Today we’d like to introduce you to Deloyce Dhoruba.
Hi Deloyce, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
How did I get here? Honest truth, PTSD and anxiety! I am what my family would call a self-proclaimed “candle connoisseur” who prior to becoming chandler, spent a small fortune to find and burn good-smelling, calm, comforting candles for relaxation purposes. Backstory, I am a US Army Veteran, married to an Army Veteran, and the proud mother of a US Army Veteran who at the time that I decided to truly push this as a full fledged business idea, was stationed in Afghanistan. As you can imagine, my anxiety has stayed at an all-time high over the past years but this was an opportunity to find calm and creativity in the midst of a few storms.
I’m a firm believer that scents are the triggers to memories, relaxation, comfort, and promotes anxiety reduction. I’m very much someone that is all about the holistic approach to health versus prescribed medication. I was born in Belize, Central America and grew up alongside my grandmother who always taught and promoted healthy holistic remedies to everything. Mahogany Brown Candle Co. and all of my products were actually birthed from my garden, and the need to create products that were more natural. In speaking with my grandmother, she always taught me what to plant to keep as staples for good health, as well as use on the skin of my children who, by the way had issues when they were younger. I took all of these lessons and I incorporated it into my love for candles, waxes, butters, and overall relaxation therapy.
As a result, I carefully crafted and tested my candle and wax formula to ensure each scent carries an amazing smell, a long extended CLEAN burn, all while remaining environmentally friendly by using only natural products– in particular Beeswax & Coconut which is not the standard. The same goes for my skincare butters— as melanated people we all know that a proper moisturizer goes a long way towards youthful, healthy skin!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing in life comes easy, and nothing worth loving comes without struggles. Social media, work-life balance, time management, supply shortages, you name it—I’ve experienced it! Smile, it’s all a part of doing business. Biggest and most challenging would be the social media and content creation. Mainly because it requires so much thought and delivery to stay on brand with your dream or vision for your business, as well as ensuring you are hitting your target audience to produce more business and garner more sales. Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint hearted as it certainly requires you to push yourself, stay motivated, as well as remain creative, even when you don’t feel like it. Key thing is this, when you’re doing something you love—it never feels like work!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my “other life” I still work in Corporate America. Currently, I work for a large financial institution where my career is in HR/Talent Acquisition managing vendors, doing Risk, Compliance, and process design for recruitment practices.
In my entrepreneurial life, I think what sets me apart is my ability to develop, implement, test, and deliver at high-levels with maximum efficiency and cost savings. It’s honestly just how my brain operates! My military background was in supply chain management and HR, so I certainly utilize all of these skills towards running my business efficiently and professionally. Proper customer service, the ability to request and garner feedback from customers, and provide a unique experience when packages arrive at the door and are opened..is my trademark value. One of the greatest compliments I receive are my customers or even the mail person exclaiming how they can smell my candles and waxes through the box! What other candle do you know can do that? What other 1oz wax melt can give you 20-30 days worth of scent? I’ll wait, smile… I get to create custom candles and products for chefs, caterers, and significant others who are looking for something unique and reach out for personalized boxes! I promise it’s the most incredible feeling in the world to know your products provide that “wow” factor, but also the “ambiance” of an evening.
While my career in corporate is great, I am most proud of my family, my village & community, and my entrepreneurial journey! All of which are cohesively linked and one could not thrive without the other. Mahogany Brown Candle Co., is what I look forward to AFTER a long day working in corporate . I KNOW at the end of the day, this will be my legacy, this will be what I get to pass on to my two children Jalen (son, 26) and Najah (daughter, 20) and their families. When I started this business it was important that I was able to do something for my community. So I started “A Candle for A Cause” which is an initiative where I donate a percentage of all candle sales to supporting Black Women-owned Non-Profit organizations who are doing work in the black community. I have had the chance to partner with some amazing women who support Black Women Cancer Survivors, homelessness, domestic violence, mentoring for black teenage girls, school supply giveaways, etc..
How do you think about happiness?
Happiness to me is Creativity…calm, peace, and low-frequency vibes! So I travel and create! Travel all over, whenever, however, as much as I can as it reignites my creative juices and allows me to develop new concepts, new ideas, new products using natural earthly sources. Traveling is my reset, away from the day-to-day hustle and bustle, and hello to beaches, sunshine, waterfalls, and being catered to. I also travel to learn more and expand my business by meeting locals who share insight into ingredients for holistic medicines. I have been traveling to places in Central (home) and South America to learn more about holistic health and ways to be healthy. I incorporate that knowledge into Mahogany Brown Candle Co., the scents I create each season, and the skin care and body products I create.
Making candles that are natural, toxin-free, and sustainable makes me happy! Getting feedback from my customers who tell me I’ve taught them so much about candles, candle care, and relaxation (through my newsletters and social media), as well as self-care…makes me happy! Hearing a customer say…”..this is the longest burning candle I’ve ever used, and it didn’t give me a headache!” Or “..I put on your butters and feel just like the Mahogany Girl on the logo!” makes my day every single time. My ability to be creative and share that creativity with customers who are seeking something unique for their homes, businesses, skin, or significant other…yes, candles and skincare development is LIFE!
Pricing:
- Candles $28+ depending on size
- Gift Boxes $50+
- Skincare Butters $15+ varying types
- Custom Candles $80+
- Wax Melts $30+ varying quantities
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mahoganybrowncandleco.com
- Instagram: @MahoganyBrownCandleCo
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mahoganybrowncandleco/?_rdr
Image Credits:
Najah K Photography – IG: @NajahKPhotography
