Tell us about you, your business, and what you do.
Hi! I'm a proud Latina born and raised in the Bronx, NY. For those who follow astrology, I'm a
classic "Sagittarius" - optimistic, wise, lover of freedom, humor, learning, athletics, and travel.
I'm building a wellness brand called Almaiya, which means "soul" in Spanish, and “Maya”
references the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, goddess of beauty and prosperity. Almaiya is an
authentic extension of me; my personality is woven into the business. Almaiya is fresh and
clean with a down-to-earth yet luxurious Sunday self-care vibe. Our first product is a
fragrance-free candle with affirmations on the label.
Almaiya’s mission is to normalize high-quality fragrance-free candles that look just as lovely (or
better than!) scented brands.
As someone who's experienced headaches and rashes from burning (and making) scented
candles, I know I am not alone in this. People with fragrance sensitivity or allergies are an
underserved population in the candle industry. There’s an ocean of people who wish they can
enjoy fragrance free, clean burning, beautifully designed candles without getting sick. That's
why I decided to create my own. After all, candles are a sensory experience, and my customers
care about enjoying that experience without any negative side effects.
Additionally, Latina candle makers/business owners are underrepresented, and I want to change
that.
Sidenote: When a product is labeled as fragrance-free, it means that it does not contain any
ingredients that are specifically added to create a scent. On the other hand, when a product is
labeled as unscented, it generally means that it contains certain chemicals or masking agents
that help to neutralize or hide the natural odors of the ingredients used in the product.
If you could use one word to describe your entrepreneur journey what would it be and why?
Revealing!
Revealing outdated beliefs, fears, and my true capabilities. Revealing my supporters. Revealing
my creativity and authentic self. Revealing the next level of challenge and growth.
Who’s the one person that supported your dreams when you first started?
I am lucky for my partner and a very select few who support me now that I'm talking about
Almaiya - but in the very beginning when I first started in 2021, it was just me for a few months. I
nurtured my idea in silence and didn't allow outside opinions to affect what I was doing.
In April 2022, I went to a business networking event hosted by Daniel DiPiazza in LA; that's
when I first pitched my idea, and it gave me confidence to push forward. It was still fragile at the
time. That trip gave me confidence to fully step into entrepreneurship.
Later on, once I had momentum and more clarity, I invested in a mentor (Luis Garcia, Law of
Ambition).
Although I have a small support group, I don't expect anyone to understand why or what I'm
doing - it's up to me to carry out the vision and show everyone.
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see Almaiya as one of the top wellness brands for people who value self-growth,
self-care, breaking self limitations and "generational curses."
How do you define success?
There's a quote I love from Earl Nightingale - “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.”
I am already successful because I am on the journey to progressively realizing my goals.
At the end of the day, I want peace, financial and time freedom, optimized health, deeper
connection, and adventure for myself and my loved ones. I dedicate my life to being my best
self physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and Almaiya is a huge part of that.
As an entrepreneur, what does VX mean to you?
As an entrepreneur, VX means I'm not alone. There's a community of people who all want more,
and we just need to find them. VX means we all have a dream, and it takes courage to go after
it. Once we start pursuing our dreams, we start connecting with others on a deeper level, and
we climb the hill together.
Where can our readers find you?
You can find me on Instagram @Almaiya.ny or on my website.
Sign up for my newsletter here to stay up to date on what I'm doing, or follow my personal IG
@All_Ways_Evolving. I'd love to connect with you!
Develop clarity on what you want to accomplish, be specific how you will get there, give it a timeline, and do meaningful focused work consistently.
-Linda