Teri Johnson
Teri Johnson

Through intense research, she discovered Harlem’s vibrant and rich past. Music icons including Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington who performed at clubs such as the Savoy Ballroom, the colorful areas of Harlem’s Sugar Hill and Lenox Avenue all inspired her to share these stories.

The Harlem Candle Co. began in her kitchen in 2014. Teri now designs fragrances alongside award winning perfumers to produce beautifully scented candles that celebrate the Harlem Renaissance. 

Teri with the perfume team
Teri with the perfume team at the AD Design Show in 2016
Harlem Store Pop Up at Grand Central
Our Pop Up Store at Grand Central for the Holiday Season
The Architectural Digest Design Show (2016)
The Architectural Digest Design Show (2016)
The Architectural Digest Design Show (2018)
The Architectural Digest Design Show (2018)

The success that Teri has experienced with the Harlem Candle Co. has allowed her to collaborate with a variety of different partners — from large legacy brands like Kodak to Manhattan's first and only whiskey distillery, Great Jones Distilling Co. — in sharing the magic of the Harlem Renaissance with candle lovers everywhere. Like music, the top, middle, and base notes of each Harlem candle tells a story while taking you on an olfactory journey through time and place. Drawing on inspiration from legends like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, the candles instantly enhance your space while creating a sense of comfort and luxury.

Each candle is specially handcrafted using a soy wax blend and infused with one of a kind fragrance oils developed by a team of globally recognized expert perfumers.

Our mission is to continually capture the beauty and essence of Harlem of yesterday and today as we illuminate spaces around the world with our soft glows and exquisite scents.