In a market crowded with minimalist jars, neutral palettes, and the quiet suggestion that “clean” has to look a certain way, CAVO took a different approach. Founded by sisters Femi and Naomi Adeyemo, the brand began with a simple but powerful realization: eco-conscious home spaces rarely reflected their style, their culture, or their lives as young Black women.

“We didn’t see our fun, eclectic style—or people who looked like us—represented or marketed to,” the sisters explain. While many clean candle brands leaned into muted aesthetics and higher price points, Femi and Naomi wanted to create something accessible, expressive, and inclusive. Their belief was clear from the start: eco-friendly products don’t have to be beige, boring, or stripped of personality.

That ethos shows up everywhere in CAVO—from bold color choices and playful scent names to a tone that feels personal rather than precious. The brand’s candles are designed to live comfortably in vibrant, lived-in spaces, not just on perfectly styled shelves.

Clean Doesn’t Mean Compromise

For the sisters, valuing clean products has never meant sacrificing personal style. “You may not want all of your home goods to look ‘earthy,’” they note. CAVO exists for people who care about sustainability but also want their homes to feel like themselves.

Their candles are made with non-toxic ingredients and reusable jars, and the brand is intentional about environmentally friendly choices without letting sustainability dictate a narrow visual language. Instead, CAVO reframes what clean living can look like—joyful, expressive, and rooted in real life.

That same balance carries through one of the brand’s most distinctive elements: pairing candles with playlists.

Giving Their Scents a Soundtrack

Music was never a marketing add-on—it was always part of the story. Growing up, Femi and Naomi shared a bedroom, where lighting candles and listening to music went hand in hand. Over time, certain scents became inseparable from specific sounds, moods, and memories.

“The two went hand in hand,” they say. As adults, that connection evolved into the foundation of CAVO’s identity as the Originators of Candles Paired with Playlists. Each candle is designed to commemorate a moment—enhanced by sound—inviting customers to slow down and be present.

It’s a layered experience: scent sets the atmosphere, music deepens it, and together they turn an ordinary moment into something really cool.

Celebrating Everyday Rituals

CAVO’s scent names—wash day, second dates, a good cry—feel instantly familiar. They’re pulled directly from the sisters’ own lives, inspired by routines and emotional touchpoints that might otherwise go unmarked.

“Wash days are part of our routines, and we thought, how can we make those days more enjoyable and celebrate them?” they share. While the moments are personal, the response has been universal. Customers often project their own experiences onto the candles, associating them with milestones, goals, or meaningful gifts.

In this way, CAVO turns ordinary Black life into something collectible and celebratory—without overexplaining it.

Building a Brand as Sisters

Being sister-founded adds another layer to CAVO’s story. Femi and Naomi credit their shared history for the trust and honesty that shape how they work together. Ideas are bounced freely, disagreements are direct, and encouragement is constant.

“When we do disagree, we’re able to be honest in ways we may not if we weren’t family,” they explain. That foundation makes navigating challenges—and growth—feel less isolating. They’ve dreamed together for as long as they can remember, and that shared commitment continues to guide the brand forward.

At its core, CAVO is about honoring moments—big and small—and creating space for people to feel seen in their homes. Whether it’s lighting a candle during a quiet reset or pairing scent and sound to mark a memory, the brand reminds us that everyday rituals deserve intention, beauty, and celebration.

And maybe most importantly, that clean living can still be full of color, culture, and joy.