Bringing Warmth and Positivity Home | INSPIRE & COMPANY CANDLES
Photos by JOHN BURNS
Ebony White used to buy a lot of candles as part of her self-care strategy.
“I love that candles can set a vibe,” Ebony said. “Lighting a candle instantly helps me feel more relaxed.”
As a woman with asthma, it was important to Ebony to keep good air quality in her home, which meant seeking out candles made with pure ingredients.
“I’m a health fanatic,” Ebony said, “so I wanted to ensure all materials used were non-toxic. It was a scientific process. I thought about every aspect of the candle, and the experience that I wanted, and then I started experimenting.”
Ebony tried various wicks and waxes and chose a range of fragrances that blended well with each other and with the candle materials. She learned a bit with every prototype, and finally developed a candle that would burn clean, melt evenly all the way to the bottom, fill a room with scent, and last long. Her results were so good that she couldn’t keep the candles to herself. She started giving them to family and friends as gifts, getting their feedback and continuing to improve her product.
In February of 2021, Ebony officially launched Inspire & Company Candles. High-quality, soybean wax candles for better air quality and a healthier environment. Each handmade candle features an inspiring quote.
“I’m a very positive person,” Ebony said. “I want my candles to bring positivity and warmth into my customers’ homes. It’s about a memorable experience, a pleasing moment to come home to.”
Ebony loves seeing people react with joy to the scents of her candles.
“It’s a small luxury,” she said, “and we all deserve to treat ourselves. I love that my candles make people smile.”
Inspire & Company Candles has built a following of repeat buyers at local fairs and markets and has also established several wholesale partnerships. Ebony hopes to connect with more local retailers in the future.
She is currently developing a room spray to add to her line-up of products and aspires to start a subscription-based candle service. Ebony dreams of opening a retail location of her own one day.
For now, Inspire & Company Candles offers local pick-up for free and ships candles anywhere in the United States. You can also visit her booth at local fairs and events and in the Stormont Vail gift shop.
She encourages local customers to message her directly through her website with questions about placing large orders and wholesale opportunities.
Ebony feels gratitude when she thinks about her successes. As a nod to her support network, especially her mother, she added “& Company” into her business name. She wants other makers to know that the hard work is worth it, and that they can make their business dreams come true.
“Growing up I didn’t see many Black business owners in Topeka,” Ebony said. “I want others to see me succeeding in my business and know that they’re not alone. I want to inspire them to have faith and go for it.”
