Meet Keesha Taylor | Candle Maker

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

Hi Keesha, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue candle making because it was something totally different from my 9-5. Working in the accounting field everything has to be done by the book, and you’re pretty much doing the same thing day in and day out. I was the kid that played with chemistry sets and really enjoyed mixing things in chemistry class; so I figured I would take those skills and make candles! I decided to take a class where we learned how to mix scents properly and I ended up falling in love with the process. At the end of a long day, I turn on some music, and break out my fragrance oils and start mixing. It has been my way of de-stressing in the midst of all this chaos from the past year; and I love that I get to share my creations with others!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Candle making gives me the freedom to explore my creative side and to just have fun with the process. I wanted my candles to stand out from others so I tried to create blends that you wouldn’t necessarily find in stores. My candles are hand wicked and hand poured in small batches, so a lot of time and love goes into each one. I also chose a crackling wooden wick over a cotton wick; if it’s quiet when the candle is lit, you can hear a soothing crackling noise. I feel like candles create a calm environment while filling your space with a nice aroma; which can be super relaxing!

I would say making the candles has been a fairly easy process for me, with the exception of creating some not so pleasant blends or trying to find the best materials for my products. Sharing my candles with other people who are not close to me has been the most challenging part of this. I think any artist or creative who puts their all into their creation has some fear that other people will not be as receptive to their work as they would like. I am a perfectionist and I didn’t want to put something out that others could potentially criticize. That fear almost kept me from launching my business. But one day I met up with a friend for lunch and she was telling me to stop being scared and just go for it; I could perfect things along the way. So I set a launch date and got to work. In this business I’ve learned to take all feedback whether it’s good or bad and use it to perfect my craft.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to create a custom blend for a special ceremony. It was fun working with the event coordinator and choosing fragrance notes that best represented the guest of honor. I’m looking forward to more opportunities like that and I’m excited to see where Ella + Mae Candle Co is headed!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a huge foodie so if my best friend were in town everything we did would revolve around food! We would go to The Garden Room for brunch and drinks. I would take her to Slutty Vegan to grab a Fussy Hussy and One Night Stand. We would hit up Frankie’s The Steakhouse for steak and they have amazing brussel sprouts and lobster mac n cheese! Since I am a foodie and I have to find balance; we would go hike Stone Mountain or walk the Beltline and look at all the artwork along the way. Top Golf and Axe throwing would definitely be on the list of things to do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout my family and some of my close friends for being my biggest support system throughout this journey. Candle making started out as a hobby and I would give my candles away to family and friends because I wanted to share what I had created. After receiving such positive feedback and with people requesting more of the candles, I decided to turn it into a business. My parents were gracious enough to let me turn their basement into what we now call “The Lab”, and my business grew from there. I’m appreciative of everyone’s love and support especially when it comes to promoting my business and helping me when I have large orders that need to get packaged and shipped.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EllaMaeCandleCo

Instagram: @ella.maecandles

Facebook: Ella + Mae Candle Co.