MACON, Ga. — In honor of Black History Month, 13WMAZ is highlighting Black businesses across Central Georgia.
Everybody loves candles. At least that is what the owner of Datso Good Candles Yolanda Barnes says.
"I do all the stuff that makes your house smell good but I do that because I love cleanliness. I love that clean smell like you just woke up, you cooked breakfast, you cleaned the kitchen and now you got to have the candle. You got to!" Barnes said.
She started Datso Good Candles in 2020.
When school went online during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had to pivot from her first business, Life Lessons, where she taught kids important life skills in Central Georgia classrooms.
Barnes says making candles had always been a hobby and so when one door closed, a sweet smell came from another. Although her candles are works of art today, she says she had an awkward start.
"And those candles were the most horrible candles you'd ever want to buy. But I invested in it because I needed to make money, so you got to keep going, either keep going or pivot and I didn't want to pivot," Barnes said.
Datso Good candles in your one-stop shop for almost anything to make your home smell good. Barnes sells wax melts, wax warmers, room sprays, carpet fresheners and more on her website.
And these aren't just your average candles.
Barnes handmakes candles that look and smell like some of your favorite treats like chicken and waffles, peach cobbler, ice cream sundaes and more.
"So most of my candles are like 'Okay I saw this dessert and I want to eat that so let me make it so I can smell it.' Because I don't want to gain weight, so if I can smell it then at least I won't eat it right? Or at least that's the goal," Barned said.
She also makes scents in a variety of themes like astrology, Greek Life and fun characters.
"You can do a simple candle. That's cool, I do those too for people that want them but my customers, because we all have a customer base, love the extra. They're extra people," Barnes said.
Barnes says there are challenges to being a Black business but the Central Georgia community is very supportive of her and her work.
"Being a Black business, especially in this area is so good because people are so giving here and kind of cross-sectionally, it just comes together, it's amazing," she said.
Her business also got a shoutout from online influencer Tabitha Brown during her Very Good Mondays video in September.
Barnes her favorite candle is her Caramel Apple candle and her best seller depends on the time of year but right now it is a scent called Masculine.
She is grateful for her success and says she does all of this for her 5-year-old grandson Datso, whom she named the business after. She says she puts her love for him in every order.
"Just wanted to do something that was generational. It's for him, it's all for him. I want him to grow up and be like 'Hey NeNe,' he calls me NeNe, 'Okay NeNe, I wanna do this, I wanna grow this even more than you've grown it' but it's him," Barnes said.
She says love is what makes her business special.
"I think that it's the love I put into it, because if you're a grandparent you understand that there is no greater love than the love you have for your grandchild and then to transition that over to this. Everything I do I do it with excellence because I envision him," she said.
Barnes also offered advice for future Black entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting their own businesses.
"Do it, do not stop yourself because that could be your blessing, that could be your next level. We're not always meant to do one thing, we're always evolving and growing so evolve and grow," she said.
She also suggests people continue to invest in themselves by doing training and going to workshops.
She says it makes her feel good to be a part of people's homes and hopes that everyone will give her business a try at least once. Barnes also hosts candle-making classes where you can learn to make your own creations. You can find them on her website.
You can find out more on her website. You can also check out her Facebook and Instagram pages.