Pura + Co.: The Story Behind the Best Handmade Candles of Puerto Rico

Some names aren't invented — they're inherited. Pura + Co. is one of them.

A Name With Roots

The story of Pura + Co. begins with a name, and with two women who are no longer here but remain present in every candle we make.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Lily — the founder of the brand — started making candles at home. Not as a business, but as a refuge. A way to find calm in the middle of chaos. She had always been obsessed with scented candles — to her, the right fragrance can shift your mood from zero to fifty in seconds.

When the time came to give a name to what she was building, Lily wanted something that felt like her — something with meaning, with depth, and faithful to the soul of the brand. It was during research for another project that she came across the origin of her own name:

"The name is derived from the flower, whose meaning is pure, passion and rebirth."

And just like that, everything clicked. Lily is a flower whose meaning is purity — and Pura was the name of her paternal grandmother, Purificación, whom everyone called Pura. Her own name, Lily, came from her maternal grandmother, Lillian.

Two grandmothers. Two names woven together by what felt like more than coincidence. Lily doesn't believe in coincidences — she believes in cosmic purpose. And hers was clear: to honor the two most influential women in her life through a brand that would carry their legacy in every flame.

That is how Pura + Co. was born. A name with roots, with history, and with love.

From Hobby to Brand: A Pandemic Origin Story

When 2020 brought everything to a halt, Lily found herself at home with time she hadn't planned for. In that unexpected stillness, she returned to something she had always wanted to explore: making candles. She started working on fragrance blends, refining her process, filling special orders for people around her — and slowly realizing this was more than a hobby.

It wasn't just about making beautiful candles. It was about creating moments. About proving that a fragrance has the power to transform a space, calm a mind, and mark the beginning of a wellness ritual. That's when Lily decided the time had come to share it with the world — and Pura + Co. officially came to life.

Today we're a woman-owned business based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, with a growing community of customers who have made our candles part of their daily rituals.

The Wax That Changes Everything: Coconut Apricot

When most artisan candle brands work with soy wax for its accessibility and eco-friendly profile, we chose something different — and there's a very specific reason for that.

At Pura + Co., we use premium coconut apricot wax as the base for our candles, and it's not an aesthetic choice: it's a technical one.

Coconut apricot wax has a lower melt point than soy wax, which creates a wider melt pool and a stronger, more consistent fragrance throw — the term used to describe how well a candle distributes its scent throughout a space. It also produces a noticeably smoother, creamier finish and burns significantly cleaner.

Compared to coconut soy wax — also plant-based and widely used — coconut apricot outperforms it in scent retention, burn time, and professional aesthetics. We don't cut corners where the customer's experience is what's at stake.

The one exception is a special collaboration collection made with soy wax, designed to offer a more accessible price point. Everything else we make: coconut apricot, always.

And always: no paraffin. No parabens. No sulfates. No phthalates. 100% cotton, metal-free wicks. What goes into our candles is exactly what we'd want burning in our own homes.

Our Collections & Products

Over time, Pura + Co. has grown into a complete ecosystem of handcrafted wellness — everything formulated in Puerto Rico, everything made by hand, everything with purpose.

Artisan Candles

Our signature product and the heart of the brand. Every candle is made with coconut apricot wax, metal-free cotton wicks, and fragrances developed exclusively by Pura + Co. We don't use catalog fragrances — every scent is our own, crafted to evoke a specific feeling.

Skin Care Collection

Our skincare line is the natural extension of the brand: the same values of clean ingredients, intentionality, and craftsmanship, now applied to your skin. It includes:

• Body Butters — rich moisturizers formulated with the same fragrance profiles as our candles, so the ritual continues on your skin
• Cold-Process Soap Bars — handmade using the traditional cold-process method, which preserves natural glycerin and produces a genuinely nourishing bar soap
• Sugar & Coffee Scrubs — natural exfoliating body scrubs made to renew the skin, with the texture and scent that only something handmade can deliver

Wax Sachets

Flame-free artisan air fresheners made with natural wax and decorated with dried botanicals and quartz chips. Perfect for closets, drawers, cars, and intimate spaces — and one of the most unique and beloved gifts in our store.

Wax Melts

For those who want stronger fragrance intensity without a wick. Our wax melts are formulated with the same exclusive fragrances as our candles and work with any electric or tea light warmer.

Discovery Box

The perfect way to experience Pura + Co. without committing to a full candle. A curated selection of our fragrances in mini format — ideal for yourself or as a gift for someone who deserves something truly special.

Candle Club

Our monthly subscription of limited-edition candles. Every month, Club members receive an exclusive candle formulated specifically for that season — fragrances that aren't available in our regular store. It's the gift that keeps giving.

Candle-Making Workshops

Live experiences where we teach the art and craft of making handmade candles. Perfect for groups, birthdays, bridal showers, team-building events, or anyone who simply wants to learn something new. We also offer individualized workshops for those who prefer a one-on-one pace.

Our Commitment to the Planet

From day one, sustainability hasn't been a marketing word for us — it's part of how we do everything. We use 100% vegan and sustainably sourced raw materials. Our vessels are designed to be reused, and we offer a refill program: bring your clean jar back and receive 5% off your next candle. Less waste, more character.

Through our partnership with Shopify, we also offer carbon-neutral shipping — because a conscious business thinks about what it leaves behind.

Made in Puerto Rico. With Purpose.

We are a Puerto Rican, woman-owned brand, made by hand from Guaynabo. Every product that leaves our hands carries the story of two grandmothers, the determination of a woman who found her purpose in the chaos of a pandemic, and a genuine love for the artisan craft.

When you buy Pura + Co., you're not just bringing a candle into your home. You're carrying a story. And that story carries the name of Pura — a woman who, though she won't see what we've built, lives in every fragrance we create in her name.

Ready to Start Your Ritual?

Explore our full collection, take the Scent Quiz to find your perfect fragrance, or join the Candle Club for an exclusive candle every month. Free pick-up available in Guaynabo — shipping across Puerto Rico and the United States.