12th & Viv: A Luxury Soy Candle Brand Whose Scents Give Us All Life

If you haven't heard of 12th & Viv, then you're definitely missing out! This indie brand curates luxury handmade, hand poured and freshly crafted candles that are perfect for the cold season! With beautiful high-end jars and the chicest names in Brooklyn, 12th & Viv creates small batches with the quality ingredients. Additionally they create creams and scrubs that are made with 100% pure organic coconut oil, unrefined shea butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and essential oils that are great for your skin.

What is the significance of the name 12th & Viv?

The company was named after my grandmother, Vivian. She has always been an inspiration to me because of her resilience, class, elegance and style. I wanted to honor her as the family's matriarch for the example she has set. I also wanted to use a name that was simple, chic and could easily conform to something more than candles and beauty products.

How do you define sustainability?

We define sustainability as clean, non-toxic. We use the best organic ingredients (those we can actually pronounce), that are not only good for adults, children, and also our planet.

We know that people today are more health-conscious and they want products that support their vegan, gluten-free, lifestyle. You find that people today have various ailments, they detox and use probiotics because of the many toxic materials that are in our foods and skincare products.

What are the core ingredients of your products and where are they sourced?

We use soy wax for our candles because it is renewable, biodegradable (unlike petroleum based paraffin) and helps create economic growth. Soy wax burns cleaner without getting that nasty carbon soot on your walls and ceilings and has no toxins thrown into the air we breath.

Our whipped body butter is made with organic, shea, coconut, almond, jojoba, castor and vitamin E oil. Our body polishes are created with essential oils, Himalayan salt, and organic sugars and oils.

Does being a Woman of Color influence your brand? If so, how?

Yes, it does. Eczema is common in people with brown skin and is thought to be the second-most common skin condition to affect African-Americans. Because of the melanin in brown skin its more reactive to itching, irritation and inflammation. I have several family members that suffer from psoriasis and other skin conditions. Because of that, the goal for my brand was to create a product that would remedy or minimize those effects for people of color.

What has inspired you the most?

Having my daughter has inspired me greatly. There have been times when I considered throwing the towel in. However, knowing that I can inspire her to be whatever she wants, motivates me to keep going even during the tough times or when I'm dead tired. As she gets older, I would like for her to see that being an entrepreneur means hard work and never to be a quitter. I want my aspirations and ambitions to encourage her to achieve whatever goals she may have.

What can we expect from you in the near future?

You can expect to see 12th & ViV incorporate other home decor items to our product line.