Meet Danielle Gilmore | Dr. Danielle Gilmore, Founder and Owner of CandlesbyDrDee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Gilmore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The idea for CandlesbyDrDee started from my own experience as a candle lover. I have always enjoyed having candles in my home because they create a relaxing atmosphere and make a space feel warm and inviting. At one point, I was spending a significant amount of money on candles from Bath & Body Works and other retailers because I burned them so often.

Over time, I began noticing that many of the candles I purchased would give me headaches, especially those with strong fragrances. That led me to start researching candle ingredients and learning more about what goes into many commercial candles. The more I learned, the more interested I became in creating a cleaner alternative for myself.

I started experimenting with candle making as a hobby. My goal was simple: create a candle that smelled great, burned well, and used fewer ingredients. After testing different materials and formulas, I found that organic soy wax worked best for the type of product I wanted to create. I paired it with fragrance oil and developed a candle that was simple, effective, and aligned with my values.

What began as a personal project quickly turned into something bigger. Friends, family members, and coworkers started trying my candles and asking to purchase them. Their feedback gave me the confidence to turn my hobby into a business.

I founded CandlesbyDrDee because I wanted to offer high-quality candles made with simple ingredients and intentional craftsmanship. Today, every candle is made with organic soy wax and fragrance oil. I focus on creating products that help people relax, enjoy their space, and feel confident about what they are bringing into their homes.

Starting this business has allowed me to combine creativity, wellness, and entrepreneurship while providing customers with a product that was originally created to solve a problem I experienced myself. That’s what makes CandlesbyDrDee so meaningful to me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
CandlesbyDrDee is a Black woman-owned candle company built from a simple idea: creating candles that I felt comfortable burning in my own home. I have always loved candles, but I found myself spending a lot of money on store-bought brands and often experienced headaches from some of the ingredients and strong fragrances. That experience led me to start researching candle making and experimenting with creating my own products.

What sets CandlesbyDrDee apart is simplicity. My candles are made with only two ingredients: organic soy wax and fragrance oil. They are also vegan, hand-poured, and made without animal-derived ingredients. I wanted to create a product that was clean, high quality, and enjoyable without unnecessary additives. Every candle is made with the same standards I expect for products I use myself.

What I am most proud of is taking an idea that started in my kitchen and turning it into a real business. While CandlesbyDrDee is still growing and has not yet reached the point of turning a profit, every sale, repeat customer, and positive review reminds me that people believe in what I am building. For me, success is not only measured by revenue. It is also measured by the relationships I have built with customers and the confidence I have gained as an entrepreneur.

Building a business has not been easy. Like many small business owners, I have invested significant time and money into learning the craft, purchasing supplies, creating a brand, marketing products, and participating in events. There have been moments when sales were slower than I hoped and times when I questioned whether I should continue. I overcame those challenges by focusing on steady progress instead of immediate results. I continue to learn, improve my products, connect with customers, and trust the process.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that entrepreneurship requires patience. Social media often highlights overnight success stories, but most businesses grow over time through consistency, persistence, and hard work. I have learned to celebrate small wins, stay focused on my goals, and keep moving forward even when growth feels slow.

What I want people to know about CandlesbyDrDee is that it represents perseverance. It is a business built from passion, curiosity, and a desire to create something meaningful. As a Black woman entrepreneur, I am proud to build a brand that reflects quality, authenticity, and care. Every candle is hand-poured with intention and created to help people slow down, relax, and enjoy life’s simple moments. My story is still being written, and I am excited to continue growing while staying true to the values that inspired me to start in the first place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting Dallas for a week, I would make sure they experienced the city like a local, not a tourist.

Day 1: Dallas Essentials

We’d start with brunch, then head to Klyde Warren Park and spend some time walking around downtown. From there, we’d visit the Sixth Floor Museum because it provides important context about Dallas and its history. That evening, we’d head to Deep Ellum. We’d check out the murals, local shops, and live music scene before grabbing dinner and enjoying the energy of one of Dallas’s most recognizable neighborhoods.

Day 2: Texas BBQ Done Right

No one visits Dallas without eating great barbecue. I would take them straight to Hutchins BBQ in McKinney. In my opinion, it has the best beef ribs in the Dallas area. The brisket is outstanding, but the beef ribs are what I tell everyone to order. We’d also get some jalapeño sausage and burnt ends, then save room for the complimentary peach cobbler and banana pudding. After lunch, we’d walk around Historic Downtown McKinney, which has great local shops and a charming small-town feel that many visitors don’t expect to find so close to Dallas.

Day 3: My Non-Negotiable Stop

We are absolutely stopping at In-N-Out Burger. Every time I’m in the area, I have to get a Double-Double Animal Style. It has become a tradition. After lunch, we’d spend time at NorthPark Center. Even if you’re not shopping, the art collection alone makes it worth visiting. We’d finish the day at Legacy West in Plano, where there is always something happening and plenty of great restaurants and places to hang out.

Day 4: One of Dallas’s Hidden Gems

For lunch, I’d take them to Prince Lebanese Grill in Arlington. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire metroplex and one of the places I recommend most often to visitors. The food is consistently amazing, the portions are generous, and the hospitality is unmatched. Whether you’re ordering shawarma, kebabs, hummus, or fresh pita, everything is excellent. It is one of those local spots that people remember long after their trip is over. After lunch, we’d explore Arlington and some of the area’s entertainment districts.

Day 5: Bishop Arts and Local Favorites

We’d spend the day in Bishop Arts District. It is one of my favorite areas because it feels completely different from the rest of Dallas. There are local boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and small businesses everywhere. You can spend hours exploring and still discover something new. It has a creative energy and sense of community that I always enjoy sharing with visitors.

Day 6: White Rock Lake and Culture

After several busy days, we’d slow things down at White Rock Lake. We’d walk the trails, enjoy the scenery, and take in one of the best outdoor spaces in Dallas. A lot of people think of Dallas as highways and skyscrapers, but White Rock Lake shows a different side of the city. We’d also spend some time in the Dallas Arts District, which is one of the largest urban arts districts in the country. We’d end the evening with dinner overlooking the skyline.

Day 7: Sports and Texas Culture

If there is a Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers, or Stars game in town, we’re going. Sports are a huge part of the culture here. If not, we’d spend the day exploring more of the metroplex and fitting in a few final food stops before wrapping up the trip.

What I love most about Dallas is the variety. You can spend the morning walking around a lake, the afternoon exploring museums or local neighborhoods, and the evening eating world-class food. The metroplex has incredible barbecue, amazing international cuisine, thriving Black-owned businesses, arts and culture, professional sports, and neighborhoods that each have their own personality. Dallas is much more than what people see on television. Once you get to know the area, you realize there are great people, hidden gems, and unique experiences around every corner.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends. CandlesbyDrDee started as a personal project, but it would not have grown into a business without their support, encouragement, and honest feedback. They were my first customers, product testers, and biggest cheerleaders. They encouraged me to keep going when I doubted myself and helped spread the word about my candles to others.

I also want to recognize the Black-owned business community. As a Black woman entrepreneur, seeing other Black business owners build successful brands inspired me to pursue my own business. Their stories, advice, and support helped me believe that I could turn an idea into something meaningful. Being part of a community that celebrates entrepreneurship, creativity, and economic empowerment has been an important part of my journey.

Finally, I want to thank my customers. Every purchase, review, referral, and social media share has helped CandlesbyDrDee grow. Supporting a small Black-owned business is a choice, and I never take that support for granted. Knowing that people enjoy my products and continue to support my vision motivates me to keep creating candles that bring comfort, relaxation, and joy into their homes.

Website: https://www.thedrgilmore.com

Instagram: @CandlesbyDrdee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedrgilmore/