We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandy Hinskton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brandy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I’m from Denver Colorado. I was working full time, and got a great job opportunity in Las Vegas. I had every intention on moving my kids and I to start fresh. I received a call from my mother who lived in Maryland stating her health was declining. She was having issues with home health nurses taking care of her and she was in and out of the hospital. I haven’t seen my mother in years not to mention due to an estranged relationship.

I decided to turn the position down in Las Vegas. I sold everything I owned except the clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet. I gave all my furniture away to a needy family who had nothing, and I drove across country with my sons to take care of my sick mother.

We lived with her until I was able to find work full time and take care of her full time after work and on the weekends. I moved to DC to be closer to work whilst trying to provide for my mother afterwards.

Two years passed after moving to the east coast, and her health declined significantly till one day I received the most devastating news of my life ” Brandy, mom is on life support, she had a heart attack”.

I fled to be by her side, just to hear from The Doctor, her lungs will never expand on their own again and she had only hours to live. I held her hand until she took her last few breaths. And that was the day my life changed. Forever.

It took me a year and a half of depression and sadness to figure out what I wanted to do differently with my life. I prayed and I asked God to show me my gifts, and what I would be good at outside of my medical career. It wasn’t long before I realized I wanted to do something my mother loved and cherished so much. And that was: candles, wax melts, Sugar scrubs and lotions/body butters. She would have 10 candles burning at one time in her house lol. That’s just how much she loved smell goods.

So, What could I name my company I thought. It took me a few days too tweak it just right. And then it hit me.

” Lil Bit of Heaven Scent”.

LilBit: was my mothers nickname.
Heaven: because I believe in my heart that’s where she is.
Scent: The aromatic fragrances that I make.

This company means everything to me. You know you’re doing what you should when its no longer just a job or career. Instead, Its something you love doing.

Lil Bit of Heaven Scent creates Candles, Body Butta’s, Suga Scrubs and Wax Melts all hand made, organic, hand poured and with love. I want to share my product with the world. I want to own, my own Candle Boutique one day because I want everyone to know just what “Lil Bit of heaven scent” smells like.

Thank you,

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 background and context?

I’m a single mother of two boys. I work long 10-12 hour shifts during the day and at night, I’m up making new products until my feet won’t allow Me to stand anymore. The funny thing is, prior to starting my business, I didn’t have drive. I didn’t have a passion. I didn’t have a dream. So after my five 12 hour shifts, all I wanted to do was sleep. Until, the day I decided I was going to build this legacy for my mother and do it in her honor. Its crazy how working 12 hours is exhausting, but getting my energy back once I step foot into my business. That is my drive. That is my passion. That is my daily hustle and grind.
When I first started my business, I was only making candles and cute home decor. I then made a transition a couple months after starting to focus on candles and adding Body butters and sugar scrubs and Wax melts. That’s when I noticed my business starting to take off. I started getting clients from different states who have never even met me just from word of mouth. I am proud to be able to offer great scents, pretty jars, natural products that my Clients love.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

They never tell you just how hard it is too start your own business from ground zero. Or, how much work goes into getting it started. But what I really learned quickly, is how much of your own money goes into getting it off the ground. I have not had funding go into my business. No personal loans, no lending help, nothing. I grind at my full time job 7 days a week, just to support my own Business. I do it little by little, but I make it happen.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I strongly believe word of mouth has built my reputation within my market. When I first started my candle business, I knew I was going up against tough competitors. I thought, how can I get people to purchase my products when they are used to going to well known companies…. The answer is word of mouth.. It took several months to gain clientele. It took longer to gain clientele from people that don’t know me or my company. Its all about who you know, and word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Lilbitofheavenscent
• Facebook: Lil Bit of Heaven Scent