Nina Filipina
Hi! I am Mx. Nina, creator and candle maker of BaO Artisan Candles. Nice to meet you!
Can you share with us a brief story on how you started Bao Artisan Candles?
My love for candles was unintentional, actually. One day in 2019 when I was spring cleaning, I unearthed a few candles collecting dust in our house. I pulled them out to use as decoration for our tables and shelves, but when I lit one up I realized how much scent can change the atmosphere. I dimmed the lights, practiced a bit of yoga, and felt so much joyful peace. I kind of fell in love that dayI’m a designer by profession, so I guess it wasn’t enough for me to buy candles and appreciate them. A huge part of me needed to know how they were made and how I can customize it to my own liking. The intention wasn’t initially to start a business, it was more of a need to create something me and my family would enjoy. And when I started to get into prototyping, my friends suggested I try making it into a business. So I did!
Using bao/coconut shells for scented candles is a very eco-friendly and genius idea. What/who inspired you in creating this business?
I would look up candle ideas, research different vessels and styles of making candles and I went through several trials and prototypes before I reached the look Bao has today. At the end of the day I realized I didn’t have to look any further than the raw materials our country produces. We have so many cool raw materials! I asked for a few scrapped shells from the barangay marketplace (from the stall they squeeze coconut milk “gata”) and when I discovered how beautiful it looks as a candle vessel, I continued to develop the idea to make the coconut shell safe to use for containing candles.I guess one could say the Philippines inspired me.
From the packaging up to the scented candles, everything’s nature-inspired. What made you decide on that?
What inspires everything in Bao is the pursuit to make everything explicitly Filipino. Our country’s raw materials and products are a testament to how woven our culture is to nature, and the things that make us special already surround and grow around us. So the coconuts, the bayong, the beeswax, are all locally sourced from different parts of the Philippines.
Do you have plans to introduce more scent variants? What will patrons expect from Bao Artisan Candles in the near future?
There’s definitely more in store for Bao. I’m always creating, experimenting, learning about scents, and always trying to find ways to bring Filipino pride and joy into people’s homes.I'm so thankful to people who continue to support local products. Maraming salamat!