Rising Stars: Meet Karen Naranjo of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Naranjo.

Hi Karen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

My story with handmade candles began about 3 years ago. It all started with intention candles, pieces designed to accompany our clients’ purposes, wishes, and special moments. Over time, thanks to the wonderful response we received, we gradually began incorporating the rest of our products.

One of our distinctive signatures is working with handmade pieces created by artisans, cazuelas, jarritas, and molcajetes, that give each candle a unique character and a story of its own. We’re passionate about supporting artisanal craftsmanship and offering products that not only smell wonderful but also tell a story. From there, we kept growing we added religious candles, decorative candles, massage candles, wax melts, natural soaps, and soy and coconut wax candles, always seeking natural, quality ingredients.

What started as a small project focused on intention candles has grown into a solid company, with a growth I feel very proud of. But beyond the numbers, what I value most is the bond we’ve built with our clients: being part of their personal moments, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, moments of loss, religious celebrations and helping them turn those memories into something tangible they can feel, smell, and keep.

Today we continue to innovate and expand what we offer, always with the same essence: candles made with intention, care, and authenticity in every detail.

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?
It hasn’t been an easy road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning the business as I went, finance, marketing, logistics, all of it I learned along the way as my company grew, often through trial and error.

Another constant challenge has been finding the balance between my personal life and my business. As an entrepreneur, the lines between work and personal life blur easily, and learning to set healthy boundaries has been an ongoing process.

It’s also been a challenge to stay at the forefront of the digital world: understanding what kind of presence I need on social media, how to communicate my brand effectively, and keeping up in a candle market that’s extremely competitive. It’s an industry where new brands are constantly emerging and staying relevant and authentic amid that competition has required constant learning and a lot of adaptability.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an engineer in technology and telecommunications, with a career focused on developing digital projects. I’ve poured all of that knowledge and structured way of thinking into my own company, combining the precision of my technical background with the creativity and sensitivity that the artisanal world requires.

I’m known for being a strong leader and for leaving a mark on everyone I work with. To me, it’s not just about selling candles, it’s about creating an experience. From the moment a client comes to me, my priority is to offer kindness, warmth, and the best of myself, because I know that behind every order there’s a story, a memory, or a special moment someone wants to celebrate or commemorate.

What I’m most proud of is exactly that: having managed to transform a simple product into a memorable experience, where every client feels heard, supported, and valued. I believe that’s what truly sets me apart, not just the quality of my products, but the way I make people feel.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Atlanta is how distinct the seasons are, each one has its own magic, giving the city a unique rhythm throughout the year. I also love the greenery, the variety of food you can find, and the spaces to enjoy with family, whether outdoors or doing different activities together.

The only thing I could mention that I don’t love is the traffic and how far everything tends to be. But over time you get used to it, you prepare for it, and it just becomes part of your daily routine.

Pricing:

• 15
• 35
• 10
• 25
• 40

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.candlesbyeos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eoscandleshd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17joCxDimf/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eos.candles