Youth Made Candle Products
Every candle tells a story.
Scented Futures is a youth-run candle line born inside YEI’s cosmetic lab at Bard High School Early College DC in Southeast DC’s Ward 8.
Each fragrance is developed, tested, named, poured, and shared by young makers learning how creativity can become business, confidence, and opportunity.
The Brand Story
Born at Bard. Built by youth.
At Scented Futures, we believe every young person deserves the chance to create something powerful — with their hands, their voice, and their vision.
This youth-run candle line was born inside YEI’s cosmetic lab at Bard High School Early College DC in Southeast Washington, DC. Each fragrance is developed, tested, named, poured, and packaged by DC high school students combining creativity, beauty science, business training, and heart.
When you shop Scented Futures, you are not just buying a candle. You are supporting youth learning production, branding, sales, customer service, and entrepreneurship through real products.
Product Categories
Candles, wax melts, room sprays, and gift bundles.
Explore youth-made scent products created in YEI’s cosmetic lab at Bard High School Early College DC in Ward 8.
Candles
Small-batch youth-made candles with scents developed, tested, and named by DC high school students.
Wax Melts
Easy, giftable scent products for customers who want fragrance without lighting a candle.
Room Sprays
Quick scent products for rooms, offices, events, gift bags, and everyday refresh moments.
Gift Bundles
Bundles for holidays, donor gifts, staff appreciation, community events, and custom orders.
Shop the Collection
Youth-made scents with real stories behind them.
Product availability may change based on youth production schedules, inventory, events, and seasonal collections.
Honey Love
Cozy and sweet with notes of peach, grapefruit, apple, melon, cranberry, and vanilla.
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Blue Dream
Vibrant and fruity with notes of pink pomelo, citrus, passion fruit, dragon fruit, plum, raspberry, and musk.
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Pink Rose
Soft and playful with notes of cotton candy, bergamot, orange, fig leaves, coconut, and musk.
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Island Breeze
Carefree and tropical with notes of strawberry, cream, sugar, watermelon, musk, sandalwood, and vanilla.
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1 of 1
Bold and unforgettable with notes of pink prosecco, quince, amber, almond flower, sandalwood, and vanilla.
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Sweet Vanilla Bliss
Warm and comforting with notes of vanilla, cream, orange, sandalwood, and strawberry.
Shop CandleMeet the Makers
The youth behind the scents.
Each candle begins with a young person’s idea, memory, mood, or story.
Blue Dreams
“A late night walk on the beach around beautiful hibiscus flowers inspired me for this scent.”
Honey Love
“Trust the Process. Even though you don’t want to it might have a good outcome.”
Pink Bahama
“I wanted a scent that smelled light and fluffy. It’s sweet, airy, and mellow — just like a Sunday nap!”
1 of 1
“You live a wonderful life so why is that room not clean!”
Pink Rose
“I like sharing my joy with others by creating cozy scents.”
Made by youth in DC.
Scented Futures gives young makers space to turn their ideas, memories, moods, and creativity into real products customers can buy.
Shop Youth-MadeFind Your Vibe
Fresh. Bold. Cozy. Sweet.
Our scent icons help match each candle to your mood, space, or gift moment.
Fresh
Clean, bright, uplifting scents that feel like new energy.
Bold
Memorable, confident scents with personality and presence.
Cozy
Soft, comforting scents for rest, joy, and warm spaces.
Sweet
Playful, fruity, dessert-like scents made to feel good.
Behind the Scent
Science + scent = success.
Wicks Matter
Each scent went through wick testing to make sure it burns cleanly and evenly.
Measured by Weight
Students learned to measure fragrance loads by weight — not drops — for a consistent scent throw.
Pitched First
Each student had to pitch their candle scent idea before getting to create it.
Safer Ingredients
Our candles use phthalate-free fragrance oils and soy-blend wax.
From Lab to Label
How youth bring each candle to life.
The product may look polished on the shelf, but the process begins inside YEI’s Bard cosmetic lab with youth testing, measuring, pouring, labeling, and learning.
Design the Scent
Youth explore fragrance, mood, memory, naming, and the story behind each candle.
Measure & Test
Students practice measuring fragrance, testing formulas, and preparing materials safely.
Pour the Candle
Youth practice pouring, curing, wick placement, production quality, and consistency.
Label & Sell
Youth prepare labels, product displays, customer talking points, and sales experiences.
Watch the Making Process
Behind the scenes in the Bard lab.
See how students bring Scented Futures to life inside YEI’s BizBeauty lab, from measuring and testing to pouring and packaging.
Custom Orders
Candles for events, gifts, partners, and special moments.
Scented Futures can support select custom candle and gift orders depending on timeline, inventory, youth production schedule, and staff capacity.
Event Favors
Mini candles or small scent gifts for conferences, celebrations, community events, and appreciation moments.
Corporate & Donor Gifts
Youth-made candles and gift sets for sponsors, donors, staff appreciation, holidays, and campaigns.
School & Nonprofit Orders
Custom products for schools, nonprofits, community partners, youth events, and program celebrations.
Youth-Made Impact
Every purchase is practice for the future.
Scented Futures is a Youth Entrepreneur Institute social enterprise created through our school-based cosmetic lab at Bard High School Early College DC in Ward 8. We train high school youth from East of the River to create artistic candle products while building real-world business skills.
Every purchase helps youth learn production, branding, pricing, customer service, vending, teamwork, and small business operations.
Shop With Purpose
Buy youth-made candles. Support youth futures.
Shop Scented Futures, request a custom order, sponsor supplies, or support YEI’s youth social enterprises.