Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Taylor.
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi and thank you for this opportunity. Well, I’m Courtney, but many people think my name is Corenta. I came up with the name by combining some of the initials in my full name, Courtney Renee Taylor. The idea of this company started back in January 2020, and this has become a blessing. I’m happy to see how a gift idea grew into a business. Corenta Candles opened for business on October 12th, 2020. My love for candles and scents isn’t new, but the scents I wanted from a candle were hard to find. So, I established a candle company that targeted the missing fragrances in my life and others. Blending fragrances and creating candles became a passion of mine.
Since starting the business, I expanded to wax melts and candle subscription boxes. I can’t wait to see what Corenta Candles becomes in the future!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started in the middle of Covid, which to most people, sounded buzzard when businesses began failing, and I decided to start one. It was also a great time to do a lot of testing and understand my craft instead of wanting to rush it to the public.
I’ve tried incorporating different products and options. I was trying to compete with other small businesses until I had to sit down and focus on my target market, not what’s trendy all the time. Once that happened, things started flowing better.
Some trends are advertising 100% soy and having all dessert and food-looking candles. Not saying those aren’t amazing, but that’s not my brand to just focus on that. I want my brand to reflect my lifestyle so it’ll be authentically me hence how I came up with my company’s name. What many people don’t know is that I’m big on recycling and up-cycling. When you receive a package from me either online or in-person all the packaging (except packing peanuts they are biodegradable) and containers can be recycled or once you’re finished with the candle jar or box, clean it out and find a new way to repurpose it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Blending is my specialty. For example, I don’t just pour vanilla and cherry fragrances and essential oils into a jar and name it Cherry Vanilla. If it was that easy, how would that set me apart from a customer just going home ordering a candle kit and making it themselves or another business wanting to copy it because they see that scent selling well? It won’t set me apart, and I don’t want you to find my candles anywhere except Corenta Candles.
With many candle makers, we are buying our fragrances and essential oils from the same vendors, so if a company says these scents smell good together, guess what? I will find other scents that are not on that list to make my creation.
I enjoy it when people smell my candles and say this scent reminds them of a memory of a person, place, or thing. I’m happy to see when people connect my candles to something positive in their lives.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I am putting myself in all my candles. I place a lot of love into my candles. I enjoy telling a story with my scents. For those that don’t have the opportunity to smell my scents in person, you can check out my website. You’ll see a description of each candle, and I’m highlighting notes, giving you an experience before you get it to your home or as a gift for someone else.
Pricing:
- Prices start at $6
- Free shipping over $35
- Free local pickup with promo code LOCALPICKUP
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.corentacandles.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/corentacandles
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/corentacandles
- Email: corentacandles@gmail.
com
Image Credits
The image with me in the red blazer: photographer Faithful Servants LLC
