From Kitchen Side Hustle to Sephora: How Harlem Candle Co. Hit Millions Without Investors

When Teri Johnson first poured candles in her Harlem kitchen, she wasn’t planning to start a company—she just wanted to give thoughtful holiday gifts she could afford. A decade later, Harlem Candle Company is a multimillion-dollar brand with national retail partners, an Oprah’s Favorite Things nod, and an award-winning spinoff fragrance line. But it wasn’t one big break that got her there. It was a series of small, intentional moves—and a clear-eyed focus on brand, storytelling, and profitability.

Teri shares how she tested product demand long before scaling up, built an unmistakable brand voice, reinvested every dollar, and learned the value of saying no, even to major retailers. Her story is full of takeaways for founders looking to grow deliberately while staying true to their mission.