and supply shortages forced me to constantly pivot. Nonetheless, I refused to compromise on was quality.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned in manufacturing is that it’s as much about patience and adaptability as it is about craft. You have to stay flexible, troubleshoot on the fly, and keep learning. When you’re building something by hand and from the heart, the effort always shows in the final product.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aflareofhome.com
- Instagram: aflareofhome
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ItGXUgk53S4lQvmmPB
