The prologue of Audre Lorde’s biomythography Zami closes with the declaration that she is, “Woman forever. [Her] body, a living representation of other life older longer wiser.  The mountains and valleys, trees, rocks.  Sand and flowers and water and stone. Made in earth.” This candle is scented with Oakmoss, Amber, and Sage and captures Lorde’s description of herself and her sense of “the erotic.”

For decades, Gwendolyn Brooks chronicled the everyday beauty within Black life. Oftentimes, she turned her focus to her Bronzeville community in Chicago. Scented with Amber, Jasmine, and Sandalwood, this candle is smooth just like the tender love Brooks describes in this beautiful poem.

James Baldwin is a prolific creator working in several mediums. His work demonstrates a commitment to love, both tough and tender. In “The Fire Next Time,” Baldwin writes “Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” This candle is scented with Juniper, Jasmine, Lily, and Clove, capturing the firm, but tender hand with which Baldwin wrote.

Pictures of June Jordan show the same sparkle in her eye that illuminates her writings. In Some of Us Did Not Die, she reminds us: “To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And that's political, in its most profound way.” This uplifting candle is scented with Ginger, Saffron, Cardamom, and Lemongrass to capture the honest and loving spirit of her writing.

Ntozake Shange wrote “Where there is woman there is magic” and so it is and always has been. Mirroring that magic, this candle is scented with Dragon’s Blood and is both spicy and sweet with Cedarwood, Orange, and Patchouli as well.