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

Hi Danielle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have had an interest in entrepreneurial and creative pursuits since childhood. This was further solidified through my studies and in particular, during my time studying internal and external business communication and development at USC. During that time, I was working at a Wealth Management firm and attained first hand experience in growing the business from the ground up- brick by brick. As time went on, and I moved on to other sectors in my career, the itch to start something that was 100% mine remained. The spark that ignited my drive to start Deeelicious Brands was my Mother’s passing. She was an extremely talented creative- painting free hand around the house, a great chef, dancer, and educator. You name it, she did it well! When she passed, I dedicated time to do things she liked to do. During the winter of 2021, I decided I wanted to make homemade gifts for my family and close friends—something that was reminiscent of her spirit. Then it dawned on me that she made candles! I researched materials, tested and perfected various scent profiles and gifted them. I received awesome reviews and decided to pilot a small batch on Instagram. The rest is history and Deeelicious Brands AKA Deeelicious Scents was officially born in April 2022. Every Deeelicious Scents Candle is handmade and is one of many ways my Mother’s light and legacy continues on in this world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business was cultivated out of love and during one of the hardest periods of my life. Navigating the world during a period of loss, not only for me but for the world was foreign. I knew I wanted to stay grounded by pursuing some of my Mom’s passions during quarantine. I started with cooking and even thought about starting a meal prep service. When the idea of candles came to mind, it was a perfect fit. I personally love candles. They enhance any ambiance and they’re beautiful and unique, just like my Mother was. It has been a joy to curate each step of this process and see the business grow day by day. I personally oversee every component of the business and I am the head candle maker or shall I say the head Loubie wearing candle maker?! It is beautiful to see a passion turn into a business!

My advice is to be relentless in your action plan. If you have an idea. Go for it. You will make mistakes, as I have along the way, but there is always a solution. The hardest step is just doing. Get your idea off the ground and everything will fall in line. I can vouch from experience. If I listened to every person who said that it sounds impossible or I have to much on my plate, I would not be speaking with you today.

Like Nike (or Phil Knight) says, Just Do It!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, this is a great question! I would start the day by grabbing a coffee. We have some awesome choices in LA. Some personal favorites are Stereoscope (Echo Park), Maru (Arts District), and Kumquat (Jonathan Club DTLA). Take a scenic hike at Runyon Canyon or hike to the Hollywood sign (Griffith Park). After the hike you’ll be hungry! I suggest The Ivy for some of the yummiest dishes in LA and a beautiful ambiance that transports you to Europe. After lunch visit some of our beautiful museums (The Getty Villa [Malibu], LACMA [Miracle Mile], The Hammer Museum [Westside], The Broad [DTLA]). If you’re thirsty for a rooftop cocktail, may I suggest Dante (Beverly Hills), The Conrad Agua Viva (DTLA), The Edition Hotel (West Hollywood), Elephante (Santa Monica), or Grandmaster Recorders (Hollywood). For dinner, score a coveted reservation at Funke, visit famed Nobu Malibu, or view the city from the sky at 71 Above. For after dinner cocktails I always recommend Wally’s Beverly Hills.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my parents, family, and friends for always believing in me and instilling a fervent tenacity to persevere. I remember feeling like the world was my oyster at a young age and I could be anything that I desire. I now realize how rare and special that is and I thank them for that every day. To the educators and bosses that have taught me to stay resilient. To speak up. To share my two scents at the table—I thank you.

Website: www.deeeliciousscents.com

Instagram: @deeeliciousbrands @itsdani_marie

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