by Alina Smith

I recently sat down with my aunts, Vashty and Yasmine, who are the co-owners of Divine Waters 57, a candle company based in RVC. These homemade candles with lovely scents are absolutely amazing. These candles are safe for the environment because they carry no toxins whatsoever and are made with soy wax. Although my aunts’ business is small, it has many customers. They have a stand at the RVC Farmer’s Market on Sundays, and they also sell their candles online.

Q: What is the meaning behind the numbers in the company name?

Vashty: My sister Yasmine’s favorite number is 7 and my favorite number is 5. Since I am the oldest, the 5 goes first.

Q: How did you come up with this idea to sell candles?

Vashty: Yasmine and myself love Aromatherapy – it’s very calming. Many candles sold in stores are toxic, and we wanted to change that.

Q: How long did it take to put this plan into action?

Vashty: We started this in 2019. It took us 4 years to get our place at the market and to come up with ways to promote the business.

Q: What are your most popular scents right now?

Yasmine: Tea Time and Cornucopia. Tea Time has the scent of Fresh Herbal Tea. It’s a soft smell but still strong enough to scent the entire room. Cornucopia has an Autumn scent. This has a stronger smell than Tea Time.

Q: How long does it take to make these candles?

Vashty & Yasmine: It takes a solid two weeks to make a new batch because they need to sit before people are able to use them.

Q: What are these candles made of?

Vashty: Soy wax and oils. They aren’t made with any toxins because toxins can be harmful to the community and people.

What makes these candles unique is that they are all handmade and each have their own designs and scents, so anyone can find a scent that is fit for them. Candles scents that are on sale this Fall include Cornucopia, Another Round, Tea Time, Sweet Harvest, and Deciduous. For more information on Divine Waters 57, please visit www.divinewaters57.com.