Article: Five Years of Dahil Bar: A Dream, Handmade

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Dahil Bar market display with sculptural candles, gold shelves, and green tablecloths.

Originally published Oct 29, 2026From the Founder

Five Years of Dahil Bar: A Dream, Handmade

Dahil Bar turns five! And writing that feels a little unreal. On October 29, 2021, I was nervous as I secured my website domain and social media handles, taking the first steps toward building something of my own. My marketing background told me to start with my digital presence, and everything else would take some figuring out.

I loved fragrances, loved art, but I did not know how to make a candle. Now, five years later, I am looking through photos of my first candles and market tables, remembering everything that happened between then and now.

There has been so much learning, some very difficult moments, and beautiful reasons to keep going, but that part came later, after a question from my cousin that changed the direction of this business.

Let me tell you how it started.

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Early Dahil Bar creations featuring pink and ivory Fiery Swirl candles beside a layered pink-and-white Bubble candle.

It Began With My Love for Fragrances

I have always been someone who keeps 10 to 15 perfume bottles; I love having options, discovering scents, and finding a fragrance that feels right for the day. That love led me to apply for an entry-level position at Perfumes 4U in 2017. Once I started working there, my interest grew even more.

I learned about the work behind creating a fragrance: sourcing materials, choosing bottles, caps, and sprays, selecting fragrances, and developing the boxes. I also had the opportunity to design packaging, posters, and banners, which gave me another way to express my creativity. After a while, I felt there was no more room for me to grow there. I wanted to build something of my own, connected to fragrance, but I had no idea what I would sell.

The name Dahil came from playing with the letters of my name, Hilda, and I added Bar because I wanted the freedom to offer a variety of products. I did not want the name to limit what the business could become. Then, during my research, I came across a candle shaped like David, and I fell in love with it.

I had learned so much about perfumes, but this felt different. Sculptural candles brought together the things I enjoyed: fragrance, art, and beautiful objects for the home; they could decorate a space, carry a scent, and look beautiful when lit, and that was the direction I wanted to take.

“Did You Make Them?”

Here is something you may not know: the first candles I sold were not made by me. I sourced them through Faire from businesses in England, France, and Colombia. When they arrived, I started bringing them to markets; then my cousin Jennifer asked me, “Did you make them?” I told her no, I had sourced them. She told me she was completely sure I could make them by hand.

Sometimes your loved ones see something in you before you see it yourself. Her words stayed with me, and I began researching: wax, fragrances, molds, where to get everything, and how to put it all together.

I had always enjoyed working with my hands; growing up in Venezuela, I learned cross-stitch and drawing. Later, at Florida Atlantic University, I discovered a love for drawing with Micron pens and completed a minor in photography. Creativity was already part of my life; I just had to learn how to express it through wax.

A green Bubble candle held in one hand beside green-and-ivory Mini Bubble candle favors made for Mateo’s baby shower.

My First Handmade Candles and My First Favors

My first molds were the Bubble, Fiery Swirl, and Mini Bubble. I started experimenting with pink and green, and a fragrance vendor from France supplied my first candle oils: La Belle Rose and Angel’s Iced Papaya.

Looking at those early photos brings it all back; the ivory Bubble candles beside my supplies, the pink and ivory swirls. The little experiments with layers of color; I was making something with my own hands and figuring it out as I went. Some of my first handmade candles, while I was still learning the process.

My first handmade favors were for the baby shower celebrating my nephew Mateo, the second baby my twin sister was expecting. I made green-and-white Mini Bubble candles and packaged them in clear boxes with green ribbon and little white flowers. Those are the favors in the photo. At the time, I was making something special for my family.

Looking back now, I can see the beginning of a part of Dahil Bar that would become so important to me: creating candles for meaningful celebrations. My very first handmade favors, made for the baby shower celebrating Mateo.

There Were Mistakes, Of Course!

One of my first mistakes was adding too much fragrance oil. I was also impatient, and I wanted to take the candles out of the molds and burn them right away because I was so excited to see how they turned out. I had to learn to wait.

Taking a candle out of its mold without breaking it was one of the most challenging parts. You put time into making it, and then you still have to get that shape out in one piece! I was learning how to make the candles while also learning how to explain them to customers. People understood candles in jars and sculptural candles needed a little more conversation: how to display them, how to enjoy them, and what made them different.

And honestly, the learning has never stopped. Every time someone requests something unusual, I have another opportunity to figure something out.

The Market Tables Grew with Me

My style has stayed fairly consistent over the years; I have always been drawn to beautiful shapes and thoughtful presentation. What has changed is how much I have learned about bringing those ideas to life. I have improved my wax blends, refined my packaging, and added more designs to the collections.

I can see that progress in my market displays, too. In the early photos, there are pink tablecloths, candles arranged on their boxes, and little handwritten signs with names and scents. Later came green tablecloths, gold shelving, and different ways of arranging the pieces. Seeing those photos together makes me smile. I was learning how to make candles, how to display them, and how to introduce Dahil Bar to people; all at the same time.

A refuge during grief, and a way to celebrate love

The Light of David will always be special to me because it was the candle I first fell in love with. But other candles became personal in ways I could never have anticipated when I started. After my pregnancy loss, Dahil Bar became a refuge.

Creating gave me a way to express my feelings and find comfort in my grief; I made Hugging Oliver in honor of that loss, giving something so personal a place within my work. Later, my beautiful rainbow baby, Valentina, came into my life; I created Valentina’s Love to celebrate her.

Dahil Bar has been with me through both experiences. It gave me somewhere to put my love during a painful time, and another way to celebrate when my daughter arrived. Those candles hold a part of my family story.

Dahil Bar market displays evolving from pink tablecloths and handwritten signs to green linens and gold shelving.

The People Who Made It Worthwhile

There are customers I still think about when I remember those market days.

One woman found me at the Dania Pointe market and ordered favors for her twin daughters' First Communions. I made the candles with personalized boxes and added a cross to each box alongside the ribbon. She later left a review describing how much she loved the candles, their fragrance, and the packaging. She even mentioned the crosses I had added without her asking, which meant so much to me. She noticed the little details I had put into something important to her family.

Two women worked at the Tommy Bahama restaurant, and every time they came to the market, they bought at least one candle. Seeing people come back and choose another piece was such an encouragement.

And my mom deserves a mention of her own; she loves every single candle! She has always been there, supporting me and what I create. When you support a small business, the person behind it remembers; I certainly do.

Making Room for Dahil Bar in a Very Full Life

The hardest part has been finding balance; I work full-time as a Digital Marketing Manager for Perfumania, Fragrance Outlet, and Fragrance Market, and I also freelance, helping small businesses with their digital strategy. Then there is my life with Valentina and my husband, Miguel, and being there for my mom. All of those things matter to me, and finding time for them is something I am still working on.

There have been months when I have not sold a single candle; then a large order comes in, and suddenly I need to figure out how to get everything done. I want to be honest about that. Celebrating five years doesn't mean every month has been successful or that I have found the perfect balance. It means I have continued making room for Dahil Bar through all those changes.

Five Years and Some Big Firsts

This year has given me so much to feel proud of. I received a handmade order for 60 twin candles for an event in California; I also completed my largest quinceañera favor order yet: 200 candles! I had made quinceañera favors before, but those orders were smaller, with fewer than 100 candles. Two hundred was a new challenge and a milestone I am very happy to celebrate.

When I put that next to the photo of my first favors for Mateo, I can really see how far I have come. I have also had the opportunity to share my story through features in VoyageMIA and Business Stories. Sometimes I am so busy working on the next thing that I forget to stop and appreciate what has already happened. This anniversary has given me a reason to do that.

What I Hope Comes Next

I would love to have a storefront one day; I imagine a place where people can see the candles in person, experience the fragrances, find something they connect with, and create jobs and support others through this business.

There are more shapes I want to explore and larger events I would love to create custom pieces for. I am developing the Luxury Gifting and Wedding and Event Candle Favors collections and beginning to incorporate positive messages into my candles. Eventually, I would like to share more of my other creative work, including cross-stitch and small paintings. That is why I am glad I left room in the name Dahil Bar. There are still so many things I want to make.

To Everyone Who Has Helped Me Get Here

Los amo! I really do.

Your orders, your encouragement, your help, and those little pushes along the way have helped me grow this brand and become who I am today.

Jennifer telling me I could make the candles myself, my mom supporting every creation, customers returning to my table, families trusting me with favors for their celebrations. All of it has mattered.

Starting a business without knowing exactly how everything will work takes courage. I had experience in marketing and fragrances, but I had so much to learn about making the products I wanted to sell. I started anyway and kept learning.

If you have something you want to create, I hope that part of my story stays with you. You can begin with what you know, ask questions, practice, make mistakes, and build from there. Five years ago, I took a nervous first step. Today, I get to say: Happy Fifth Birthday, Dahil Bar!

Thank you for being part of this story. I am so excited for what comes next.

With love,
Hilda

"I started anyway, and I kept learning"

Hilda Rodriguez, Founder of Dahil Bar

A few more things to know

A Little More About Dahil Bar

What inspired you to start Dahil Bar?

My love for fragrances led me to work in the perfume industry, where I also explored packaging design. When I discovered sculptural candles, I fell in love with the idea of bringing fragrance and art together. I opened Dahil Bar on October 29, 2021, and eventually taught myself to hand-make the candles.

What does the name Dahil Bar mean?

Dahil comes from rearranging the letters of my name, Hilda. I added Bar because I wanted room to explore different handmade products as the business grew. Candles became my starting point, but I would love to share my cross-stitch and small paintings one day, too.

How did you start making candle favors?

My first handmade favors were green-and-white Mini Bubble candles for the baby shower celebrating my nephew Mateo. I packaged each one in a clear box with green ribbon and little white flowers. Since then, I have created favors for First Communions, quinceañeras, and other celebrations—including an order of 200 candles in 2026!

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Hilda Rodriguez, founder and candle maker behind Dahil Bar

Written by Hilda Rodriguez

Hilda Rodriguez is the founder and maker behind Dahil Bar, a Miami-based candle studio inspired by fragrance, art, and thoughtful design. With her family at the heart of her journey, she creates handmade candles that bring beauty, warmth, and meaningful moments into the home.

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