Behind the Flame: Why I Started Pharos Candle Company

Every business begins with a story.

For Pharos Candle Company, that story began long before the company itself existed.

Since the mid-90s, I have enjoyed creating handmade products, from candles to home décor pieces. What started as a creative passion became a lifelong appreciation for fragrance, craftsmanship, and transforming ordinary spaces into something beautiful and welcoming.

Over the years, I dreamed of building a business that could become more than a hobby—something meaningful that would allow me to retire from my full-time career and create a legacy that could one day be passed down to my family.

But there was one thing missing.

The name.

I knew I wanted it to be a single word. Something timeless. Something memorable. Something that reflected the things I loved most.

I have always been drawn to candles, fragrance, ancient Egypt, Greek history, and lighthouses. Those interests had been part of my life for years, and I knew I wanted them reflected in the company I hoped to build. Yet despite countless ideas and years of brainstorming, I could never find a name that truly brought all of those passions together.

Then came 2020.

As the world navigated the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, I continued working full-time as an essential worker for one of the nation's major airline carriers—a career I continue to this day.

Like many people during that time, I found myself reflecting on purpose, legacy, and the future. While balancing work and life during an extraordinary period in history, I continued thinking about the business I hoped to build someday.

I was already familiar with the Lighthouse of Alexandria and its remarkable history. I knew it stood on the Island of Pharos. I knew that pharos is the Greek word for lighthouse. I had long admired ancient Egypt, Greek culture, maritime history, candles, and fragrance.

Yet somehow, I had never connected all the pieces.

Then, in a moment that felt like an epiphany, everything came together.

Pharos.

The name I had been searching for had been there all along.

One word that embodied everything I loved.  The world's first great lighthouse.

The Island of Pharos.

Ancient Egypt.  Greek history.  Illumination.  Guidance.  Discovery.  Candles.  Fragrance.

Suddenly, years of ideas, dreams, and inspiration converged into a single name.

The name Pharos wasn't simply a reference to an ancient structure. It represented a beacon—a source of light, guidance, and inspiration. It perfectly captured the spirit of the company I envisioned: a brand rooted in storytelling, history, fragrance, and the power of creating meaningful experiences.

From that moment forward, Pharos Candle Company was no longer simply an idea.

It had a name.  It had a purpose.  It had a story.

Today, every candle, room spray, reed diffuser, and wax melt is inspired by the belief that fragrance can transport us. Through scent, we can revisit memories, discover new experiences, and connect with stories that span centuries.

Whether inspired by legendary rulers like Cleopatra, ancient symbols like the lotus, or the wonder of the Lighthouse of Alexandria itself, every Pharos product is designed to illuminate the senses and transform everyday moments into meaningful rituals.

What began as a passion for creating candles and home décor in the mid-1990s has grown into something far greater than I ever imagined.

My hope is that Pharos Candle Company becomes more than a business.

I hope it becomes a legacy.

A legacy built on fragrance, storytelling, creativity, and the belief that even the smallest flame has the power to illuminate the world around us.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Illuminate Your World.

— Shelly Achong, Founder of Pharos Candle Company