Our Origin Story

Hi, I’m Jen — founder of The Modern Sonoran, wife, mama of three, and sonoran desert dweller.

This brand was born out of a moment we’ve all had: when something that’s supposed to make make your life better… doesn’t. For me, it was a trendy candle I brought home & lit one day.

It had looked great on the shelf, smelled so lovely, and came from a store I thought was trustworthy (as I have always striven to keep our home toxin free) but it left me with a pounding headache and a rash that lasted for months. 

In frustration, I started researching what was actually in so many candles on the market — and that frustration quickly turned into anger… then determination.

I realized how common it was for candles to contain so many dirty, secret ingredients - I'm talking cancer causing, hormone disrupting, cell mutating, reproductive system harming junk guised as pretty smells. 

And something smelled off about the waxes being mass marketed: Number one wax on the market? Paraffin (petroleum by-product). Number 2? Soy (made of nasty gmo seed oils sprayed with pesticides/herbicides) — all things I didn’t want my family breathing in. I wanted something safer. Cleaner. Better.

So I set out to make it myself.

Months of testing and tweaking led to something I’m incredibly proud of: a custom hemp + coconut wax blend, completely free of soy, paraffin, and toxins.

Our candles are made only with non-gmo, sustainably sourced, non-toxic ingredients that burn clean — without compromising on scent, design, or atmosphere.

At first, it was just for my family. But the more I shared my candles with friends and loved ones, the more I realized this wasn’t just a personal solution — it was something people were genuinely excited about. The scents, the aesthetic, the peace of mind. They wanted more, and I knew I had created something worth sharing.

My background is in the wedding industry. I’ve always loved curating beauty with intention, and starting The Modern Sonoran has reignited that creative spark.

Now, I get to design candles that reflect personal style, enrich your home’s atmosphere, and cultivate the kind of warmth and connection that turns houses into havens.

Six months in, and how’s it going? Amazingly.

We’ve shipped hundreds of orders across the country. Some of our customers are already on their fifth or sixth purchase. We’re building a community of candle lovers who care just as much about what’s in their candles as how they look and smell. People are telling us they feel more at peace in their homes — surrounded by scent, style, and safety.

At The Modern Sonoran, we believe beauty should be more than skin deep. Every candle is thoughtfully designed to elevate your space and nourish your senses — with ingredients you can trust, and scents that tell a story.

And our journey is just beginning!

But this isn’t just our beginning.

It’s yours, too.

Welcome to the Modern Sonoran - I'm so glad we've found one another!