Meet Scarlett Teske of Young Gentry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scarlett Teske.

Hi Scarlett, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My sister and I founded Young Gentry on the belief that self-care is a must-have in this increasingly chaotic world and we are better positioned to help others when we take care of ourselves. After a ton of brainstorming, we launched our line of gorgeous spa-candles as a kind of “Beacon for Calm in the Chaos.”

We believe that taking just a moment to pause makes us all kinder, more compassionate beings. If you make this ‘pause’ a habit and find a way to ritualize it, you can access that calm feeling when you need it most.

Imagine getting into this ritual of walking through the door at the end of the day, lighting a candle, taking a deep breath, and just shedding the day. Seriously, it’s possible! Scent is our most powerful sense for evoking emotion. Think: freshly cut grass on a warm spring day. Notice how just thinking about this scent evokes emotion.

The power of scent is real, and it can be harnessed to trigger a sense of calm, so that’s where we began.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered, especially in the midst of the past couple of years we’ve had in the pandemic, is the sense that there is seemingly no time for a calm moment in the midst of chaos. There are so many other aspects of life to worry about, sure. However, we fail to realize that we too are something to worry about. You can’t pour from an empty cup. It simply is not possible. Those moment you take for yourself will reflect in your life.

I’ve found that when I’m devoted to taking that few minutes to pause, light a candle, and do some deep breathing, I am more creative at work and better able to focus when I’m with the people I love.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Young Gentry is a self-care brand with a mission to be the “Beacon for Calm in the Chaos.” We live our mission by filling bellies in the US. ONE CANDLE = ONE MEAL. There’s little in life that could be more chaotic than going to bed hungry and we’re proud to have provided over 2,000 meals to those in need in the US over the past year through Feeding America.

We’ve also done numerous pop-up events as fundraisers for community non-profits where we donate a portion of our sales for the day to the organization. We’ve raised money for local schools as well as for organizations such as The Drum Major Project (a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy).

We’ve had such success with pop-ups over the past year that we’ve begun wholesaling to high-end boutiques and spas in the Atlanta area.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You don’t need to burn out in order to experience progress. Sometimes getting it all done looks like taking that moment to yourself that you know will change the trajectory of your day. It’s pouring into yourself so that you are able to pour out to others. It’s lighting that one special candle in your room that always makes you feel good. The seemingly small efforts are just as important as the big ones–if not more.

Pricing:

• 10 oz Apothecary Candle – $58
• 4 oz Apothecary Tin -$26
• 2.5 oz Apothecary Votive $18
• 9 oz Artisan Collection $38

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@younggentry.com
• Website: www.younggentry.com
• Instagram: @young_gentry