Meet Iris Ochoa | Candle Maker and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Iris Ochoa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Iris, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Before COVID, I was a self-employed party coordinator. The lack of events encouraged me to find an alternative way to make income and be an outlet for my mental health. I knew I wanted to create with my hands in my home and the inspiration came after a conversation with a dear friend. I envisioned the endless possibilities of candle making and immediately knew I was about to become a candle maker! It was important to make beautiful, great smelling, high-quality candles, but also safe candles with a bigger purpose and intention, which is the reason to place crystals in each candle. After lots of research, all of the ingredients were carefully chosen to create safe and sustainable candles that were phthalate and petroleum-free. The vessels chosen would have to be repurposed as decoration or planters and so it was important to find elegant and modern ones to compliment any space. Altogether, choosing the wax free of carcinogens, toxin-free fragrances and wicks, elegant vessels, and the power of crystals ignited the birth of Luz De Luna Candles.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am super passionate about my candles! Every detail is planned with great care, effort, and attention from the initial idea to the final product. Every step is performed by hand, from the pouring to the shipping, for exceptional quality. Now the fun part- combining scent, botanicals, and crystals. All of our hand selected crystals are charged under the full moon prior to being placed in a candle. They are fully charged with cleansing energy and positive vibes. All crystals have different properties. I like to match these with a scent and botanical that multiplies the crystal’s benefits. For example, Amethyst has calming qualities and when paired with lavender buds and fragrance, which help reduce anxiety and stress, the properties work together and the benefits of each are multiplied. Although finding the best scent/crystal/ botanical/vessel combinations has been challenging, it is one of the most gratifying aspects of candle making. When people pick up a candle and there’s an immediate look of nostalgia on their face, re-engaging in a memory, that is my favorite moment. The pretty vessel and crystal benefits are the cherry on top.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is so much to do in the Houston area- from Pleasure Pier on Galveston Beach to national sports- the possibilities are endless! If I had to plan a day, we would start with an early breakfast at The Breakfast Klub followed by a stroll at Discovery Green. We would do some shopping in Rice Village and stop at Tacos a Go Go for a quick and delicious lunch and follow up with a visit to The Flaming Heart for crystals and other quirky finds. Our day would continue to one of the many must-see museums, whether it’s be history, science, arts, children’s or space. There is always time for SweetCup Gelato! We’d stop at The Pastry War or 8th Wonder Brewery for a drink or two before heading over to Xochi or State of Grace for dinner. The night would be capped with live music supporting one of the local bands like Paperwolf, at Bohemeo’s, The Scout Bar, or The House of Blues.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The support I have received form the community and friends has been amazing and I am so grateful! I greatly value my family’s opinions and often ask for constructive support, whether it’s about the scent of a particular fragrance or size font of a new label. I must say that I especially appreciate my husband, Ernesto, for giving me the green light to move forward with this endeavor. This wouldn’t be possible without his love and encouragement.

Website: Www.luzdelunacandles.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/luzdelunacandle

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/luzdelunacandles