Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Garcia.
Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My name is Lisa Garcia and I’m the proud mother of three independent, creative women, Madisyn, Megan, and Mya. We are the owners of Ouachita Wax and Naturals. Together we began this venture about a year ago in the midst of the COVID pandemic. My daughters were searching for something different out of life than the typical 9 to 5 work grind. They wanted something that would allow them to make something unique, express themselves, and allow their creativity to flourish. We began to brainstorm ideas together and landed on one that stood out…. Candles! We all love candles but agreed they cost too much and typically have dangerous chemicals in them, so we thought “why not make our own and make them better?” We took a leap of faith and soon enough the wax, wicks, containers, and fragrances began arriving at our doorstep box after box and we quickly realized, we are going to make this happen. As a mother, I saw this as an opportunity to show my girls that through determination, teamwork, and following your passions that they can decide for themselves what path they want to take. This also coincided with a point in my own career and personal life where I felt that I needed a change. I had been employed as a histotechnologist and Laboratory Supervisor/Manager for the last 25 years. I love my job, but I also wanted to express my creative and artistic side. Candles were the answer, and Ouachita Wax and Naturals was born!
We would describe our company as a woman-powered and Native American-owned small business. Our family is culturally diverse and proud of all our heritage, but I am especially proud to be Choctaw. Growing up in California, I was allowed to be a part of and explore all of my family’s cultural heritage except being Native American. I grew up very close to my grandmother, Irene (aka Grandma Pat), who was Choctaw and Cherokee. Her home was decorated with Native American art, dolls, rugs, baskets, and she adorned herself with beautiful native jewelry. I was mesmerized by all of it! She was gorgeous. Although we were surrounded by all of this, we never talked about being Native American. There was a time I remember when we were out in public, and someone inquired about the possibility of her being of Native American ancestry and she denied it. For a long time, I never understood why she did that, but as I got older, she told me of tragic incidences and stories from her youth. She described a time when identifying as Native American meant the risk of being abused, ostracized, discriminated against, and at times much worse. I finally understood her hesitancy to disclose her heritage openly and freely. My Grandma Pat asked that if I was ever able to make my way back to the tribe, look for some way to help and make a difference. Recently, we became tribal members. I am so excited to finally and officially be a part of the family heritage that I hadn’t been able to celebrate growing up and to share this with my girls. Our hope is that as this venture grows, we can find the path that lets us honor Grandma Pat’s wish and make a positive impact on the Choctaw tribe.
So, if you’re wondering how you pronounce our name, that’s okay! You wouldn’t be the first to say “wahcheeta”. The correct pronunciation is wash-i-tah. Ouachita is the French spelling of the Choctaw word Washita, which translates to “Big Hunting Ground”. We first discovered the beauty and majesty of the Ouachita National Forest when our girls were very young. My dad lived in far Northwest Arkansas. We lived in DFW and as a halfway point to get together we would meet and stay in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We fell in love with Ouachita right away and over the years we have returned to the area every chance we get. We were fortunate enough to acquire our own little slice of Ouachita in Royal, AR. We use it as our retreat and respite from the hustle and bustle of life and work in the Metroplex. Spending time in the natural setting of the forest energizes the soul, frees the mind, and fosters the creativity that we put into each candle that we hand pour and craft.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our journey has just started, and we have already endured a few bumps and lessons learned along the way. Making quality, creative, unique candles is a challenge and requires patience, dedication, and a lot of trial and error. Naturally, just like every other industry, COVID has made sourcing of our materials significantly more challenging. As much as we would all love to be able to support ourselves solely with our candle sales, we aren’t there yet, so most of us continue to work full time while devoting what time we can spare to the business. We are also still taking baby steps in learning the fundamentals of business in a very competitive industry. We collaborate to try to make the best choices for the continued growth and success of Ouachita Wax and Naturals and this includes everything from the scents, colors, designs, where to sell, how to market, and how to manage finances. Ultimately, we hope to grow ourselves into having retail brick and mortar locations, but for now, we are having a blast selling on weekends at the Dallas Farmers Market! Come by, say hi, and smell our candles!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our candles stand out from the crowd because we refuse to cut corners. All our candles are crafted using 100% natural soy wax that is FDA- approved and Kosher-certified. Soy wax is both a natural and renewable wax resource. Not only does it burn cleaner, but it is non-toxic, and produces measurably less soot than other wax varieties that are often used by companies that mass produce candles. An added benefit of using soy wax is that we help support American soybean growers! In addition to cleaner wax, we also use cleaner-burning 100% cotton wicks to help further reduce harmful byproducts of burning. Lastly, we use only the highest quality fragrance oils, which in addition to having outstanding scents, are also Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Diethyl Hexyl Phthalate (DEHP) free. What all this means is that our candles are safer for you and your family, your fur babies, and our environment.
Not only do we use safe quality ingredients, but we also have a never-before-seen uniqueness to our candles. We hand mix our colors, hand pour all our candles, and individually decorate our candles in small batches. This makes each candle unique with slight variations in colors and patterns of décor. We offer candles decorated with striking quartz crystals, polished stones, a variety of salts, sugars, herbs, and dried flowers. We have created candle lines inspired by the places we live and play. Our Texas-inspired line draws inspiration from quintessential lone star staples such as cowboys, campfires, and bluebonnets. Our new “Mandle” (man candle) collection will mix familiar scents like tobacco, rum, and leather with lavender, black amber, vanilla, and many more. Our crystal candle collection is nothing but good vibes! Tranquility, Rejuvenation, and Vitality are just a few that are directly inspired by our time in the forest. These beauties are topped with quartz crystals that are naturally charged by the earth, moon, and natural spring waters of the Ouachita’s. Each is one of a kind and you can choose the one that speaks to you! Finally, be sure to check in with us for our limited edition seasonal, holiday, and special occasion candles throughout the year.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ouachitawaxandnaturals.com
- Website: www.Ouachitawaxandnaturals.com
- Instagram: @Ouachita_Wax_and_Naturals
- Facebook: @Ouachitawaxandnaturals
