We recently connected with Alexxis Hamilton and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexxis, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to elevate the mental state of people that strive for a better self inside and out. Bringing some joy, peace and pure relaxation into others spaces with elegant and nostalgic scents. Through this, I only hope to contribute to the flourishing community of entrepreneur in the Detroit area. Working with others to grow the community by recycling the money through small businesses & events too support each other.

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

My name is Alexxis and I am a millennial small candle business owner that also works a 9-5. I am a graduate from Michigan State University and a proud first time home owner in recent years. I have always had an interest in being a business woman since I was a teen (I once dressed as a ‘business woman” for Halloween). With this interest combined with my mothers long interest of entrepreneurship, it was inevitable that this would become part of my path willingly.

My start with business was when my mother took me to a trusted CPA to create a business to sell essential oils. Though I loved selling them, I craved to create something with my hands with the same mental health benefits essential oils bring. In high school, I was in advanced art for a few years and even painted a mural for the school so I have always loved arts & crafts. Making candles was an idea that soon came to me!

I am so proud after a few years to have the support system I have with friends, family and customers. I was able to create a candle that burns 40+ hours without giving you a headache. They are all named from inspiration of memories in my lifetime that many can relate to. For example, Laundry Day is one of the most popular candles which smells like fresh linen on a Saturday morning cleaning. Another scent is called Protect Your Peace which has lavender and vanilla notes inspired by the peace i would feel with the fresh scents of Lavender and Vanilla. Oceanside Bonfire is one of my favorites dedicated to the memory of traveling to Nicaragua to build schools for children. While there, my team had a bonfire eating snacks and dancing on the coast. An unforgettable moment that I wanted to bring into others homes. There are 9 Signature scents ranging from sweet/fruity over to masculine or earthy so there is something for everyone. I also introduced seasonal scents for some fun like Baecation which smells like a tropical vacation bringing the ultimate freshness in your space. I also make room and toilet sprays to freshen up your space with natural essential oils added.

My brand is about protecting your peace & tapping into the emotions of moments through self care practices that include aromatherapy with candles, wax melts and sprays. Other practices i promote are exercise, meditation, or something as simple as turning off your phone for a day while laying on the couch watching your favorite movie. This business was created for the people that strive for a better self – inside and out. It is for those that enjoy a moment of stillness with self-reflection due to the stress of this crazy world. And for those that just love their space to smell superior!

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I do! It took months to learn and perfect my recipe. But i did make a candle in the past so making them again for the first time was a refresh. To make the perfect candle took tons of research and failures. We do not realize how much testing needs to be done to make sure a candle burns properly. The whole process is a science experiment! There are a lot of variables in play with the type of wax, wick, fragrance and container combinations. Out of hundreds of options and months of testing with a lot of frustration, I settled with what worked for me.

With all of these variables, there are of course many suppliers to purchase from. The best strategy is looking for suppliers that are closest by, even if its a state or two over. When they are closer, you have a cheaper shipping price which means a higher profit margin instead of wasting money on shipping which has also increased with inflation. With my accessories like wick trimmers, I reached out to suppliers overseas which was a great experience to connect with others in a different continent! I went this route because it was ultimately cheaper since i bought in bulk. So I advise to explore as many options as you can before settling on a supplier. But also keep multiple suppliers in your pocket just in case one becomes unavailable due to supply chain issues which has happened before back in 2020

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, I was furloughed and had just launched my business after many months in 2019 of testing and preparing. Due to the pandemic, may others were furloughed or let go which resulted in a huge increased of small business. Many of which were also candle businesses. Due to this and supply chain issues, many materials were not available. And when they became available, it was like trying to buy Beyoncé tickets because they would sell out within minutes or hours! This was very frustrating and i was forced to utilize other materials like different vessels which resulted in my candles not looking uniform. I knew i had to pivot and search for other suppliers with the materials i needed for my brand. I found a supplier just about an hour away to get supplies. This made my life much easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.prestigescents.com.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_prestigescents/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestigecandlemoods
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestigescents