As we strive to celebrate and support Black-owned businesses, we couldn’t help but fall in love with Harlem Candle Company. Harlem Candle Co. is a line of candles that draws inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance Era.

The Harlem Renaissance remains one of America’s greatest eras of Black enlightenment. It sparked a generation of Black intellectuals and creatives that still influence us today. As a Black homeowner, finding home decor and items that celebrate Black culture is an option many of us are looking for, and the Harlem Candle Co. provides just that.

About Harlem Candle Co.

Teri Johnson, founder, and CEO of Harlem Candle Co. has always had a penchant for exotic perfumes and fragrances. As a professional jet setter, Johnson concluded that throughout all her travels, there is power in scents and smells. Born in Texas, now living in Harlem, Johnson is inspired by her new home which reflects in the care she has for her line of candles.

Once Johnson settled into Harlem, she decided to do some intense research on her new home. That led her to a path of meeting fragrance experts, who she would work with to provide products that were missing from the market.

How To Buy Quality Candles

So how do you know what is and what isn’t a quality candle? We asked Johnson to give us some tips on what to look for. She taught us that we need to understand how the hot throw impacts how effective a candle will be. She also encourages consumers to read reviews. “The only way you’re going to know is by reading reviews. I think it’s impossible just to see when you’re at a store by picking up a candle, you won’t know if the hot throw is going to be great (or not). You’ll only see the cold throw, which is how the candle smells when it’s not illuminated,” she confirmed.

Soy Wax Vs. Others

“It burns clean and it’s good for the environment. It does very well with the fragrance oils that we use because we use a lot of raw ingredients and raw materials and so it allows for the fragrance to work,” Johnson explains. The soy wax doesn’t have the same toxins as other waxes and that gives more sensitive people a cleaner option.

What’s Next For Harlem Candle Company?

Everybody that discovers Harlem Candle Co. raves about it and it’s no surprise that fans of the line want to know what’s next. With so many iconic figures that lived during the Harlem Renaissance, Johnson has more than enough options to pick from.

“We are working on a candle inspired by Zora Neale Hurston,” she confirmed. However, just like the historical literary giant, it’s not easy to perfect the essence. “The magnolia flower is hard to capture the headspace of that fragrance. So we’ve been working on it for a while. White florals are more difficult to perfume in a space. There’s so much science [to it]. Our Billie Holiday, the Lady Day candle, took us probably nine months to get. We went through a lot of different modifications to try to get the fragrance to come through,” explained Johnson.

We know you can’t wait to dive into these scents so check out some of the consumers’ favorites on Amazon!

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