Check Out Leslie Gomez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Gomez.

Hi Leslie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started ThatmakescentsCo
in 2021 with the idea of turning memories into scents. Growing up as a Mexican American in California, so many of my favorite memories were connected to smells like fresh pan dulce, agua frescas, Sunday morning cleaning days, family gatherings, and places around the city that shaped me. I wanted to create candles and home fragrances that felt personal and nostalgic, while also representing my culture and community.

What started as a creative outlet quickly grew into something much bigger. I began experimenting with fragrance blending and teaching myself how to make candles and bath and body products from scratch, all while working full time. Over time, the brand expanded into reed diffusers, room sprays, perfumes, body oils, and collections inspired by San Francisco neighborhoods, travel, and everyday moments.

Today, ThatmakescentsCo is carried in local shops around the Bay Area and has been featured at markets like Renegade Craft and West Coast Craft. Everything is still deeply rooted in storytelling, memory, and creating products that make people feel connected to a place, a person, or a moment in time. My goal has always been to create more than just candles. I want people to feel seen, represented, and comforted through scent.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been building the business independently while working full time. Balancing production, markets, social media, website management, shipping, and product development can be overwhelming at times, especially during busy seasons.

Another challenge was learning everything on my own. When I first started, I had to teach myself candle making, fragrance blending, branding, photography, and running a business through trial and error. There were a lot of moments where things did not go as planned, whether it was products not turning out right, financial limitations, or figuring out how to grow sustainably without outside funding.

As a small business owner, there is also a lot of pressure behind the scenes that people do not always see. Markets can be unpredictable, ingredient costs continue to rise, and there is always the challenge of standing out in a very saturated industry. But through all of it, I stayed connected to the reason I started: creating products inspired by memories, culture, and community.

Even with the challenges, every struggle has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Seeing people connect emotionally to my products and supporting a business that reflects my story has made it all worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create candles, home fragrances, perfumes, and bath and body products. My work is heavily inspired by memories, culture, travel, and the everyday experiences that connect people to a feeling or place. I specialize in creating scent collections that tell stories, whether that is inspired by San Francisco neighborhoods, Latin culture, childhood memories, or destinations around the world.

I think I am most known for creating nostalgic and emotionally driven scents. A lot of my products are inspired by experiences people instantly recognize. I love blending fragrances in unexpected ways to create something that feels both comforting and unique.

What I am most proud of is building this business from the ground up while working full time and staying true to my vision. Seeing people connect so deeply with my products and stories has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

What sets me apart is the storytelling behind the brand. I do not just create products to smell good. I create products that are meant to spark memories, conversations, and emotional connections. As a Latina-owned business, representation and authenticity are also very important to me, and I try to bring that into every collection I create.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is creating things that make people feel connected to a memory, a person, or a moment in their life. There is something really special about hearing someone smell one of my candles or fragrances and immediately say it reminds them of their childhood, their family, their culture, or a place they love. That emotional connection is the reason I started ThatmakescentsCo in the first place.

I also find a lot of happiness in being creative and building something that reflects who I am and where I come from. As a Mexican American growing up in SoCal, I did not always see products or brands that represented experiences that felt familiar to me. Being able to create products inspired by my culture, community, and memories feels very fulfilling.

Pricing:

• $10
• $50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thatmakescentsco.com
• Instagram: @thatmakescentsco
• Other: Tik Tok – @thatmakescentsco

Image Credits
@tia.marie.images