We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Antionette Watkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Antionette below.
Antionette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The idea for UMBEREDco was deeply personal and rooted in my own experiences with loss, resilience, and the need for intentional self-care.
My father was a huge part of my life—his wisdom, strength, and presence shaped who I am today. When he passed away, I found myself navigating overwhelming grief while still trying to juggle motherhood, my career, and the responsibilities that never seemed to pause. I was giving so much to others but neglecting myself in the process.
One evening, in a rare quiet moment, I lit a candle and simply sat in stillness. The soft glow, the gentle flicker, the subtle scent in the air—it all brought a sense of peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was in that moment that I realized self-care isn’t just about indulgence—it’s about survival, about creating spaces that allow us to heal, reflect, and recharge.
That realization led me to create UMBEREDco—a brand that goes beyond candles and wellness products. It’s about helping women, especially mothers, carve out moments of peace in their daily lives. I knew this was something special because so many women, like me, put themselves last. The world constantly demands from us, but who is reminding us to pour back into ourselves?
With UMBEREDco, I set out to create more than just products—I wanted to offer a reminder. A reminder to slow down. To breathe. To take a moment. Because in those small moments, healing happens, clarity emerges, and we find the strength to keep going.
This business is my way of honoring my father’s memory and everything he instilled in me. His love, guidance, and presence remain at the heart of UMBEREDco, and every product that I make carries that intention—to bring light, warmth, and peace to others, just as he did for me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Antionette, and I’m the founder of UMBEREDco, a self-care and wellness brand that specializes in handcrafted candles, aromatherapy, and self-care essentials designed to help people create a sense of peace and balance in their daily lives.
My journey into this industry was deeply personal. UMBEREDco was inspired by my father’s passing, a moment that forced me to slow down and realize the importance of intentional self-care. As a busy mom, full time employee, an entrepreneur, I was constantly giving to others but rarely prioritized myself. One evening, as I lit a candle and allowed myself a moment of stillness, I felt a deep sense of peace—something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. That moment sparked the idea for UMBEREDco: a brand dedicated to helping others create their own personal sanctuary, no matter how busy life gets.
What Sets UMBEREDco Apart
1. Intentional Self-Care: Our products are not just about scent or aesthetics—they are tools for creating meaningful self-care rituals that fit into real, everyday lives.
2. High-Quality, Thoughtfully Crafted Products: We use natural coco apricot wax, eco-friendly wood wicks, and premium fragrance oils to ensure a clean, long-lasting burn. Our bath and aromatherapy products are also formulated with high-quality, non-toxic ingredients.
3. A Holistic Approach to Wellness: We believe that self-care isn’t just about candles or skincare—it’s about mindfulness, relaxation, and emotional well-being. Our products are designed to help people slow down, reset, and recharge.
The Problem We Solve
Many people, especially moms, struggle to find time for themselves. UMBEREDco provides a simple yet powerful way to incorporate self-care into daily life, whether it’s through lighting a candle, taking a mindful pause, or indulging in a calming bath.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of the way UMBEREDco has created a movement around self-care—one that encourages women to put themselves first without guilt. I love hearing from customers who tell me that our candles and products have helped them feel more grounded, relaxed, and present.
What I Want People to Know
UMBEREDco is more than a brand; it’s a reminder to pause, breathe, and take care of yourself. Whether you’re a busy mom, a hardworking professional, or simply someone looking for moments of calm, our products are designed with you in mind. My hope is that when you light an UMBEREDco candle or use one of our self-care products, that it becomes more than just a product—it becomes a ritual, a moment, a gift to yourself.
I invite you to join our community, embrace self-care, and rediscover the power of slowing down.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Starting UMBEREDco was a labor of love, and like many entrepreneurs, I had to be resourceful in putting together the initial capital to bring my vision to life. I didn’t have a huge investment fund or outside backers—instead, I relied on personal savings, strategic budgeting, and reinvesting every dollar back into the business.
When I first had the idea for UMBEREDco, I knew I wanted to create a brand rooted in quality, intentionality, and self-care, but I also understood that launching a product-based business required upfront investment—materials, packaging, branding, and more. Instead of taking on debt right away, I made a plan to start small, stay lean, and grow strategically.
How I Funded UMBEREDco:
1. Personal Savings & Budgeting: I set aside funds from my personal savings, making sacrifices in other areas of my budget to invest in high-quality wax, fragrance oils, and sustainable packaging.
2. Reinvesting Earnings: From the very first sale, I made a commitment to reinvest every dollar back into the business—whether it was for upgrading materials, refining branding, or expanding product offerings.
3. Leveraging My Existing Skills & Network: As a fashion designer and realtor, I had experience in branding, marketing, and client relations. I used those skills to DIY many aspects of the business in the beginning—building my own website, designing labels, and handling social media marketing instead of outsourcing.
4. Starting Small & Scaling Smart: Rather than launching with a large inventory, I began with a carefully curated collection of candles, testing the market and growing based on customer demand. This approach allowed me to scale organically without overextending financially.
The Lesson:
Starting UMBEREDco wasn’t about having a huge budget—it was about being intentional, resourceful, and trusting the process. Every decision was made with care, ensuring that the brand grew in a sustainable way. Looking back, I’m proud of how I built this business from the ground up with passion, persistence, and a commitment to creating products that truly make a difference in people’s lives.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the biggest tests of my resilience came in the early days of UMBEREDco when I was balancing the demands of motherhood, grief, and entrepreneurship—all while trying to bring my vision to life with limited resources.
Shortly after launching, I faced a major setback: a batch of candles I had meticulously crafted turned out completely wrong. The wax didn’t set properly, the scent throw wasn’t strong enough, and after hours of testing and troubleshooting, I realized I’d have to start over from scratch. It was frustrating, expensive, and discouraging—especially because I had customers waiting on orders.
At that moment, I had two choices: give in to the frustration or push forward with determination. I reminded myself why I started UMBEREDco in the first place—to create something meaningful, inspired by my father’s memory, and to help others embrace self-care. So instead of letting failure stop me, I used it as a lesson. I spent hours researching, refining my formulas, and perfecting the process.
That experience taught me that resilience isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about how you respond to it. Since then, I’ve faced other challenges, from supply chain delays to the struggles of growing a small business, but I approach each obstacle with the same mindset: adjust, learn, and keep going.
Looking back, that failed batch of candles wasn’t a setback—it was a stepping stone. It reinforced my belief that anything worth building requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to grow through the challenges. And today, every time I pour a candle, I’m reminded that resilience is what turns obstacles into opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.umbered.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/umberedco
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/umberedco
- Other: https://TikTok.com/umberedco
Image Credits
Photographer
Kim Johnson
http://www.urbanoasisstudio.com/