Our Story
Ali was four years old when his family immigrated from Afghanistan to the US. Growing up in a new country, his family faced racial, financial, and cultural challenges. Through dedication and perseverence, his family became financially stable and developed an appreciation for traveling all around the world. Ali's passion for traveling is extensive, and he has traveled to over 15 countries.
Jen is currently a pediatric speech-language pathologist. She hopes to start her own private practice one day in addition to running the candle business. Jen has always adored candles and expressing her own creativity, so establishing this business is a dream of hers.
In college, Ali met Jen and shared his passion for traveling with her. The idea of illumineScents initially started as a fun hobby after watching a rom-com together on Netflix, Love Hard. Jen and Ali then found a gap in the market for an adventure-based candle. With the support of their family and friends, they decided to take a leap of faith and start their own business!
In January 2022, illumineScents was created with merely six scents in The Adventure Collection. Then, The Event Collection was created shortly after. New scents are frequently added to each collection, embodying Jen and Ali's new experiences and memories through travel.
Our Name
illumineScents (ih-lu-min-eh-scents) is a combination of the two words "luminous" and "scents." The loose translation of "luminous" is full of or shedding light; bright or shining, reflecting the joy and light we hope to bring to each person's home. The translation of "scents" is a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant, embodying our various aromatic scents in each collection. Our collections are comprised of earthy, floral, fruity, woody, and sweet scents, just to name a few.
Our Vision
To reminisce fond memories, spark new adventures, and spread diversity
We are always thinking of the illumineScents customer—from the design and creation of our labels, to the accessibility of our products and genuine customer service. We consider who embraces our products, including everyone who enjoys candles and appreciates diversity while traveling around the world.
One of our long-term visions is to educate individuals on the importance of diversity through traveling and experiencing distinct ways of life. We hope to one day use our business to educate our community by spreading awareness of diverse cultures, values, and nature's magnificence. To act on our long-term goal, a portion of our profits are donated to impoverished families and their children in Perú.
Core Values
- Community driven
- Create all natural, high quality products
- Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Express creativity, simplicity, and elegance
- Practice environmental sustainability