Why I Started Making Candles (It Started With My Mom)

Hi there! I'm so glad you're here.

I want to introduce myself — I'm a retired veterinary technician with a background in rescue, oncology, holistic, and general practice medicine. I'm still working (as a cleaner these days), but I made a decision to finally focus on the home life I had severely neglected over my years as a dedicated vet tech.

Part of that meant taking better care of my workaholic mother. And honestly? She's the reason candle making ever crossed my mind.

The Story Behind the Candles

When I worked in holistic veterinary medicine, I became much more aware of what my body needed — and what it couldn't tolerate. I've been asthmatic my whole life, but I've always loved candles. So has my mom.

Then came the news that changed everything: my mom was diagnosed with adult asthma, shortly after beating renal cancer. I'll be honest — I think adult-onset asthma is harder to cope with mentally. I've had it all my life, so I've learned to live with it. But watching her navigate it later in life was a different kind of hard.

She's always been my biggest inspiration, though. She's the kind of person who believes in living life fully and with quality, no matter the risk. She wasn't about to give up candles — and neither was I.

Why Soy?

I researched everything. Beeswax came up as a top option, but it wasn't really her style. Soy wax checked every box — cleaner burning, plant-based, and a gentler choice for sensitive airways. I decided to start with soy and eventually expand into beeswax down the road.

Finding the right fragrance oils was the part that worried me most. Fragrance companies aren't required to disclose their full ingredient lists — which is a real problem when you're making candles for people with respiratory sensitivities. I took my time choosing suppliers who are reputable, transparent, and forward about what goes into their fragrance oils. That standard isn't going anywhere.

How This Became a Business

My fiancé deserves a lot of credit here. He saw what I was creating and lovingly pushed me to turn it into something real. I'm so glad he did.

My goal is simple: keep improving my craft while keeping everything as clean, simple, and elegant as possible. As a growing, woman-owned small business, I'm also keeping things flexible — especially in these early years. That means I do accept custom order inquiries, within reason.

Custom Orders & Contact

If you have a special request, I'd love to hear from you! Please reach out at hellocandleflames@gmail.com and include:

• The scent(s) you're interested in
• Quantity needed
• Whether you'd like any free tealight samples

I'm also able to create gift sets for events and party favors — so if you have something special coming up, don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you so much for supporting my business. It truly means everything. 🕯️

— Iztaccihuatl