We had the good fortune of connecting with Cathia Philippe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cathia, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The vision of Exutoire Candle Co, LLC was born through my love for candles. I am the person that others refer to as the candle junky. I used to spend so much time and money at a well-known candle company.

In early 2019, the thought of making my own candles crossed my mind. I quickly dismissed the idea at first. The more I neglected it, the more it reappeared in my mind. A few months later, I started researching the industry. I also was in the middle of switching careers at the time. I decided I did not have the time to devote to a business. I completely stopped by July of that year.

Then, 2020 happened. Being stuck in my apartment at the time forced me to dive into my creative ideas. Not only did I resume researching the field, but I also began testing. I was not ready to share my treasures with my family and friends. I continued to work on my craft until I felt comfortable letting others try them.

By the summer of 2021, I made a batch of fall-scented candles and asked a few close family members to try them. They were raving about my creations. To my surprise, they came back for more. This time, they wanted to purchase; some even paid for the initial candle given to them. A family member told me, “Girl, you better start selling them things.” By late fall that year, Exutoire Candle Co, LLC was up and running.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a school teacher in the metro Atlanta area. I am also pursuing a master’s degree and will graduate in the spring. I would not say that my road to success was easy. The transition of migrating here from Haiti as a teenager was not easy. While my mother was still living there, I had my father and a whole village that kept me grounded. What sets me apart from my colleagues are the teachers who made a difference in my life. It started with my second-grade teacher. She saw my maturity at a very young age and used me as her helper in the classroom. It did not stop there; I had a Haitian teacher in high school who took me on college tours with her children and guided me through the process of applying to college. I deeply care about my students, but because of my former teachers, there is a special place in my heart for minority students.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friends and family were visiting, we would certainly have a tour of the MLK Jr. National Historical Park. We would also visit Stone Mountain Park. I love history. I also like that I get to live in a state where history was made. They know that I am a nerd, and hanging out with me means that some sort of learning would take place. To give them a view of the city from above, I would take them to SkyView Atlanta. For food, we would go to the Old Lady Gang.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Madame Jo Artisan Skin Care

https://madamejos.com/

Kayanou Products

https://www.kayanouproducts.com/shop

Website: www.exutoirecandleco.com

Instagram: @exutoirecandleco

Facebook: @exutoirecandleco

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.