Meet Valarie Ingram | Candlemaker

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

Hi Valarie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Marianao Creative really started in the early days of the pandemic in 2020. I was home with my youngest son, who is autistic, and constantly searching for sensory activities to keep him engaged. It became a creative outlet for me, too. I ordered candle fragrances, and we started experimenting with scents that felt meaningful to us. That’s how my Holden candle came to life—which is still my best-seller today.

What began as a way to connect with my son during lockdown quickly grew into making gifts for friends and family, and eventually spiraled into a small business I continue to nurture while also working full-time.

The name Marianao Creative is a tribute to Marianao, the district in Havana where my family emigrated from. Their resilience and courage are a throughline in everything I do—whether it’s building this business, navigating my corporate career, or guiding my children to dream even bigger for themselves. For me, this work is not just about making candles; it’s about honoring where I come from and creating something that inspires the next generation in my family.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve spent most of my career in corporate America, working across functions like forecasting and marketing. Honestly, it was a path I fell into to create a comfortable life for my family. But at my core, I come from a family of artists, and I’ve always chased creative outlets as a way to channel my energy and ideas. That’s probably why candle-making drew me in so deeply—it’s the perfect balance of art and science.

There’s precision in researching and blending the highest-quality waxes with fragrance oils that are not only rich but also safe. Then there’s the artistic side—layering scent elements in a way that creates a feeling, a memory, or an experience for the person who lights it.

Candles themselves are fascinating to me: long ago they became obsolete as a necessity for light, yet humans remain deeply drawn to them. That emotional connection is why this has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry—and why I love having the opportunity to create products that people welcome into some of the most intimate moments of their lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend were visiting me in Nashville on a Saturday, I’d probably start the morning with a class at Forza Pilates, which always sets me up with great energy for the day. After that, I’d head over to Bottle Cap for brunch—it has that perfect blend of character and comfort. Later, I’d take them to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, where the textures, landscapes, and seasonal details spark ideas for new scent combinations.

In the afternoon, we’d pop into Crema Coffee Roasters—it’s cozy. To wrap up the day, I’d make a reservation at Lyra in East Nashville.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to give a special shoutout to my grandparents, Elpidio and Fidelina, who came to the U.S. as Cuban refugees. Their courage and resilience laid the foundation for everything I do today. Although they both passed away before I started Marianao Creative, their influence is woven into the heart of my business. They did, however, get to meet their great-grandchildren—who are now my guiding light and the reason I keep pushing forward. Every crazy dream I chase is in honor of where my family came from and where I hope the next generation can go.

Website: https://www.marianaocreative.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianaocreative/