hi, i’m julia!
If you spend a lot of time in the candle aisle at Target, you’re in the right place.
Candle Culture is for anyone who loves to burn, make, or obsess over candles. My name is Julia. I live in Houston, Texas with my husband, Eric, and our dog, Lady Bird. When I’m not at work, I’m probably making candles. I started making things on the internet over 10 years ago on a YouTube channel called simpleDIYs. After a few years as a full-time YouTuber, I actually went back to a corporate 9-to-5 but I’ve always stayed creative on the side. For the past 5 years, I’ve spent a lot of time making candles.
I don’t sell my candles so Candle Culture feels like the perfect place to share what I’m making. I also share candle reviews, candlemaking tips, and anything I’m currently obsessing over. You can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, and occasionally, YouTube. 🕯 Thanks for stopping by!
Want to collaborate? Get in touch!
Frequently Asked Questions
CANDLE CULTURE
Do you take your own photos? Yes. Very thankful for self-timers and my new strategy of filming in 4K then taking stills from the video clips.
What camera do you use? I use a very old Canon 60D for most photos and a newer Canon M50 for video. Most photos are taken with either a 35mm or 50mm lens.
When did you start this blog? I bought the domain in 2023, but didn’t start until mid-2024.
Why did you start this blog? I wanted an easier way to share my creative projects on the internet than YouTube. While I love YouTube and still occasionally post there, it is so time consuming to film, edit, and upload videos. I got burnt out after being a full-time YouTuber for a few years in my 20’s. Blogging is so much easier in comparison and I’m having a lot of fun with Candle Culture so far! It is much easier to do on the side of my 9-to-5 than YouTube.
Do you accept sponsorships? If I find the right brand to collaborate with, I would consider it. You can e-mail at [email protected] to see if we’re a good fit.
JULIA
- What do you do for a living? I have a corporate day job in the insurance industry. I’ve worked in my industry for the past 8 years, but have pivoted roles a few times. I know that’s a pretty vague answer, but I don’t want to bore anyone who is here for candle content.
- Why are your nails always blue? For two reasons – one, it’s my favorite color and two, it makes it easier to film/photograph my DIY projects. Most projects are filmed/photographed over several days. If I switched up my nail polish, the lack of continuity would be more obvious. I have actually kept my nails painted blue for several years. I remember switching from blue to pink just for my wedding day and I actually regretted it so much that I have kept them blue ever since!
- What happened to your YouTube channel? I still post occasionally! I wish I had more time to devote to filming videos because that is one of my favorite things to do, but it is just so time consuming. Between work and family and the many dog walks demanded by Lady Bird, I just don’t have the time to post more than a few times a year.
- Where do you live? I currently live in Houston, TX. I was born here, but I’ve also lived in California (in the Bay Area). I just moved there for college, but moved back to Houston right after graduation. I also did a brief stint in Austin (my favorite city!), but I have now settled down in Houston in the same neighborhood I grew up in and I’m so happy to be back.
- What is your favorite candle? My favorite candle of all time is the Capri Blue Volcano candle. And it matches my nails!
