Hey there!

I’m Julia.

hobby candle maker + diy-er

I live in Houston, Texas with my husband (Eric), my daughter (Evie), and our dog (Lady Bird). When I’m not at work, I’m probably making candles.

If you are also obsessed with candles, you’re in the right place.

Candle Culture is for anyone who loves candles – burning them, making them, or both! I share candle reviews, candle making tips + tutorials, and anything else I’m currently loving. You can also find me on Instagram, Pinterest, and occasionally, YouTube.

Thanks for stopping by!

I don’t sell my candles so Candle Culture is the perfect place to share what I’m making.

Explore the Blog
  • pink flower candle

    • Behind the blog

    How it all started

    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. I used to make anything from jewelry to home decor items, but now I’m mostly focused on candle making. It’s the perfect blend of my science background and my love for crafting. It’s funny to me that I never actually used my science degree for work, but now it’s coming in handy for my favorite hobby.

    Get to Know Me

    favorite candle

    capri blue volcano

    coffee order

    chai latte

    sweet or savory?

    both

    favorite bravo show

    salt lake city (duh!)

    favorite room to light a candle in

    my home office

    Guilty pleasure

    haribo gummy bears

    introvert or extrovert

    introvert!

    unpopular opinion

    soy wax is the worst

    FAQ

    For two reasons – one, it’s my favorite color and two, this makes it easier to film/photograph my DIY projects. Most projects are filmed/photographed over several days. If I switch up my nail polish, the lack of continuity would be more obvious. I have actually kept using the same shade of blue for several years. I remember switching from blue to pink just for my wedding day and regretting it so much that I have kept them blue ever since!

    I currently live in Houston, TX. I was born and raised here, but I left for college (California) and did a brief stint in Austin (my favorite city!) before eventually finding my way back home. Now I’m settled in the same neighborhood I grew up in, and it feels really good to be back.

    I’ve made a lot of career pivots – from bioethics research to full-time YouTube to my current role in the title insurance industry. I’ve now been in title for almost a decade and I really like the balance between my corporate 9-5 and my creative “5-9”. Plus, I get to work from home with my favorite candles burning at all times!

    Candle making can get expensive so I generally go wherever the sales and coupon codes lead me. I source supplies from all over the place – here’s a post I wrote that breaks down where to buy candle making supplies. If you need a checklist of the essential candle making ingredients / tools, check out the candle kit page. I created a few supply lists based on the type of candles you want to make (scented container candles versus molded candles) and separated the must haves from the optional items so that you can skip all of the fluff if you’re trying to get started on a budget.

    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 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.

    To be honest, I also 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.

    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.

    You can e-mail me at candlecultureblog@gmail.com to see if we’re a good fit.

    want to collaborate?

    candle culture partnerships

    If you’re interested in working with Candle Culture, reach out! I’ve partnered with candle brands and craft supply companies, but am open to other opportunities if there is a good fit.

    Contact candlecultureblog@gmail.com for my media kit and rates.

    get in touch!