Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla Perez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in raised in Los Angeles and at the time, we didn’t have much money to buy extras or just go shopping. As a little girl, I with a loved to shop inside a little General store my mom would go to at inside the Lakewood Mall. With my mother not having extra money to shop, we would browse the store and just love it! Walking through the store and smelling all the candles would be like walking through a candle store. I would look and smell all the scents and would say to myself, “One day, I want to have my own candles, I want to have my own store.”
As I got older, the desire grew, the “How do I even start?” would come to mind and I would hang up the idea of handing a candle store in my closet and shut the door.
Years passed, I got married and had two beautiful children. Having children, I began looking for all-natural products and would spend days reading through ingredients trying to find all-natural products, especially candles for the house. It was always a struggle and I knew deep down if I could just take the step and begin creating my own natural candles, I could do it but with a family now and two little kids, how would I do it?
In the winter of 2019, I took a leap of faith. I decided I wasn’t going to hang my dream in the closet anymore, so I sat down and drafted a business plan. From coming up to a name to developing my LLC was a job! But now that I had started, I couldn’t go backward; it was to move forward and have faith.
I came up with the business name and that was it. Once I saw my LLC, I said to myself, this is it! This is the dream! I began making natural soy wax tealights I different scents and different ingredients and the first candle I handcrafted is called Carribean Tea. I took packs of tealights to several friends and small businesses and gave them away to try for free. Within one week, I had two small businesses in my city call me for more. I literally screamed, haha!
With one candle under my belt, I spent hours crafting it to make it perfect and from then on, I spent several long hours testing scents and creating candles from 4oz. to 16 oz. natural soy wax scented candles. And to date, I have over 2o scents that I sell at Vendor Markets and Special Events. When I get in invited to do a Vendor Market, I do it. I love getting out there and meeting people. I love to hear the scents people love. I love to hear my return customers tell me what their favorite candle is. It’s a dream come true for me.
My candles will also go into two stores this year and my candle journey is not over.
My dream is just to get started. It hasn’t been easy; it’s a lot of time and creativity. From making the candles to labeling and marketing them is a full-time job but I am so grateful I took the leap of faith and didn’t let doubt hold me back.
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 hasn’t always been a smooth road. With working a full-time job, having a husband and two children, it gets tough. Balancing work and family takes a lot and there are times I feel like taking a break. I recently lost my mother in April 2023 and she was my inspiration. Having to say goodbye to my mom was the hardest thing I have ever faced. I look back and think it was her that took me to that cute little General Store in the mall. It was my mom that encouraged me to keep going and trust God.
Through the struggles, I remember her. I remember that I can do it as she did it in her life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of my family. My son Luke 10, who is so smart and creative, my daughter Everly, 8 who loves life and is so inspiring, and for my husband of 13 years, that supports me through the journey.
Beginning June first, you may find my candles in 2 California stores:
ADORE Boutique
40820 Winchester Road, Temecula, California 92591, United States
Shop Small Biz Littles
6420 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, California 90803, United States
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if luck has played a part in my business. I believe in faith, I believe in God and that all things are spiritual. I pray daily and let God direct me. Faith tells us to be patient and not rush in the process but to trust through the good and bad.
When a door closes for me, I thank the Lord. When the door opens, I thank him for his goodness.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @le_uncommonscents
