Candle-Making Proves Therapeutic for Dallas Woman
Image provided by R. Coleman
Everyone can use “saving” at one time or another. For Dallas entrepreneur Rolanda Coleman, her turn of fortune in life would happen inside of a Frisco Walmart in early 2018.
Coleman, 33, a mother to four children has always worked and provided for herself. As a Student Liaison for Academic Partnerships, Coleman makes her workday about serving young people in need. The avid writer and reader has spent all of her adult years pouring into her children, leaving her free time to do nothing more than journal.
When life got tough, she needed another outlet.
In 2018 Coleman decided to make candles. She would go on to buy a beginners kit and try her hand at creating something seemingly easy.
“My first candle had no color and a very faint scent,” laughs Coleman. “I needed a long lighter and to turn the candle upside down to even light the wick.”
She didn’t give up. Trial and error proved essential in candle making and Coleman knew that she would definitely learn by doing, a message she often shares with her children. Sensual Scents was born.
That fateful afternoon in the Frisco Walmart would prove life changing for Coleman. There she met a sweet lady named Carolyn. The woman saw her perusing the candle aisle, the two began chatting and the woman shared that she genuinely wanted to help Coleman learn to make candles. Soon after, Coleman would begin to visit the woman’s home twice per week. She taught her about measurements, jarring, branding and more.
Coleman discovered that Carolyn was the owner of her own Round Rock candle store, where she of course sells candles, as well as lotions, essential oils and more.
Part of the teaching process would include the woman making items for Coleman to remake. “I have to make it myself in order for her to give it to me,” says Coleman. That method of teaching has proven incredibly effective.
In just a few months, Coleman learned about coloring, labeling, packaging, different waxes, etc. Carolyn became her teacher and her mentor in the most organic and beautiful way possible. The woman’s husband even told Coleman “she normally won’t do this – she’s typically very reserved.”
Just like with any business venture, there is disappointment. How will people respond to a candle business? What if someone more popular does the same thing? Over the last year, Coleman has learned how to deal with rejection. This has been a really hard feat for her.
Coleman was raised by her grandmother, who had already raised 13 children, raised her and her two siblings. Coleman didn’t really have the chance to be the “middle child,” because she always had to take care of her siblings.
She always questioned life. “Am I good enough?” “Did my parents not want us?”
Carolyn taught her how to be forgiving. “I used to hold so many grudges,” admits Coleman. “I fought with my mother for the longest because of how I grew up.”
Her grandmother passed away when she was 17. The declining woman told her, “I’m depending on you.” She got her own apartment and put her sister through school. Coleman had her first daughter at 18. Sometimes her dad’s girlfriend would help by watching her daughter.
She took care of her sister and her daughter. She worked and went to school. That was the routine. She completed two years as a psychology major at UNT Dallas, but didn’t finish her studies.
Coleman stands about five feet even, boasting a small frame, but a huge personality. Behind her eyes is a story of great sadness, overpowered by determination. Her heart beats freely through stitched up stab wounds of heartache.
Her children are her world and she almost lost them.
Growing up, Coleman admits to having been the sassy mouth girl, always ready to pop off at someone. She never could’ve imagined that it would be a counselor she met at a youth center growing up who would come to her aid during one of the most trying periods of her life. Pam Porter offered Coleman moral support when she began going through an unimaginable experience with Child Protective Services (CPS).
At one point Coleman allowed a family member to temporarily live in her home. That individual brought with them bed bugs. Upon discovery of the bed bugs, Coleman rid her home of every single piece of furniture and began saving for replacements. During that brief time (after a matter of a few days), she was reported to CPS as not having a livable environment for her children. She came home from work one day and shortly after, a knock on her door was followed by the removal of her children.
During her first court appearance, Coleman was told within minutes: “you’re not getting your children back today.” She was required to undergo a psychological evaluation, endure a 12- hour parenting course and more. Her children were put into a group home from September to December of 2016. Her visits were limited to once per week.
The evaluation proved that nothing was wrong with Coleman - she was just missing her children, as it had always just been her and the children. The assigned therapist told Coleman that she was going to write a letter and recommend that the children return to the home. This was around session number seven. The last court date was in December of 2016, shortly after the children had been moved to foster care all the way in Corsicana.
“I went from seeing my children each day to seeing them for one hour, one day per week,” recalls Coleman. “I’ve been through a lot in my life, but this was by far the worst experience.”
Her children were returned on the 23rd of December in 2016. They were all monitored for six weeks. The children, who had gone through an emotional detachment from their mother, were ecstatic to get back. They had a dramatic Christmas Eve pajama party with the whole family that year.
While Coleman tries not to focus on that heartbreak, she can’t seem to forget how quickly everything familiar was taken away from her.
She needed an outlet.
“I feel like this business is my fifth pregnancy,” says Coleman. “ I had to go through so much to birth this beautiful business.”
“Sensual Scents”– scents that satisfy your senses. This business is hers and no one will take it away from her.
With a pound of wax inside of one of her melting pots – Coleman can make one candle in about 45 minutes. The sizes vary from six ounces, to eight and 11 ounces. She also makes air fresheners and wax melts. The inspired businesswoman has a growing list of different scents.
Inside of her Little Elm home is a nook just for her. It’s not quite an office space, but it’s all the space she needs right now to channel her energy into candle making. She has enough room to plan, execute, label and prepare for distribution.
Sometimes Coleman will participate in popup shops. The fact that she makes a profit from her business is truly a bonus, as the endeavor all began as just a fun outlet.
Her children absolutely love the smells of the different candles. They even participate in the creation of some of her most popular scents. Her 14-year-old daughter Miri often makes candles and sells them to her friends, joking with her mom to cut her in on the profit.
Coleman’s watermelon citrus candle was a specialty candle. It was in such high demand, but is of course seasonal. Awhile back, she made a sunflower candle for Carolyn. She made about one dozen such candles and Carolyn’s customers bought them all up before she could even get a photo of them on display.
During holidays like Mother’s Day, Coleman will make gift baskets that include candles, air fresheners and more.
Coleman operated a storefront in Mesquite from March to August 2018, while she didn’t have a full-time job. Her boyfriend, Keymond actually invested in the shop for her. He found the space, signed the lease and brought her the keys one day. He saw the passion and wanted to support it.
She closed the store only because she moved to her home in Little Elm. Upon moving in July she realized after about a month that the commute was just too much. That transition kind of pulled her away from promoting her candles.
“I think I felt embarrassed about closing the store,” admits Coleman. “People had frequented it a lot. They would text me to say, “I’m here. I would always have music going, great vibes and some great scents.”
The passion would fortunately return for Coleman. She realized that making candles was to be more than just a stress reliever. Keymond is still very much a supporter, often times going to the supply store for her.
Eventually she would like another storefront, as the business has proved very lucrative for her. Right now, Coleman is just grateful to have happy and healthy children in her home. She still visits Carolyn often and is very thankful for the day that friendship developed.
Her coworkers take a quick liking to her, and always buy her writing utensils and journals because they notice her passion for journaling. She’s not shy about sharing what she has overcome.
“I journal a lot of the things that I can’t say,” shares Coleman. “Candle-making is my gift to people – a gift that actually saved me.”
