Valley Girl Candles Air Local Scents

Valley Girl Apothecary, a handmade candle company based in Studio City, features products named for Valley locations with custom scents meant to conjure the aromas the region is known for, such as orange blossoms, patchouli and pan dulce. 

“I don’t like to put out any scent that can be found elsewhere. All our scents are exclusive in-house blends,” said Michelle Alvarado, founder of Valley Girl Apothecary. 

The 12-oz. candles have names such as Van Nuys, Topanga Canyon and Valley Nights and blend essential oil scents including bamboo, musk and ozone to create the scent of Lake Balboa Park. The Northridge candle, a bestseller, is meant to remind those who smell it of the citrus groves on California State University – Northridge campus with its hand poured orange blossom and floral neroli notes. 

“First I look up the history of the place in question, followed by a long process of blending scents until I come up with the perfect mix that embodies the city,” Alvarado said of her carefully handcrafted products. 

Each candle takes about a half hour to make. As a self-described “proud Valley girl,” Alvarado wanted to shift public perception of the region while having a personal creative outlet in her business.

“I wanted to create something that felt familiar to me as well as bringing a positive light to the Valley. The Valley is always a topic in pop culture, but it’s often referenced in a negative way,” Alvarado said. “I wanted to promote the best parts of the Valley with my unique scent blends.”

Alvarado sells several hundred candles per month through her online store and partnerships with local businesses. She regularly sells products at pop-up events and has a regular display at Valley Relics Museum, which features a collection of locally made and Valley-themed items. 

Ultimately, Alvarado hopes to expand her business, originally founded in 2019, to include a larger scale operation and include handmade products from El Salvador to honor her family’s heritage.

“I would love to expand more, ideally creating a business model that allows me to hire people in El Salvador – where my family is from – and provide living wages and benefits,” Alvarado said. “I would also like to implement a recycling program where the candle jars are returned and refilled for an even more sustainable product.”