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

Tyaisha , appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned the craft of candle making by watching a lot of You Tube videos, experimenting with different waxes and oils, and speaking with Artisans at various markets. Knowing what I know now I do not believe there is a way to speed up this process. The craft of candle making is delicate. Each wax performs differently and the only way to know how the candle will perform is by trial and error. I’ve tested an insane amount of wicks and wax before settling on the one was the best for my brand and concept. I think patience will always be a skill that is critical in candle making. Just because a candle performed well in a glass jar doesn’t mean it will be the same in a ceramic jar. Patience is definitely needed when operating a candle business. Unfortunately, the major obstacles I hear from the candle community and from experience is capital and seasonal slowness. We are testing and fine tuning our products to offer the best to our clients and the expenses can be major. Specifically for candle makers, summer is an off season. I didn’t know this when I start my company, so my first market was in May and I was discouraged because I sold maybe 1 candle. Since knowing this I’ve refocused that discouragement feeling on expanding my product line. I introduced organic body oil and fragrance sprays specially to off-set the decrease of candles being purchased in the summer. By introducing new products it took time away from test new jars in different ounces.

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?

I’m a single momtie (Aunt-Mom) to my 2 beautiful nieces ages 8 and 4. I got into the industry by divine intervention. I was unemployed and dealing with the a lot of personal issues. It was in the midst of the pandemic and no one was hiring. I lit a candle from a popular store and I was highly upset that I could not smell anything. I literally heard “You can make them” and that was the start of Yahweh Candles Co. I took a huge leap of faith and since that day I’ve been walking by faith. I make toxin-free candles, I source my materials from other small businesses who align with my business goals which is to create a product with minimal impact to our world. My candles are cruelty-free made from a luxury vegan wax. I use grade A essential oils as well as clean fragrance oils. I am proud to be able to create unique and lovely aromas that are not filled with toxins. No short-cuts are taken when I am creating my candles, sprays, and body fragrances. I have been able to source materials without compromising on my personal values.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is for my business to become a family owned and operated company. As a momtie I want to leave a legacy to my nieces and hopefully my children. I was raised in a single mom home of an entrepreneur. My mother has been a hair stylist for over 30 yrs. I see her grind and her tenacity. My goal is to retire her. I want my company to be able to provide generational comfort not wealth but secureness. My drive comes from wanting to provide for my family where life emergencies doesn’t break the account. Some days it seems like the goal is unattainable and I remember where I started and where I am at now. Anything is possible.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Blessing peoples home with lovely aromas will alway be the most rewarding aspect of being a creative. When my customers tell me how the aromas changes their home atmosphere or shifts their energy to a positive feeling. It’s a blessing for me. When a customers smells my products and it takes them to a memory, seeing the smiles on their faces is a priceless moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yahwehcandlesco.com
• Instagram: @yahwehcandles
• Facebook: Yahweh Candles Co https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553670311994&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Yelp: Yahweh Candles Co

Image Credits

Stephanie Pacheco, smp imagery