Harlem Candle Company: Black-Owned Business Spotlight

is harlem candle company black owned

Harlem Candle Company is a Black-owned luxury home fragrance brand founded by Teri Johnson in 2014. The company specializes in scented candles inspired by the richness of Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance, with each candle telling a story and celebrating the legacy of cultural icons. Teri Johnson, a former travel expert and lifestyle content creator, draws on her love for fragrance, jazz, and Harlem's vibrant spirit to create exquisite candles that capture the essence of Harlem's past and present. The brand has since expanded to include Harlem Perfume Co., offering personal perfumes inspired by the heart of Harlem and the soul of jazz.

Characteristics Values
Founder and CEO Teri Johnson
Year founded 2014
Founder's background Travel expert and lifestyle content creator
Founder's inspiration Fragrances, jazz, and the vibrant spirit of Harlem
Product Luxury scented candles, perfumes
Scents inspired by Harlem Renaissance icons like Ellington, Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes
Scents celebrating Afrofuturism, history of Seneca Village, Harlem of yesterday and today
Black-owned candle companies Loam Candles, Marie Hunter Beauty, CLR Los Angeles, Joe + Monroe, Ardor Bin

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Harlem Candle Company celebrates Harlem's rich culture

The Harlem Candle Company is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and its iconic figures in music and the arts, such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Josephine Baker. The candles are designed to tell a story and celebrate the legacy of these cultural icons, transporting customers to another time and place. Johnson's love for fragrance and jazz, combined with her interest in storytelling, led to the creation of the Harlem Candle Company.

The company's mission is to illuminate spaces around the world with soft glows and exquisite scents that evoke the spirit of Harlem. Each candle is meticulously designed with top, middle, and base notes, creating an olfactory journey that enhances the customer's environment. The Harlem Candle Company also collaborates with award-winning perfumers to develop captivating fragrances that celebrate Harlem's past and present.

The candles are named after legendary figures, such as the "Josephine" candle, honouring the actress, dancer, and singer Josephine Baker. The scents are inspired by Black creatives and activists, featuring inviting fragrances like rose, jasmine, amber, and tonka bean. The Harlem Candle Company's products are known for their opulent packaging, making them gift-worthy items.

In addition to its candle collection, the Harlem Candle Company has expanded to include the Harlem Perfume Co., launched in October 2022. This sister brand continues the celebration of Harlem's culture and jazz heritage, offering personal fragrances that are rich in opulence and nostalgia, allowing wearers to explore the romance of the past. The Harlem Candle Company and its founder, Teri Johnson, proudly uphold Harlem's legacy and inspire customers through their fragrant creations.

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Founder Teri Johnson is inspired by Black creatives and activists

The Harlem Candle Company is a Black-owned luxury home fragrance brand based in New York City. It was founded by Teri Johnson, a travel and lifestyle expert, in 2014. Johnson's love for fragrance, jazz, and the vibrant spirit of Harlem inspired her to create the company.

Johnson is particularly inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and the iconic figures in music and the arts who shaped it. This includes legends like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, and Langston Hughes. The candles created by Johnson celebrate these cultural icons and the lifestyle of Harlem in the 1920s. The top, middle, and base notes in each candle tell a story, taking the user on an olfactory journey through time and place.

The "Josephine" candle, for example, is named after the legendary actress, dancer, and singer Josephine Baker. It fills your home with inviting scents of rose, jasmine, amber, and tonka bean. Johnson's goal is to inspire people to connect with travel, culture, and history through fragrance. She believes that fragrance has the power to transport people to a different period in time, curate the mood of a space, and motivate creativity and inspiration.

In addition to candles, Johnson has also expanded into the world of personal perfume with the launch of The Harlem Perfume Co. in October 2022. This sister brand to the Harlem Candle Co. offers luxurious fine fragrances inspired by Harlem and the soul of jazz. The perfumes allow individuals to embrace their sincere selves while exploring the romance of the past.

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The company's mission is to capture the beauty and essence of Harlem

The Harlem Candle Company is a luxury home fragrance brand specialising in scented candles inspired by the richness of Harlem. The company was founded in 2014 by Teri Johnson, a travel and lifestyle expert with a deep love for fragrance, jazz, and the vibrant spirit of Harlem. Johnson was drawn to the neighbourhood's rich and vibrant past, including the Harlem Renaissance and the figures in music and arts who shaped it.

The candle collection includes scents like "Seneca", which celebrates Afrofuturism and the history of Seneca Village, a free black community that flourished in the 19th century. Another scent, "Medieval Garden", celebrates the Middle Ages-inspired gardens at The Met Cloisters in Manhattan. The Harlem Candle Company also collaborates with other brands to create signature scents, such as the "Speakeasy" candle, which reimagines the smoky shadows of New York's speakeasy culture.

Through their fragrances, the company aims to inspire people to connect with travel, culture, and history, encouraging customers to consider how they can expand their worldviews and appreciate moments more deeply. The candles are designed to curate the mood of a space and motivate creativity and inspiration. The Harlem Candle Company believes in the transportive power of scents and wants customers to be reminded of special times and places when they burn their candles.

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The candles are named after iconic figures like Josephine Baker and Langston Hughes

The Harlem Candle Company is a Black-owned luxury home fragrance brand specialising in scented candles inspired by the richness of Harlem. The company was founded in 2014 by Teri Johnson, a travel and lifestyle expert who settled in New York City. Johnson was drawn to the neighbourhood of Harlem, with its rich and vibrant past. Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and the iconic figures in music and the arts who shaped it, she wanted to celebrate them and tell their stories through scent with her brand.

The Harlem Candle Company's range of candles includes those named after iconic figures of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Josephine Baker and Langston Hughes. The "Josephine" candle, for example, fills your home with inviting scents of rose, jasmine, amber and tonka bean, while paying tribute to the legendary actress, dancer and singer. Each candle in the collection tells a story, with top, middle and base notes that take you on an olfactory journey through time and place, capturing the beauty and essence of Harlem, both past and present.

The brand's mission is to illuminate spaces around the world with a soft glow and exquisite scents, transporting people to the heart of this iconic neighbourhood. Johnson believes in the transportive power of scents and the way they can remind us of special times and places. She has always been drawn to aromatics and the ritual of lighting candles, using scent to curate the energy of a space. Through her brand, she aims to inspire people to connect with travel, culture, history and new perspectives, motivating creativity and inspiration.

In addition to their scented candles, the Harlem Candle Company also offers an array of gift-worthy perfumes and more in opulent packaging. The company has since expanded into the personal perfume space with the launch of The Harlem Perfume Co. in October 2022. This sister brand to the Harlem Candle Co. offers luxurious fine fragrances inspired by the heart of Harlem and the soul of jazz, allowing customers to embrace their most sincere selves while exploring the romance of the past.

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Harlem Candle Company is one of many Black-owned candle companies

The Harlem Candle Company is a Black-owned business founded by Teri Johnson, a travel and lifestyle expert. The company is inspired by Johnson's love for fragrance, jazz, and the vibrant spirit of Harlem. With a rich history and cultural significance, Harlem serves as the perfect muse for the company's scented candles. Each candle in the collection tells a unique story, paying homage to iconic figures of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday.

Johnson's journey began in her kitchen in 2014, where she crafted candles with captivating fragrances. Her passion project quickly blossomed into a successful enterprise, collaborating with award-winning perfumers to design luxurious scented candles and home fragrance products. The Harlem Candle Company celebrates Harlem's rich cultural heritage, with scents often inspired by Black creatives and activists. The company's mission is to illuminate spaces worldwide with soft glows and exquisite scents, capturing the essence of Harlem's past and present.

While the Harlem Candle Company stands out for its unique offerings, it is one of many Black-owned candle companies making waves in the industry. Black entrepreneurship in the candle-making space is thriving, with numerous brands redefining luxury and sustainability. For example, Loam Candles, founded by Jessica White, offers small-batch, handmade candles with garden-inspired scents, capturing the essence of nature indoors. The brand is committed to sustainability and social responsibility, using cruelty-free fragrances and donating profits to support food security and environmental protection.

Another notable Black-owned candle company is Marie Hunter Beauty, founded by KéNisha Ruff. This luxurious lifestyle brand features hand-poured soy wax candles with sophisticated fragrances, such as Cashmere, Fig Tree, and Havana Nights. Their elegant packaging and indulgent atmospheres showcase their attention to detail. Additionally, CLR Los Angeles, founded by Taylor Davis, stands out for its vibrant, eco-friendly candles that transform spaces with unique scents and colours. This LGBTQIA+- and woman-led company embodies the diverse spirit of Los Angeles while prioritising inclusivity and sustainability.

These companies, including the Harlem Candle Company, showcase the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit within the Black community. They are not just candle brands but vehicles for storytelling, cultural celebration, and sensory experiences. By supporting these Black-owned businesses, customers not only enjoy exquisite fragrances but also become a part of the rich tapestry of stories and passions woven into each candle's glow.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Harlem Candle Company is a black-owned business founded by Teri Johnson (also known as Teri). The company was inspired by Johnson's love for Harlem and its rich culture.

Teri Johnson was inspired by her love for fragrance and jazz, as well as the vibrant spirit and history of Harlem. Johnson started making candles in her kitchen in 2014.

Harlem Candle Company is a luxury home fragrance brand with a unique mission. The company aims to capture the beauty and essence of Harlem through its exquisite candles and fragrances, transporting customers to the heart of this iconic neighbourhood.

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