Krystal Flores’ journey with Soy Latina Candles is a story of resilience, passion, and purpose. What began as a therapeutic hobby during a challenging time in her life has blossomed into a thriving business that radiates warmth and wellness. Balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship, Krystal found a way to infuse self-care into every candle she creates, offering her community moments of peace and joy. Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented communities, is clear: believe in yourself, embrace your roots, and turn your challenges into the light that guides your success.
What inspired you to start Soy Latina Candles, and how did your personal experiences shape this journey?
I started making candles as a hobby, after becoming a mom. My son had open heart surgery as an infant and required many therapies. I neglected my own needs and realized I needed to focus on myself as well, so I decided I wanted to learn how to make non-toxic candles, for personal use. Eventually, I decided to try vending at a local pop-up and loved it! It was then that I decided to start a business and created my online store.
Could you share a bit about the challenges you faced while starting your business, particularly balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship?
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship has been extremely challenging! I started my business when my son was two years old and I was a stay-at-home mom. I found it difficult to find time in my schedule to work on Soy Latina because my son was/is with me the majority of the time. As he’s gotten older, he’s been interested in helping me with simple tasks such as adding the packing peanuts to the boxes, helping me stamp the cotton bags, and looks forward to dropping off packages to the post office. Incorporating him into what I’m doing has helped me balance motherhood and work because he’s interested in what I’m doing. I also use a calendar to figure out my schedule for the month. This helps me become organized! Additionally, I am grateful for my partner who greatly helps me.
How do you infuse self-care and wellness into your products, and what role do you believe they play in people’s lives?
I like to think of my products as little luxuries. They are created to make people feel good and are made with clean ingredients. They are self-care products that can be easily implemented into a self-care and wellness routine. Self-care is different for everyone, so it might look like applying a face mask, lighting a candle, and putting on a favorite movie, or it could be a warm bath, music, and a moisturizing body oil. It’s rewarding to hear feedback from customers that tell me they love the products and it’s part of their ritual.
How do you select the fragrances and names for your candles, and what significance do they hold for you personally?
This is a question I’ve received a lot, especially when I teach candle making workshops! My fragrances are created to evoke emotion and feeling which is reflected through the products’ names such as Tranquilidad, Feliz, Hermosa, Serenidad etc.I name the products by how the fragrance makes me feel, what the intention of it is. For example, Feliz is an uplifting fragrance, Serenidad is calm and peaceful, Hermosa is luxurious and beautiful. They’re named by how you would feel while experiencing them.
Lastly, what message or words of encouragement would you like to share with other aspiring female entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented communities?
Make a plan, stick to your vision and values, embrace your community, and be kind! It’s important to have an idea of what you’re doing, write down your goals, align yourself with partnerships that share the same values, and look to your community. I’m grateful for my community, locally and the Latina community. You can do it, you need to believe in yourself and put in the effort. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s worth it.
IG: @soylatinacandles
W: https://soylatinacandles.com/
