The Japanese Craftsmanship Influence

There’s a rhythm in the studio that’s slow, steady, and deliberate. It’s not rushed or hurried. Each part of the process has its own pace, and together they create something closer to meditation than production.

This rhythm reminds me of the Japanese approach to craft: a philosophy that values patience, mastery, and respect for materials. In Japan, craftsmanship is more than skill, it’s devotion. A belief that even the smallest object deserves care and precision. That philosophy lives at the heart of how I make candles.

Beginning with Memory
Every candle begins long before a wick is ever lit. It starts with memory; weekend evenings spent with the people who matter most, the warmth of a hug after a long day, the quiet strength of a grandmother’s love. 

I sit with the feeling first, asking myself: what did it feel like? What would those feelings smell like? Was it airy and bright, or grounded and deep?

This beginning is my own form of shokunin, craftsmanship as devotion. Because it’s not about chasing trends. It’s about honoring a story, an experience, a memory, and giving it shape in fragrance.

The Rhythm of a Day
There’s no assembly line here. No rush to keep up with trends. At Black Culture Candles, every part of the process is slow by design - because intention takes time. A typical day doesn’t begin with pouring. It begins with quiet. With notes and reflection. Then comes the practical work that keeps the business balanced: reviewing supplies, confirming deliveries, updating the books. The craft is in the candles - but the balance is in the business details.

Some days are for testing scents, adjusting until they settle just right in a room, not too heavy, not too light, but enough to bring life to the moment. Other days are for engraving, each jar etched by hand. It’s not fast work, but the way the candlelight that shines through etched glass becomes part of someone’s home.

And then comes the pouring days. Everything slows down: temperature, blending, even the way I stir the wax. This is where memory becomes physical. Where story takes form.

Afterward comes the finishing - wrapping, labeling, tucking in thank you cards and match boxes. Every part of the process matters. Every detail is purposeful.

A Legacy of Care
Craftsmanship is never just about precision. It’s about presence. About putting a piece of yourself into the work, knowing someone else will one day hold it in their hand.

I often think of my grandmother in her garden when I work; her hands steady, gentle and full of wisdom. Nothing wasted, everything cared for. The Japanese devotion to craft gave me language for what I already felt; that objects made with care carry meaning far beyond their function.

More Than a Candle
So when you light one of my candles, you’re not just burning wax and wick. You’re experiencing memory made tangible, guided by craft philosophies that cross continents and generations.

This is slow craft. This is scent as story, culture, and connection, etched, poured, and prepared with the kind of patience that turns an everyday object into something lasting.

— Lori

Every candle begins with a story. Start your journey into scent. Discover the Collection.