ENGLEWOOD — Kimberly Reese is a modern-day candle-maker.
Reese, 46, quit her job in sales 10 years ago — and now makes more than 100 different candles in her Englewood home. She features a variety of exotic and custom scents, including pound cake, Grandma blueberry cobbler, milk chocolate, cabernet and her most popular: pina colada.
“I love this because it’s my own business, and I’m making something come from nothing,” she said.
Growing up, Reese remembers her mother burning candles throughout the house, but although Reese loved candles, she said becoming a candle-maker was never her career plan.
In 2005, Reese saw an ad for a candlemaking kit by a company known as Candle Wealth.
She started making them using the kits and selling them to friends, relatives and customers she found walking the streets of the neighborhood.
When Candle Wealth went out of business, Reese learned how to make the candles on her own — including how to make customized scents.
In 2010, she launched her own line of candles and her business, Flavor Candles, was born.
In addition to the exotic scents, she takes custom requests.
Not surprisingly, holidays are her busiest times. With Valentine’s Day next month, Reese is making baskets, which include candles, a teddy bear, chocolate, incense, body oil and other goodies. She also sells what her website bills as "adult and kinky candles."
Her candles range in price from $5 to $20; gift baskets are priced from $5 to $60.
Flavor Candles has been successful so far, she said, but she hopes to one day open a storefront.
The candles can be purchased at www.flavorcandles.com or by phone at 708-504-5782.
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