Nicole Ortiz
Wonder woman is standing in her kitchen measuring candles for one of her biggest clients to date. She wears no cape and holds no golden rope, but her endurance is her strength, and her children are her legacy. A single mom of two, Nicole Ortiz, works two jobs and homeschools her children while creating a candle company in her apartment, sometimes staying up until 1 a.m. processing orders. Why? She wants to give her children a proper home and be an example of success. Moreover, she's bringing in additional income and awareness for autism, a condition her son has.
Ausome Candle Co. was “birthed out of a hard time” in Ortiz's life. Her youngest child, Roman, was placed on the autistic spectrum, among other conditions, and as a family briefly between residences. “I was losing everything,” she recalls, “and the anxiety levels are through the roof.” Yet, despite being the predominant parent and navigating through the tunnels of autistic parenting 101, it has “brought [about] patience.” Moreover, she claims, “it's been the number thing while remembering to take of myself.”
For her, candle crafting is extremely “therapeutic” in a space where she barely has time for herself. “Who doesn't like candles?” she exclaims. “At first, I wanted to create calming scents for moms to relax to.” Before long, she came across a nasal memory that reminded her of her grandmother's cooking. “My mouth was watering, and that scent took me back to her, making me flan.” Tembleque, Coquito, and Cafe con Leche are some of the growing rich flavors of Latin America joining flan in her shop. Although Ortiz was born in New Jersey, a state with a high Puerto Rican population, she holds deep roots among the Latin community in South Carolina.
As she expands and grows comfortable managing her company around her lifestyle, her scents tell a story of their own. “The candle market is saturated, but I believe that my main focus is autism and self-care. Every purchase includes a care card and information.” And she means every candle at a time. Ortiz wants to bring an emotional investment to her brand. As her slogan reads, “awareness, acceptance, and inclusion.” Adding that, she could “preach a whole recipe for world peace” because this is something “beyond just autism.”
As a proud Puerto Ricana, Ortiz wants to use her voice to bring down the taboo surrounding stigmas. “They never speak about it,” she points out. And as more Hispanic clientele reach out, she wants to educate those not personally affected by autism. “I'm not an autism expert. I'm a Roman expert,” firmly stating. “[Everyone] is unique, so don't be quick to judge,” she adds advisedly. There's another tone to her voice. “No one stops to think that he has autism when he has a meltdown in public. The stares and comments I receive are unreal. I don't want people to think he's bad because he's different. I want them to treat him like a human being. He also has PFAPA, a rare metabolic disorder, and Echolalia, when repetitive information is formed into a response mechanism.”
She shares what she learns with her followers on social media. Furthermore, she was able to apply for grants tailored to her business and lifestyle through TikTok. Her ability to dig through free information on entertainment platforms is a sign of her resourcefulness. Moreover, she uses Instagram stories to show her daily routine of caring for her children, her business, and herself. She is a master of multitasking, checking orders before her second job, starting the wax burner as she prepares meals, and observing homework. She has two days off solely dedicated to Roman's therapy sessions. Although not a simple set of 24 hours because “it affects him the rest of the day,” she shares affectionately. “I love on him, take him for walks, whatever I can to keep him calm. Autistic kids are amazing, but I feel so isolated being the parent.”
Ortiz gets into a rhythm while working with her hands, describing how the logo for Ausome Candle Co. began. “There's a division in the autism community of blue and red colors. So, my logo has both with Roman's favorite insect, the dragonfly.” She educates that the puzzle piece used in the Autistic community formed its symbolism as “a mystery because no one knows where the disorder comes from.” Even though her son is mesmerized by puzzles, her candles are not for children; therefore, replacing the symbol with the infinity logo for a more recognizable and professional touch.
She breaks down the candle chemistry as she lifts 20 lbs. of a base into a filter to diffuse. “Every time there is a new vessel, it takes a science,” she explains. “If you put one more over and someone puts it in their house at room temperature, it could explode.” She recently made the switch from soy to coconut wax. “The scents are louder on coconut, plus it's ecofriendly. Puerto Ricans are loud, and that's how we like our candles.” The oils she uses are non-toxic reproductive at 80% base and 20% diffuser scents. Other percentages are ineffective; therefore, she measures each one individually on a scale.
Among the chaos, she's managing to stay creative and be active in her community. $600 of a recent 600-candle order to Capital One will go to a local autism program or family in need. A bank representative in Virginia discovered Ausome Candle Co. through #latinaetsy and reached out to place an order. “I thought it was a joke at first,” initially seeing 600 in total as a scam. She wrote back politely, declining and offering up her competitors. Partly due to lack of confidence and partly because Ortiz is a staff of one. When her daughter isn't studying or helping her little brother, she sits on the floor putting together labels and boxes to be shipped out. Ortiz appreciates the effort but wants her daughter to enjoy her teenage years before they slip by. In the end, the bank representative wished to support a Latina entrepreneur, and they wanted Ortiz.
By omitting the shipping cost, Ortiz packed up orders and her family and took a road trip to deliver them personally. Talk about customer service! A level of action-shattering expectations is what she aims for yet seems remarkably natural to her. Hispanic women are now the fastest- growing contribution in a diverse economy. Ortiz expresses elation discovering that she is making up this statistic. “Yes, that's me!” she gleams. “No one taught me anything. I'm still learning. I'm just proud to be a business owner and [most importantly] proud of myself for doing it.”
What started as a means to provide in many avenues, Ausome Candle Co. has blossomed into a new definition of storytelling. The craft of each candle, the decorative packaging, the personal touches with every order are what make Nicole Ortiz simply stand out. As her aromas fill the air, each one holds a memory. In an uncertain world, this Wonder Woman's weapons are wax and wisdom. Wepa!
