about me
home fragrance inspired by authentic living
• my pronouns are she/they •
hi, i'm tyra
"being born gay, black and female is not a revolutionary act. being proud to be a gay, black female is." — lena waithe
i've always associated candles with stability and safety, especially during times in my life when things weren't. that love for candles only grew as i got older, which led to being gifted a candle making kit after i moved to dallas, tx in 2019. i was looking for a hobby because i was homesick in a new city and from that first pour, i fell in love! candle making has now become a therapeutic process for me. it's so rewarding to create products that i not only use in my own home, but also for you and the people you love.
my story
i moved back to st. louis in march 2020, right as the pandemic was leading to state and county lockdowns. although i was planning to get my small candle business going prior to my out-of-state move, the whole staying at home thing really motivated me and allowed me to give it my all! in april 2020, i officially opened up shop and never looked back. i've been committed to creating candles that will provide you the opportunity to evoke memories, make new ones and practice self-care ever since and don't plan on stopping any time soon. i'm so glad that you are here on this journey with me. thank you so much for your support and confidence in my small business. i'm truly grateful.
my mission
virago candle studio's purpose is inspire others to live authentically through quality, handmade home fragrance. my products are created with the intention of giving you space to connect with yourself, show yourself compassion and love. i strongly value authenticity, kindness, and comfort and know that my products will give you the power to live your life in the way that you were meant to.
handmade with love
my products are handmade in small batches in my studio in st. louis, missouri. i take pride on vcs being a one woman show- from the candles that i pour to the thank you notes that i write to you when you order from me!
what i use
i use a soy blend wax for my candles and wax melts, phthalate-free fragrance, and crackling wooden wicks which are sourced from an fsc-certified mill. all reed and car diffusers are voc-free, non-toxic and phthalate-free.
the packaging
i try my hardest to use eco-friendly materials in all of my product packaging and shipping supplies. the wax melt clamshells can be recycled, the jars can be repurposed, the labels i use are made with recycled paper and the packing peanuts that i use are biodegradable and will dissolve in water! any packaging that can't be recycled i'm reusing from the packages i get from my suppliers.