Whether you’re moving out for the first time and want to try new scents or looking to set the mood for a self-care day or sexy evening, consider these Black-owned candle brands to curate the vibe you’re looking for.
If You’re Feeling Bad & Bougie
The Original Candle
If you’re the bougie friend of the group, this candle is for you. Hanifa has become a staple luxury brand; with celebs like Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Naomi Campbell, and Danielle Brooks seen in her designs, they have become everyone's favorite brand. They recently launched their first candle, The Original. The candle is infused with notes of mandarin, orange blossom, caramel, sandalwood, jasmine sambac, and vanilla.
When Wash Day Comes...
"Wash Day" Candle
Cavo
Need some inspiration to get up and section that hair so you can get to washing? Not to worry. This pineapple, mango coconut milk, and sugar candle will have your house smelling as good as your favorite conditioner.
Wellness Girl Necessity
Sunday in Brooklyn Candle
If you’re a girl who loves clean scents that clear the energy in your home and feel like the best Sunday you ever had, you need this candle. Infused with wild basil and lemongrass, it’s guaranteed to help you find your zen.
For Sunday Brunch If You’re Hosting
Champagne Showers
Champagne Showers is the perfect candle for a birthday celebration, Sunday brunch night in, or toast to your next big win! The candle includes a blend of bright bergamot, peach fizz, and creamy woods. It’s a bubbly fragrance that’s as sophisticated as our girl, Jackie Aina.
After You Listen To SZA
"After A Good Cry" Candle
Cavo
Let the tears flow, and let the healing begin. This rainwater, lavender, vanilla, and bean and bourbon candle is just what the doctor ordered if you’re getting over a breakup. But once you’re done crying, just remember you're worthy of much more, okay?
For The Lover Girl Era
"Love" Luxury Candle
If you’re done crying and have found the one you’ve been waiting for, let this candle burn as warm as your love for your new boo. Harlem Candle Co.'s "Love" fragrance represents a dramatic, romantic theme with both masculine and feminine accords melding beautifully together, infused with crisp apple and watery green notes.
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Featured image by Maskot/Getty Images
After release day, fans couldn't help but notice how much love Beyoncé showed to up-and-coming country singers like Tanner Adell and country music icons like Dolly Parton, who is affectionately known as "Dolly P" on the album as a narrator. Between these collaborations and her signature handwritten notes and flowers, it got me thinking about how Beyoncé has truly shown us through the years that she is the ultimate girl's girl.
A girl's girl is a woman who isn't shy about uplifting other women - who cheers for them just as loudly as she does for herself and isn't afraid to shine a spotlight on them for their work. Beyoncé has done that and more; let's take a look back at some of her best moments, showing us how being a girl's girl is done.
No Competition Between Country Gals
From the moment Beyoncé released her first country single, she's received tons of criticism. While many have said she wasn't country enough despite her Texas upbringing, comments also compared her to R&B and now country singer K. Michelle. K. Michelle is a proud southern girl with roots from Memphis, Tennessee, and has always shared her desire to one day create a country album. Last year, K. Michelle performed at the CMAs alongside Jelly Roll, truly a monumental moment in her career. Amidst Cowboy Carter’s release, Beyoncé gave K Michelle her flowers - literally and shared her admiration and respect for the Tennessee native, shutting down any critics attempting to compare the two.
Still Down With Her Day One
Beyoncé spotted in NYC for the premiere of 'Mea Culpa'
METROPOLIS/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
One thing about Beyoncé, she gone love her some Kelly Rowland (and Michelle!) Her support of her longtime friend and Destiny's Child group member has shown us that no matter what, they are sisters forever, and we will always love them for it! At the Netflix world premiere of Mea Culpa, she told us all that she still goes hard for her bff by posting a set of photos from the premiere on Instagram captioned, "Dats my best friend! Dats my best friend!!!!! So proud of you Kelly 🙏🏽"
A Boss Honoring a Boss
Beyoncé and Diana Ross perform onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR"
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
During the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR," Beyoncé celebrated her 42nd birthday and was serenaded by none other than The Boss herself, Ms. Diana Ross! Forever leading with humility and gratitude, she honored Diana Ross with joy for coming to the show and singing to her. In an Instagram post dedicated to the moment with the legendary vocalist, the "Alien Superstar" singer wrote in her caption, "Thank you to the incomporable Ms. Diana Ross. The 1 of 1, the number 1, the only one. Thank you from the depths of me, my Queen."
Forever An Oldest Sister
"Might I suggest you don't f with her sis." A true older and younger sister duo, Beyoncé is always there for Solange's big moments, and this one was no different. She was front and center for Solange's debut of her original score for The New York City Ballet, reminding us all that she will always show up for her sis and beam with pride for her accomplishments.
Collaboration Queen
Cowboy Carter, like many of Bey's studio albums, is packed with collaborations. From her iconic cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," collaboration with Linda Martell, a duet with Miley Cyrus, and collaborations with up-and-coming artists, including Tanner Adell, she has shown us again how important it is to not only collaborate but simultaneously educate her audience with intentional features that are a nod to country music legends and the future of the genre.
Always Paying Homage
While Beyoncé shined as Deena Jones in the 2006 movie adaptation of Dreamgirls, she has always remembered Sheryl Lee Ralph, the original Dreamgirl who famously portrayed Deena Jones first on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony award. In celebration of Ralph's Emmy win, Knowles sent her flowers and honored her as the original dream girl.
Birthday Bouquet for Kim K
Kim Kardashian/Instagram
Despite the countless rumors that Beyoncé isn't a fan of Kim Kardashian, for her 43rd birthday, she penned a sweet message and wished her a birthday filled with joy. Kim was delighted and posted the birthday florals to social media.
Honoring the Next Generation of Artists
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift attend the "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS
Whether it's discovering Chloe x Halle, cheering on Taylor Swift, or showing love to fellow artists coming up, Beyoncé is always uplifting younger female artists. Rapper Coi Leray took to Instagram to share the flowers that she sent with a note that said she was a fan of hers and loves to watch her grow.
Whether you’re an icon like B, a small business owner, or an everyday girl who desires to develop a better community with the women around you, don’t be afraid to channel your inner girl's girl like Beyoncé and give the women in your life their flowers in your own way.
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Featured image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for iHeartRadio
Six years ago, I started a small wellness community on Instagram after embarking on a healing journey in my mid-twenties that I documented via a blog where I wrote about healing, therapy, celibacy, and growth after what felt like years of chaos. Six years later, that wellness community has blossomed into one of the largest online wellness platforms for Black women called Transparent Black Girl which has a reach of over five million Black women.
It still sounds crazy to say that aloud, to know that a 24-year-old girl planted the seeds of the life that this 30-year-old woman gets to live now.
While I was growing my company, because my love for writing was so strong, I went back to school and obtained my master's in journalism. I’ve worked as a freelance writer, an editor, and a frequent contributor to publications that I respect greatly, xoNecole being one of them! My journalism career has been a reflection of my passion and heart for wellness and the culture. My day-to-day is busy, but we manage to get it done, and on the days that I can’t, I give myself grace to do what I can with the time that I have.
My days consist of events, long walks with my dog, freelance pitching, and deciding what content creation and events will look like for my wellness collective, Transparent & Black.
Now, follow me on a random day in my life.
Morning
5:00 a.m.
My Goldendoodle keeps me on a schedule, so every morning, like clockwork, he wakes me up to use the bathroom and eat breakfast, at 5 a.m.! Am I usually over it first thing in the morning? 100%, but his being on a schedule challenges me to stick with mine and start the day on a productive note. He’s a wellness dog which means I feed him home-cooked meals and give him supplements daily to support his health, and he has a daily dental treat to keep his teeth healthy. Canine dental hygiene is imperative for a long life and a good smelling breath!
Today, I’m heading into the city, and I’ll be there almost all day, so when I’m gone that long, I take him to doggy daycare.
7:00 a.m.
Doggy daycare drop-off is filled with tons of barks, and my dog is practically jumping out of the car with excitement to see his friends. Now, some of y’all might be thinking, doggy daycare, sis, that’s too much for a dog! But it’s not, socialization is key for dogs, and so is keeping my house intact when I’m gone for long periods of time. Does he go daily? No, we aren’t rich (yet, we gotta manifest!), but when my dog is happy and experiencing play, and I’m happy attending events, I feel accomplished.
Having a pet is a serious responsibility, and I pride myself on knowing that I am invested in his mental and emotional health by encouraging his socialization with his friends.
7:30 a.m.
Headed to my local coffee shop to grab my go-to order. Iced coffee, a single shot of espresso, half and half, and 3 pumps of agave. Winter, spring, summer, fall, I am an iced coffee girl. I love it, especially after a workout where I’ve broken a sweat - nothing about having hot coffee after I’ve been sweating for over an hour feels good to me.
8:00 a.m.
Back home listening to Carlos King's commentary on YouTube in the shower (what can I say, commentary on reality TV drama relaxes me, don’t judge!) and prepping for the first stop on the agenda for today which is an event in the city. Without traffic, I’m about a 25-minute drive to Manhattan but it’s rush hour, so that 25 minutes is about 55 which means I have to head out soon so that I can arrive on time.
Courtesy
9:00 a.m.
Headed to Manhattan for a Black History Month event with Meta, Peloton, and We The Culture. I wanted to take the train, but I ran out of time, so I hopped in an Uber because I didn’t want to be late, and I had my daily check-in with my best friend while I rode in the Uber. We talk daily and have since our early twenties to check in with each other. I'm grateful that while many aspects of my life have changed, this is still a constant. As we age, prioritizing our friendships for sure gets harder, but it’s not impossible in the least bit when both parties are invested.
9:30 a.m.
Emailing my editor from the car to ask for a deadline extension and sharing with her my ideas for pieces for the month! I’m grateful to have been on both sides of the journalism space. I’ve been a managing editor for years for publications, and I’ve also had the honor to work with managing editors, deputy editors, and editors-in-chief who have poured into me and understood how quickly my schedule can change, I’m honored at the magic we’re able to create together.
As a storyteller, from content that I share to my platform to pieces that I write, I’m having fun again in this season of my life, and I am loving it.
Courtesy
10:00 a.m.
The event begins, and I can’t lie, when I host my own events, I’m not scared, but as a social anxiety girlie, events sometimes can be a little scary. I am naturally a very shy girl, but wellness events always feel like home to me. You don’t have to dress up; you can show up in workout gear because most of the time you’re experiencing some form of wellness and fitness even during the event. Moments into the panel discussion we experienced a seated meditation led by Peloton instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts - talk about a way to kick the day off!
Courtesy
The discussion hosted by Meta and Peleton touched on the importance of taking up space in industries and spaces where Black women and people are underrepresented, our self-care regimens, and We The Culture also shared how their work came to be. It was such a powerful event, and of course, we got the inside scoop on Peloton’s newest machines! I also spoke with some people (it’s important to me to always say hello to those who put on the event) and ended up sitting next to THE Pilates girl herself, Raven Ross. She was such a sweetheart, and we talked about our love for Pilates and the importance of community events like this.
Afternoon
2:00 p.m.
Leaving the event, I headed to Sephora to see if I could find Topicals' always sold-out Slick Salve, but to no avail, so I pulled out my phone and ordered it on their website as I walked back to the train station to head back home. I am a girl who loves to walk, so I’m always down for a long walk to the station and a walk back home when time permits, so that’s exactly what I did. I did about four miles just between walking back to Penn Station and walking back to my apartment once I got off the train!
4:30 p.m.
My phone started blowing up because the piece that Oprah Daily asked me to write was published for Black History Month, and my face was on Oprah’s website, AOL’s homepage, and the publication's Instagram page! My mama, aunties, cousins, dad, and everyone who has known me since I was a little girl were beyond proud and excited to see that and how far I’ve come.
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Evening / Night
Courtesy
5:30 p.m.
I headed to my gym in my home (praise the Lord for apartment amenities) for a quick swim before I picked up my dog from daycare, and then I headed to the sauna and ran into a neighbor who is another successful Black woman killing it in her own right in the tech space. We chatted about life updates and the importance of taking time for our mental health and it felt good to ground myself with swimming. Much of my life has changed in the past few years, but swimming has remained a constant.
Whenever something amazing happens I soak it in and then immediately do what I can to ground myself to stay present, humble, grateful, and focused on what’s ahead.
Courtesy
6:30 p.m.
It started raining badly and my anxiety is all over the place on the drive to pick up my dog but I practice some deep breathing and remind myself that I have had a calm day and it can end calm as well. I don’t need to rush there, I can drive at a pace that feels good to me. My mother calls to check on me because she sees the weather is terrible and asks me to let her know when I arrive safely.
7:00 p.m.
I arrived at doggy daycare, and the rain is calming down. Can y’all see why I take him?! They watch him all day! My dog is exhausted in the best way and ready to go home and sleep, and I can sit down and relax when we head back home.
9:00 p.m.
I’m back home, took a bath, ordered my favorite healthy Chinese takeout (beef and shrimp with broccoli, light sauce with brown rice), and I’m on the couch with a glass of sustainable wine from one of my favorite Black-owned brands, House of Brown watching Sistaswith a side of kimchi to enjoy with dinner. My candles are lit, I’m letting the highs of the day sit with me and stillness come over me as I prepare for bed.
10:30 p.m.
I took my dog out for a final walk, gave him his bedtime treat, and it’s lights out to prepare for another day.
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Featured image by courtesy
