We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tenaja Smith-Butler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tenaja below.

Tenaja, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

It feels taboo to say it, but being a business owner has not made me happier. I’ve had plenty of happy moments and wonderful experiences. I feel so warm whenever I get a glowing review, perfect a new fragrance blend, or get orders from returning customers. And the actual time I spend making my products is what I enjoy the most. However, the intricacies of owning and operating a business, even a small one like mine, are often a source of stress. It is a heavy feeling to know that the success of this thing I created is almost entirely reliant upon my motivation, actions, and luck. As someone who lives with anxiety, it has added a whole new layer to my mental health journey. While I feel grateful and accomplished for taking this risk, I have come to terms with the fact that I value stability, consistency, and direct measurable results for my efforts, which are never guaranteed when starting a business. Nonetheless, I enjoy what I do and will keep striving to make this experience the best I possibly can for myself.

Tenaja, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I found candle making during a deep dive on YouTube. I love crafts, and will sometimes binge tutorials and DIY projects. I started tuning in to videos of people designing and pouring cold process soaps for their small businesses. Not just regular white bars of soap, but with ones with different shapes, colors, embeds, and scents. The measurements, ingredients, tools, and time needed for the final product to take shape reminded me of my days in the Chemistry labs at SUNY Oswego. It felt like alchemy, or maybe magic, watching their designs take form. I wanted to try it for myself, but I couldn’t imagine having to use or give away all those bars of soap. Then, one of the soap makers posted a candle-making video and I knew that was the medium for me. I love setting the vibe in my house with a good stick of incense or an essential oil diffuser, so making candles felt perfect.

Ambedo Candles arose from a hobby. The process of testing and perfecting recipes for new scents felt like I shared my experiments with friends and family and got hooked on their reactions. They would get so wrapped up in the smell, expressing aloud the same things that I thought when picking out the fragrance blends. I wanted to keep inspiring that feeling of connection and reverie while experimenting with new blends. I’ve dabbled in so many things – crocheting, basic carpentry, cross-stitching, 3D printing. At various stages, the folks around me, especially my family, would encourage me to monetize my crafts. This was the first time I felt compelled to follow through with it.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I hand-pour every candle for Ambedo Candles. When I started the hobby, I didn’t even know there were different types of wax, or that fragrance oil is different from essential oils. I watched an obsessive amount of tutorials and “How to start a candle business” videos on YouTube. They taught me the basic components of candles – container, wick, wax, and oil. I was surprised to learn that despite the simple components, there are tons of options for each, all of which affect each other. This excited the scientist in me because it was the perfect opportunity to experiment. Through those videos, I found recommendations for suppliers. After extensive research, I placed my first order and got to work. Thinking back on it now, except for the wax I chose, none of the supplies I used in those initial tests are used for Ambedo Candles today. However, as I learned what I liked, and what worked and did not work for me, I was laying the groundwork for what would become my manufacturing process once my hobby transitioned into a business.

I’ve learned a lot since I first began. At some point, my pouring sessions were becoming super time-consuming and monotonous. The calculations, the time it took for the wax to melt, and the struggle to make sure the results were consistently up to par with my expectations. I intentionally invested in these areas – bought new equipment for my set-up, reworked my methods, and sought the advice of other makers. I was able to improve in all the areas I’d found lacking, and some I would never have expected. Maximizing my time, streamlining the process, and improving the experience for myself as a maker have been the most valuable lessons along the way.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The most influential resources I found when starting my business came from the owner of Winding Wick Candles, Tiana Coates. Her YouTube channel and podcast series were both inspirational and practical. I am also enrolled in her paid Candle Biz Academy course, which offers in-depth lessons and resources on many areas of candle making and the candle business that I had been stuck on. She was essential for helping me think of Ambedo Candles as a business, and not just a craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ambedocandles.carrd.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambedocandleco/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tenaja-smith-butler-634327101

Image Credits
Tenaja Smith-Butler