How a Box of Shea Butter Sparked a Candle Business
I recently shared a little passion project I’ve been pouring my heart into.
As you may know, I’m a mom to five little ones—and in the middle of the joyful chaos, lighting candles has always brought a sense of peace to our home.
But when I discovered how many toxins and harmful pollutants are released by most conventional candles and their wicks, I knew I had to make a change.
That’s when Thoughtful Scents was born. 💛💛
For the last six months, I’ve been steadily crafting recipes for these beeswax candles and sharing them with friends and family.
What I haven’t yet shared with you in detail is the story of how this whole thing came about.
A few months ago, I received a phone call from my older sister who lives in NY.
“Sis, did a package come in the mail? I sent something to you and it said it was delivered.”
I stepped out onto my patio, and lo and behold, there was a small white box. I went inside, and my kids excitedly all grabbed butter knives (they love when packages come in the mail) and went to work.
Inside were three small jars of whipped shea butter.
“Yeah, I got the package. One jar got smashed, but the others are intact. These smell really good. Thank you!”
At this point, I was used to my older sis gifting us whipped shea butter blended with different oils. But this time, her next statement caught me off guard.
“One broke?! I spent so much time making these for y’all,” she accidentally let slip.
“Wait, you made these?!”
“Yeah, but I didn’t want you to know. I wanted you to use them and then tell me what you thought.”
If you knew my sister, she’s not the one you’d guess would be making whipped shea butter! The girl can cook, but she’s not hopping into any sort of DIY projects.
So I was instantly inspired. My sister—a civil rights attorney in Harlem—was making whipped shea butter in her home?!
As she shared her vision for the butters, the Holy Spirit began to use her story to expand my mind toward something new.
By the time we got off the phone, the idea to begin making beeswax candles had fully bloomed. Before then, I had never even thought of it!
Being a stay-at-home mama with five small kiddos and living resourcefully on one income, I’ve always loved 100% beeswax candles—but they came at a cost. I usually only bought one on special occasions.
The idea of making candles for my family and for others felt like the best kind of win-win.
But the journey was slow.
Around October of 2024, I bought my first kit as a gift to myself.
A few weeks later, I finally broke down and made candles for the first time, using random combinations of essential oils that came to mind after prayer.
After a few trials, I began gifting them to friends in exchange for any feedback.
My goal was to play around for a few months and then make my first sale.
Well, June came around—and I still didn’t feel like I had a verifiable product.
But every day, I began to wake up with an increasing sense of urgency to just make some candles and sell.
That same week, three different people randomly reached out asking how the candle thing was going. I took that as more than enough confirmation.
So one morning, when my mother’s helper was coming over to help with chores, I changed course. Typically, I’d have a full to-do list for us—but that day, my only agenda was to make candles.
And I did!
The conviction lifted. That night, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper so clearly:
“By the end of the week, sell every single one.”
With so much angst and nervousness, I made a decision to just go for it.
My husband helped me craft a text using ChatGPT, and I sent it to close family with a few pictures attached.
By the end of the week, I had sold every single one.
Those sales felt like wind beneath my sails.
And I’m just beginning.
If you’ve purchased a candle, I’d love pics and feedback!
Ya girl isn’t sensitive 😅 —
Tell me:
• Which scents you liked
• If any were too subtle • Your favorite aspect of the candle • And whether or not you’d purchase again
It’s been so fulfilling to be on this journey. I’m thankful the Lord pushed me to take the leap—and thankful to you for the grace and encouragement you’ve shown me along the way.
Much love,
Pondered Thought
**These candles are intentionally subtle in scent—perfect for bathrooms, bedrooms, and small spaces. They create a warm atmosphere without overwhelming your senses.
