We were lucky to catch up with Blaque Diamond recently and have shared our conversation below.
Blaque , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The Power of Candles: My Journey to Basic Blaque Candles
I have seen firsthand how meaningful candles can be—especially when blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. But as I grew older, I realized that candles are more than just decorations; they hold a deeper significance. Candles have the power to energize and uplift, stimulating the senses in a way that evokes emotion, memory, and healing.
In 2020, I experienced a series of troubling symptoms—headaches, a runny nose, and, ultimately, the loss of taste and smell—leading to my diagnosis with COVID-19. Like so many others, losing my sense of smell was a profound experience. Our sense of smell is an essential part of how we connect with the world, triggering memories, emotions, and responses to our surroundings.
As I focused on my recovery, I began burning candles, praying for healing and a return to normalcy. Then, one day, as I lit a scented candle, something miraculous happened—I realized I could smell again. It was at that moment I truly understood the power of candles. The warmth of the flame, the aroma filling the air, and the subtle signals to my senses were transformative.
Now, I’m not saying candles cured COVID, but what I will say is that I am immensely grateful to have regained my sense of smell. Since then, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for scented candles, but nothing will ever replace that first scent—the one that reignited my connection to the world around me.
Introducing Basic Blaque Candles
With so many candles on the market, my vision for Basic Blaque Candles is to go beyond fragrance—we create an experience. Our handcrafted candles are designed to provide a soothing and immersive atmosphere that helps the body relax, relate, and replenish, whether at home or in the office.
Basic Blaque Candles are more than just a scent; they are an energizing and uplifting experience, awakening the senses and fostering peace and balance. Let our candles surround you with warmth, comfort, and a sense of renewal, bringing relaxation and serenity into your space.
Light a Basic Blaque Candle and let your senses guide you.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Blaque Diamond: A Life of Purpose, Resilience, and Advocacy
Blaque Diamond is a rare gem whose resilience, passion, and dedication have set her apart as a leader, advocate, and creative force. She is the CEO of Blaque Diamond Enterprise and Basic Blaque Essentials, a multi-award-winning author, podcaster, social worker, parent coach, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. However, her most cherished role is parenting 12 children, a journey that has profoundly shaped her purpose.
A Journey of Strength and Survival
Blaque Diamond’s path was not paved with diamonds and pearls. Her dream of becoming an international judge shifted when she became the guardian of her niece while still in high school, soon followed by her nephew. Faced with financial hardships and unable to return to college, she reached a breaking point and contemplated suicide. However, everything changed when she heard Patti LaBelle sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” That moment rekindled her faith and determination to push forward.
Her challenges continued, but so did her perseverance. She later took custody of another nephew and secured stable employment. Marriage brought new blessings, and she and her husband welcomed three children together. However, tragedy struck when a hit was placed on her family, forcing them into hiding. Despite the chaos, Blaque Diamond pursued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work with a 3.5 GPA and a master’s degree in social work with a 4.0 GPA, achieving the title of All-American Collegiate Scholar.
After relocating for a fresh start, another tragedy occurred—her husband was found deceased, his body left in a morgue for three weeks despite having identification on him. She buried him without ever learning the full truth. Six months later, a murder was witnessed, forcing her family into hiding once more. During this time, she taught her children a survival skill that no child should ever have to learn—how to play dead when necessary. When asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, their answer was simple: “An adult.”
Turning Pain into Purpose: Writing and Advocacy
Blaque Diamond turned her pain into purpose, penning her memoir “In My Mother’s House” (2010) to ensure her story lived on for future generations. Once her family was no longer in danger, she sought to rebuild a life rooted in healing and advocacy. She later adopted three of her nieces and nephews and dedicated herself to raising awareness about foster care and adoption.
In 2015, she published the award-winning Stacey F. Series of children’s books on foster care and adoption:
She Named Me Stacey
A Temporary Home for Stacey
Stacey F., My Forever Mommy
Stacey F. Coloring and Activity Book
Her work earned multiple literary awards, including the 2015 and 2016 African American Author Awards and the 2017 Indie Author Legacy Awards Community Champion Legendary Honoree.
Walking the Streets for Awareness
In 2018, Blaque Diamond took her advocacy a step further. During National Foster Care Month, she walked the streets carrying her belongings in a trash bag—a symbol of the harsh reality many foster youth face. She used this experience to challenge perceptions and highlight the dignity of those in the system. When questioned at a state building about her bag, she asked:
“What’s the difference between my colleague’s Gucci bag and my Glad bag?”
Her actions left a profound impact, serving as a mirror to society’s biases.
Expanding Her Influence
That same year, Blaque Diamond co-authored “Open Your G.I.F.T.S Vol. II” with actress and comedian Kim Coles. In 2021, she released her powerful novel, “1380 Prospect Avenue: Not Another Bronx Tale,” which earned her the Langston Hughes Excellence in Literature Award. The book highlighted the struggles of youth in foster care, and during filming for its book trailer, young actors stepped out of their roles and into reality—asking her, “What happens to foster kids when they turn 18?”
Blaque Diamond used that moment to educate them:
“Without a loving family, stable housing, or viable employment, many foster youth age out of the system and become homeless.”
Her continued dedication to this cause earned her the Beyond the Abuse Lifetime Achievement Award.
A Voice for Change
Blaque Diamond has spoken on multiple platforms advocating for foster care, adoption, and self-empowerment. She co-authored “L3: Learn, Love, Lead”, an affirmation book, with several authors, including her 96-year-old mother. She also wrote the foreword for “Faith Without Works is Dead” and has shared her powerful journey of self-parenting on various stages.
Her media appearances include:
WJZ-13TV with Marcus Washington (Foster Care Awareness)
PBS, Baltimore Times, The Dundalk Eagle, Aspiring Authors Magazine
Conversations LIVE Magazine, Radio on Fire with Diamond K
Morgan State University WEAA.88 Radio, Conversations Live with Deborah Franklin
Sadior Radio with Angela Thomas Smith, Butch Adams In and Out of Sports
The National Black Unity News, Elife Media, Impact the World Radio Show
Interviewed by Cyrus Webb on Conversations Live Radio
Blaque Diamond Today
In addition to her advocacy work, Blaque Diamond is the host of Basic Blaque After Dark Podcast, airing on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month at 8 PM EST. She is an international speaker and parent coach, counseling on Option A in India and The Black Book Show in the UK. She facilitates Grandparent and Parent Cafés and created “Unpack Your Mindfulness,” an introspective program for individuals seeking self-growth and Cracks In the Surface Strenght in the Core: Not Easily Broken panel discussing mental health and trauma .
Her latest endeavor includes launching a handcrafted candle line, bringing healing, relaxation, and mindfulness to others through scent and ambiance. She recently released her long-awaited novel The “HABITCH” ual Liar, released in 2025.
A Life Dedicated to Others
Blaque Diamond has parented 12 children—three biological and nine nieces and nephews, five of whom she has legal custody or guardianship over, and three whom she adopted from NYC foster care. She currently resides in the DMV area with her children and serves as the caretaker for her 100-year-old mother.
Despite life’s challenges, Blaque Diamond never let circumstances define her. Instead, she turned every struggle into a stepping stone, ensuring that the best interests of children and vulnerable adults remain at the heart of her work.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Recently, I made the difficult decision to close both my Candle Studio and Candle Bar to focus on caring for my mother. It was a challenging transition, but one that reinforced the importance of family and adaptability.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
My Journey Into the Candle Business
I have seen firsthand how meaningful candles can be—especially when blowing out candles on a birthday cake. But as I grew older, I realized that candles are more than just decorations; they hold a deeper significance. Candles have the power to energize, uplift, and transform—stimulating the senses in a way that evokes emotion, memory, and healing.
How It All Started
In 2020, I faced one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I developed headaches, a runny nose, and eventually lost both my sense of taste and smell—leading to my diagnosis with COVID-19. Losing my sense of smell was particularly difficult because scent is such an integral part of how we connect with the world. It triggers memories, emotions, and even our overall well-being.
As I focused on my recovery, I began burning candles, praying for healing and the return of my senses. Then, one day, as I lit a scented candle, something miraculous happened—I realized I could smell again. That moment changed everything. It was then that I truly understood the power of candles—the warmth of the flame, the soothing aroma filling the air, and the subtle signals to my senses were transformative.
Now, I’m not saying candles cured COVID, but I will say that I am immensely grateful to have regained my sense of smell. That moment ignited a newfound appreciation for scented candles, and it planted the seed for what would later become my candle business.
Did I Already Know How to Manufacture Candles?
No, I did not have any prior experience in candle-making. I had a vision for my brand, but when I looked for a vendor to manufacture candles for me, I couldn’t find one that met my expectations. So, instead of giving up, I took matters into my own hands.
I taught myself how to manufacture candles through online tutorials, research, and a lot of trial and error. It was a process that required patience, precision, and persistence.
Lessons Learned About Manufacturing Candles
I quickly discovered that making candles is not as easy as it seems. It requires an understanding of wax types, fragrance blending, wick selection, curing times, and the science of burning efficiency. Each candle had to be carefully crafted to ensure that it provided the perfect balance of aroma, burn time, and ambiance.
Through this journey, I learned:
Quality Matters – The type of wax, fragrance oil, and wick all play a crucial role in how a candle performs.
Candle-Making is a Science – Temperature control and proper mixing techniques are key to achieving a consistent product.
Patience is Essential – Every mistake was a lesson, and perfecting the craft took time and dedication.
Scent is Powerful – Candles are more than just wax and fragrance; they evoke emotions and create an experience.
Why Candles?
Candles became more than just a product to sell—they became a personal mission. My goal was to create handcrafted candles that provide more than just a scent—they offer a sense of peace, relaxation, and mindfulness.
This is how Basic Blaque Candles was born.
I wanted to design candles that do more than just fill a room with fragrance—I wanted them to awaken the senses, shift moods, and create a sanctuary for self-care and reflection.
Today, my handcrafted candles serve as a reminder of resilience, a celebration of healing, and a testament to the power of scent. Whether used for relaxation, meditation, or simply to add warmth to a space, Basic Blaque Candles are designed to uplift, inspire, and restore balance.
Contact Info:
- Website: authorblaquediamond
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/basic_blaque
- Facebook: facbook.com/authorblaque.diamond
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/blaque-diamond-43b47a35
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaquediamond03
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blaquediamond2262
Image Credits
Latonya Smothers
Dr. Carolyn Stephens
Meek Butler
Ericka Fowlkes
Rhonda Green-Randolph
Autum “Bleu”
Sandra Smith